Apr. 25.
Tue murder at Kohat on thei Indian frontier, the abduction of Miss Ellis and then the heroic exploit of Mrs. Start, a medical missionary at Peshawur, in venturing into the midst of these warlike tribes -single-handed for the rescue of the lonely girl, form as dreadful yet as thrilling a narrative as has been placed before the public for many a day. With the heroic Mrs. Start and the unfortunate girl now with her go the prayers of a whole world, for a glance at the recent history of that part of India shows that their position is one of singular. peril. Fanatics, of course, there are among the Afridis who have perpetrated this outrage, yet to this very fanaticism Miss Ellis possibly owes her life. It is in these regions that the fact or possibility of becoming a ghazi operates with intensity. To have slain an infidel to the Faith is to make one a ghazi, securing the certain passport to Paradise, but with this exception, that the slain infidel must have been a man. The slaying of a woman is of no account in this cause, but there is nothing to prevent a tribesman carrying off an English woman to his stronghold and there holding her to the most exorbitant ransom. This clearly is what has happened in the present case, and furthermore she may. be held as a_ pawn in any political game which has been forced upon these people by recent events.
"The Afridis are a tribe on the Northwest Frontier presumed to be under British protection, their home being situated, in the valleys south of the Khyber Pass. At one time the Government of India subsidized them with a view: to guarding the Pass, but in 1897 they rose in rebellion and seized all forts and commanding positions. An-expedition under Sir William Lockhart marched into the Tirah Valley, whence punitive forces were despatched into the surrounding districts, destroying villages and forts. This particular frontier campaign was the greatest pre-War military success in India. subsequent to the Mutiny, and for the time being achieved its purpose. Following this and in the years prior to the Great War the Afridis came to be regarded as the most loyal of the tribes of the Northwest Frontier Province, an impression, however, which was rudely shattered in 1914-15 when it was found necessary to disband all the Afridi companies which at that time were to be found in the majority of - the composite Indian regiments. This disbandment was the outcome of a very distinct disinclination on. their part to go on active service, and was evidenced by the shooting' through the back of a number- of British officers when endeavouring to embark them. The opinion grice held by certain well-known Brit. ish officials of their loyalty. was then finished once and for all,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.