1 826
2 GOONDEES.
3 Miry Iot his own subsistence) «Dd has iiibtle MigHidto llie conTenience
4 OT-tbe il|^ls his neig^iboun* . In oooiequence, we find the Ber*
5 doorauiiees brave, but qpUHrmbome ; active, iadiialiioin».'aD<l acute,
6 but selfish, contentious, and cUshonert;- Tbay me more bigotted
7 inic^rMit than the other A%haan8, and moi^ under the influence of
8 their MoolKdis. Th^ are also more vicious and debauched, and
9 some among them are, in all respects, the worst of the Afghauns.
10 These characteristics are variously modified, according totlie ^ituay-
11 tions of the ditiertnt n ibes. Thev are less strongly marked among
12 the scattered inhabitants ot the mountains, than among those of the
13 plains and vallevs. The liree tribes are most turbulent ; those nnder
14 a ] » <>\v cr^ul chief most litigious. The i^t neral custom of the Aighauns
15 also modifies the practice of the Bei doi>raune^. This custom, for
16 example, makes them hospitable, though their own situation has
17 made them selfish ; but their hospitality by no means equals that of
18 the western tribes. ■ • •
19 \ The custom of joining in associations for mutual defence, obtains
20 amoDg ail the Berdooraunees, except the £uso&yes. It evidently
21 QcigiiiBfces in the eontumal'stilfe- whidi prevafls among them j why
22 Ihe Enso%es, who appear to feqtdfe it the ttUMti tkoM be 'without
23 it^leonftMmyadUTunabiletoexpbtii; but thefiwt iaoonoboiated by
24 all the infiHrmation I posaen on Ifce subject.
25 ' Hiese cenfederadea have aome leiembiaBce to the -SodaJitfii of -the
26 &3E0O timea. IndividnalB ettter mte engagciineiica 4o suppoit'eadi
27 other, 'et&m in apedfic enteipriaes, or in all caaea that niay wrna
28 These allianoes are called Goondees, and they may inclada ^mf
29 number' of petaont.- The oonnection bietween two penona ki the
30 same Goondee, is rechcmed stTonger than that of Mood ' lliey aat
31 bound to give all they have, and eiren their liirea ^ eadi otherl
32 •A Goondee between two chieft, is not dissolved even by'ii warhe^
33 tween their tribes ; they may join ii) the battle* but «a soon aa%be
34 eontest is over, their fi-iendship is renewed.
35 . Goondeaa also take place between tribes. The whole of Uie Ber-
36 dooaanneea^ esee^ the EmoSij9B, Olmtmi^hti^Ttuctibmubiif
37 Digitized by Google