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INDIA

the Indian frontier (the old frontier of Sikh supremacy,
which we inherited with the conquest of the Punjab)
is a subsidiary buffer of independent tribes occupying
an intermediate province which may be divided into
several sections. On the extreme north are those outlying
 districts tributary to Kashmir (Chitral, Gilgit,
&amp;c.) in which we have lately taken much political
interest. South of these, and between them and the
Kabul River, is Bajaor and the Mohmand country.
The Khaibar route falls between the Mohmands and
the Afridis, We hold it as far as Lundi Kotal now,
but it was lately in the hands of the Afridis, who occupy
the Tirah country on the southern slopes of the Safed
Koh, and, together with a number of less important
tribes of various origin and troublesome names, spread
between the Khaibar and the Kuram. Almost immediately
 south of the Kuram, and covering the head of
the Tochi, we have the Waziris of Waziristan, who continue
 the occupation of this intermediate province to
the Gomal River. Beyond these again are the Pathan
inhabitants of the Sulimani Mountains, which we have
already referred to in connection with Baluchistan. This
long narrow frontier buffer is a province of rugged tracts
and impassable mountains from one end to the other; and
from Chitral to the division between Pathan and Baluch in
Peshin, near Quetta, it is the habitat of Pathan tribes,
who, whatever their origin (whether Afghan, Indian, or
Skythic), all talk a common language, although they
claim no sort of international cohesion or affinity. The
ancient name for a large part of this border district
was Roh (a name of Sanscrit origin, which, like Koh,
means a mountain), and it will be convenient to recognise
 it under this name and to denote its inhabitants as
Rohilla, the name under which they were known in
medieval ages. The Rohillas of Rohilkand are but an
offshoot of the more ancient Pathans of Roh. Through
this province of Roh pass all the most important lines
of communication between India and Afghanistan, and it
will be best to note them in order from north to south.