To do justice to an introduction to a book such as this, one requires to have first-hand knowledge of all the tribes on the Indian Frontier; but although I have served a good many years in India, and some six years altogether in peace and war on the Frontier itself, I cannot even pretend to possess the requisite knowledge to criticise this careful and complete work. Colonel Wylly has done me the honour of asking me to godfather his book, I am sure more on account of our having been friends for some thirty-six years, than by reason of the outside chance of my being regarded as an authority on Indian Frontier inhabitants; added to which he is aware that I hold the view that no army should undertake a war without doing all in its power in peace time to become efficient up to the last button, and that one of the most important buttons is an accurate knowledge of the country and the people against whom a war may occur.
Let us suppose that our North-West Frontier were not, as it is, bristling with fine fighting races, but were merely an open coast-line with nothing beyond it but sea, and I ask in that case should we keep up an army in India of its present size? and I think all xxwill agree with me that we certainly should not. The fair deduction then is that a very important raison d’être for the army in India is the possibility of having to suppress recalcitrant tribes on the North-West Frontier. It is therefore most important that our soldiers should study their habits, countries, armed forces, etc.
Now all that Colonel Wylly says in his preface about the absence of conveniently small books which will provide this information is perfectly true, and the custom has been, when war against a tribe has been imminent, for the Intelligence Department to circulate in the army a brochure dealing with the country and the people. This was very useful, but the fact that it was most necessary suggests that opportunities were lacking for studying the question thoroughly in the piping times of peace.
This book, From the Black Mountain to Waziristan, seems to provide the very want.
It is extremely well put together, the story of each tribe being complete in itself, and with excellent maps, and written in the easy, attractive style common to all Colonel Wylly’s books, is bound to appeal to all who take an interest in this most important subject, and I recommend it especially to the Army in India.
H. L. SMITH-DORRIEN,
Lt. General.
Harnham Cliff, Salisbury,
7th March, 1912.