in History, a people who inhabit a province of CABUL or CABULISTAN, in the northern parts of India. They boast of being descended of Saul the first king of Israel, and that their great ancestor was raised from the rank of a shepherd, not on account of his princely qualities, but because his stature was exactly equal to the length of a rod which the angel Gabriel had given to the prophet Samuel as the measure of the stature of him whom God had destined to fill the throne of Israel.

Saul, whose descent, according to some of them, was of Judah, and according to others of Benjamin, had, they say, two sons, Berkin and Irma, who served David, and were beloved by him. The sons of Berkin and Irma were Afghan and Ulbec, who, during the reigns of David and Solomon, distinguished themselves, the one for strength of body, and the other for learning. The strength of Afghan, we are told, struck terror even into the demons and genii.

This hero used frequently to make excursions to the mountains, where his progeny, after his death, formed establishments, lived in a state of independence, fortified themselves, and exterminated infidels. When Mahomet appeared upon earth, his fame reached the Afghans, who fought him in multitudes under their leader, Khalid and Abdul Rezpid, sons of Walid; and the prophet honouring them with this reception—“Come, O Muluc, or Kings!” they assumed the title of Muluc, which they retain to this day.

The Afghans are sometimes called Salaimani, either because they were formerly the subjects of Solomon king of Israel, or because they inhabit the mountains of Solomon. They are likewise called Patans, a name derived from the Hindu verb patna “to rush,” which was given to them by a sultan, in consequence of the activity with which they had attacked and conquered his enemies. The province which they occupy at present was formerly called Roh; and hence is derived the name... name of the Rohillas. The city which was established in it by the Afghans was called by them Paithwer or Pailher, and is now the name of the whole district. The sects of the Afghans are very numerous, and they are Muslims, partly of the Sunni, and partly of the Schiek persuasion.

They are divided into four classes. The first is the pure class, consisting of those whose fathers and mothers were Afghans. The second class consists of those whose fathers were Afghans and mothers of another nation. The third class contains those whose mothers were Afghans and fathers of another nation. The fourth class is composed of the children of women whose mothers were Afghans and fathers and husbands of a different nation. Persons who do not belong to one of these classes are not called Afghans.

This people have at all times distinguished themselves by their courage. They have conquered for their own princes and for foreigners, and have always been considered as the strength and support of the army in which they served. As they have been applauded for virtues, they have also been reproached for vices, having sometimes been guilty of treachery, and of acting the base part even of assassins.

Sir William Jones seems to have had no doubt but the Afghans are descendants of Israel. "We learn (says he) from Eldras, that the ten tribes, after a wandering journey, came to a country called Ararat, where we may suppose they settled; now the Afghans are said by the best Persian historians to be descended from the Jews. They have traditions among themselves of such a descent; and it is even asserted, that their families are distinguished by the names of Jewish tribes, although, since their conversion to Islam, they studiously conceal their origin from all whom they admit not to their secrets. The Pushto language, of which I have seen a dictionary, has a manifest resemblance to the Chaldaic; and a considerable district under their dominion is called Hazareh or Hazaret, which might easily have been changed into the word used by Eldras. I strongly recommend an inquiry into the literature and history of the Afghans."