Browsenew guide to Afghanistan → page 142

Page 142

new guide to Afghanistan · pages 1–377


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Scanned page 142 of new guide to Afghanistan

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105 noses, long faces and are of fair complexion. Their counte- nances have an air of manliness and deliberation. They are hardy and active, industrious and sober. No more potent testimony to their power exists than the record of the Anglo- Afghan wars. Their manners are frank and open. Though manly and independent they are entirely free from conceit and ferocity. They are remarkable for their prudence, good sense and humour. They have always been ardent sportsmen. From time immemorial they have realised that physical culture and sports are the important elements which enable one to overcome difficulties and privations, and still remain cheerful, courageous and firm. Physical endurance, ability to co-ordinate all move- ments on any terrain, and overcome parching heat and bitter frost—these qualities are acquired by the Afghans as a result of constant attention to national sports, such as horse-riding, mountaineering, and wrestling. Even in present-day Afghan life, sports and physical culture occupy an important part. Besides their own national games, all modern European sports, such as football, volleyball, hockey, basketball, handball and tennis have been introduced and widely promoted throughout the country. Among the Afghan games the one called Buzkashi (dragging the goat) is indeed a feat of horsemanship. It is chiefly in vogue in Northern Afghanistan (Mazar, Maimana, and Kataghan provinces). Like polo, it is played on horseback by two opposing teams, each consisting of 60 to 100 horsemen. The first thing to be done is to kill a goat, a calf or a sheep, and then to place the carcass in the middle of a circle. When this is done, a signal is given, and all the riders make a dash at the beheaded animal. The man who picks it up flings it across the

Roughly two thirds of characters agree with a modern printed edition of the same text. Much of the disagreement is editorial, not misreading. Treat the transcription as a finding aid and read the page image before quoting. How this was measured.


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new guide to Afghanistan, page 142. Afghanistan Digital Library, New York University Libraries. Machine-transcribed text: Afghan Press Archive, https://afghanpress.org/book/adl0957/142 (accessed [date]).
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