1 174
2 ADVANTAGES OF THE GOVERNMENT.
3 most oonneded with the oouft; and the relitunu borne by all the
4 great loida to the crown, resemble each other so closely in the imo
5 ■tatea, that it will throw light on the character of the Doonmnee
6 gov^emment to keep the parallel in view.
7 The defects of this system are obvious, and when we come to ob-
8 mrre in detail the anarchy and disorder which so often arise under
9 tiie republican government of the tribes, we mi|^t be induced to un-
10 deaMrate the quantum of happiness it produces, and to suppose that
11 the country would derive more advantage &om the good order and
12 tranquillity which an absolute monarchy, even on Asiatic principles,
13 would secure ; but .the more I have learned of the actual state of the
14 Aighauus, the stronger ia my convictioQ that such an estimate would
15 be erroneous).
16 We may easily ajiprLNL'Iate tho benefits of an exemption froni the
17 vexatious interfeix^nce ot" ilu- ofHccrs of a illstanr King, and from the
18 corruption and oppression with which such iuleiiereiice is alwavs ac-
19 companied in Asia ; nor must we, amidst the alarms and contusion
20 which will he forced on our attention, overlook the pai tiality of the
21 Afghauns for their preiient ccmsiitution ; the occupation and interest,
22 the sense of independence and persoual conseipience w hich result
23 from a popular government, however rudely formed ; and tlie cou-
24 rage, the intelligence, and the elevation of character which those
25 occupations, and that independence can never fail to inspire. *
26 * Hie iUgfaauns theouelTes endt in ihe free <ipirit of their institution*. Those who
27 an little imdcT ll»c royal nnfhorit}'. arc protid of their independence, which thoso undt-r
28 the Kiag (though not exposed to the tyranny common in every other country in -the east)
29 •AdN^ end fldnirodd imitale; iWy »ti i—mtiA«j A.» « .11 a^^>««—
30 •re equal," which, though it i$ nOi, nor ever was true, still ihein tibeir notions and their
31 wishes. I once stronp-ly urged to a very intelligent old man of the tribe of Meeankhail,
32 the superiority ot u quiet and iieciire life, under a powerful monarch, to the discord, the
33 abrm, and theUood, irludi diey oiwed. to their pnatBt wjfUm, The old men rcfiKad
34 witih great warmth, and thus concluded an indignant harangue against arbitrary power,
35 f We aire eontent with djsoordt we are coDtent with alenns, we aire eontou wiUi blood.
36 Digitized by Google