Emily Stehr

Interesting (but Incomplete) History of Indigenous Peoples of Afghanistan Emily Stehr

Word Origin and History of Afghan: "1) Also, Afghani; a native or inhabitant of Afghanistan. 2) Pashto. "Name of the people of Afghanistan, technically only correctly applied to the Durani Afghans; Old Afghan chronicles trace the name to an Afghana, son of Jeremiah, son of Israelite King Saul, from whom they claimed descent, but this is a legend. The name is first attested in Arabic in al-'Utbi's 'History of Sultan Mahmud' written circa 1030 CE [BC] and was in use in India from 13th century. Attested from 1833 as a type of blanket or wrap (in full, Afghan shawl); 1973 as a style of sheepskin coat; 1877 as a type of carpet; 1895 as a breed of hunting dog." http: //www.dictionary.com/browse/afghan William Hough; A Narrative of the March and Operations of the Army of the Indus: In the Expedition Into Affghanistan in the Years 1838-1839, Under the Command of HE Lieut-General Sir John (now Lord) Keane, GCB & GCH, Commander-in-Chief; W Thacker and Co; 1840 William Hough writes: "12. Camels carried off. (20th June, 1839) - Thermtr. 4 AM 66 degrees. To-day about 150 camels belonging to one of HM's Regts were carried off, while grazing close to camp; one of five unarmed Europeans in charge killed, and the rest severely wounded. A guard of a Sergt and eight men was sent out as a protection to the camels, but they went into a village to escape from the heat of the sun; and knew nothing of the camels being carried off till too late. The five unarmed men went down to the rivulet to water the camels; a gang of mounted Affghan robbers, rushed from concealment, and drove off the camels. The Europeans behaved as well as men could do, without arms, in defending the camels. The Brigr of the day went out immediately, with the picquets, but the camels were off to the hills, and could not be traced."