The Pathans

A sketch of the Pathan people. "It aims to increase our understanding and appreciation - of these very complex people who are simple and big-hearted to a fault and yet have a custom of deciding everything by a fight."
This is the author´s words - he is a Pathan himself and a well-known poet, "he has a genial humour and a convincing literary style."
"Being a Pathan himself and in love with his people he gives a vivid and glowing picture of their mode of living, of their history, customs, superstitions, folk-songs and politics.
He wants to introduce the Pathan to us and make him tell us "of his struggle and his dreams, of his love and his feuds, his field and his watch-tower, his new rifle and his old wife".
For as the author says,"his violent nature, strong body and tender heart make a very unstable combination for living, but an ideal one for poetry and colour".