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"to Samuel, saying, I have lost a cow, and do not possess the means of satisfying the owner. "Pray for me, that I may be extricated from this

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difficulty. Samuel, perceiving that he was a "man of lofty stature, asked his name. He "answered, Talut. Samuel then said, Measure "Talut with the wand which the angel Gabriel brought. His stature was equal to it. Samuel "then said, God has raised Talut to be your king. "The children of Israel answered, We are greater "than our king. We are men of dignity, and he "is is of inferior condition. How shall he be our "king? Samuel informed them, that they should "know that God had constituted Talut their king, by his restoring the ark of the covenant. "accordingly restored it, and they acknowledged " him their sovereign.

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"After Talut obtained the kingdom, he seized part of the territories of Jalut, or Goliah; who "assembled a large army, but was killed by "David. Talut afterwards died a martyr in a war against the Infidels; and God constituted "David king of the Jews.

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"Melic Talut had two sons, one called Berkia, "and the other Irmia, who served David, and were beloved by him. He sent them to fight against "the infidels; and, by God's assistance, they were "victorious*.

Though Saul had no two sons of these names, yet the names themselves are plainly Hebrew. Berkia is Barachia, and Irmig is Jeremiah.

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"The son of Berkia was named Afghan, and "the son of Irmia was named Usbec. Those "youths distinguished themselves in the reign of "David, and were employed by Solomon. Afghan

was distinguished by his corporal strength, "which struck terror into demons and genii. "Usbec was eminent for his learning.

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Afghan used frequently to make excursions to "the mountains; where his progeny, after his death, established themselves, lived in a state of independence, built forts, and exterminated the "infidels.

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"When the select of creatures, Muhammed, appeared upon earth, his fame reached the Afghans, who sought him in multitudes under "their leaders Khalid and Abdul Rashid, sons of "Walid. The prophet honoured them with the

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most gracious reception, saying, Come, O Muluc,

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"or kings; whence they assumed the title of Mulic, "which they enjoy to this day. The prophet gave "them his ensign, and said that the faith would "be strengthened by them.

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Many sons were born of Khalid, the son of "Valid, who signalized themselves in the pre"sence of the prophet, by fighting against the in"fidels. Muhammed honoured and prayed for "them.

"In the reign of the sultan Mahmud of "Ghaznah, eight men arrived of the posterity of "Khalid the son of Walid, whose names were Kalun

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Kalun, Alun, Daud, Yalua, Ahmed, Awin, and "Ghazi. The sultan was much pleased with

them, and appointed each a commander in his

army. He also conferred on them the offices of "Vazir, and Vakili Mutlak, or regent of the "empire.

"Wherever they were stationed, they obtained "possession of the country, built mosques, and "overthrew the temples of idols. They increased "so much, that the army of Mahmud was chiefly "composed of Afghans

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"The Afghans now began to establish them"selves in the mountains; and some settled in "cities with the permission of sultan Mahmud. "They framed regulations, dividing themselves "into four classes, agreeably to the following de"scription. 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 dif"ferent nation. Persons, who do not belong to

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one of these classes, are not called Afghans.

"After the death of sultan Mahmud, they made "another settlement in the mountains. Shiha"buddin Gauri, a subsequent sultan of Gaznah,

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was twice repulsed from Hindustan. His Vazir "assembled the people, and asked if any of the "posterity of Khalid were living. They answered,

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Many now live in a state of independence in the "mountains, where they have a considerable ármy. "The Vasir requested them to go to the mountains, and by intreaties prevail on the Afghans to come; for they were descendants of compa"nies of the prophet.

"The inhabitants of Ghaznah undertook this embassy; and, by intreaties and presents, con"ciliated the minds of the Afghans, who pro"mised to engage in the service of the sultan, " provided he would come himself and enter into

an agreement with them. The sultan visited "them in their mountains, honoured them, and

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gave them dresses and other presents. They "supplied him with 12,000 horse, and a consider"able army of infantry. Being dispatched by the "sultan before his own army, they took Dehli ; "killed Roy Patoura the king, his ministers, and "nobles; laid waste the city; and made the in"fidels prisoners. They afterwards exhibited "nearly the same scene in Canauj.

"The sultan, pleased by the reduction of those cities, conferred honours upon the Afghans. "It is said, that he then gave them the titles of "Patan and Khan. The word Patan is derived "from the Hindi verb Paitna, to rush, in allu"sion to their alacrity in attacking the enemy.

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"The Patans have greatly distinguished themselves in the history of Hindustan, and are di"vided into a variety of sects.

"The race of Afghans possessed themselves of "the mountain of Solomon, which is near Kan"dahar, and the circumjacent country, where

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they have built forts. This tribe has furnished many kings. The following monarchs of this race have set upon the throne of Dehli: sultan "Behlole, Afghan Lodi, sultan Secander, sultan "Ibrahim, Shir Shah, Islam Shah, Adil Shah "Sur. They also number the following kings of "Gaur: Solaiman Shah Gurzani, Bayazid Shah, " and Kutb Shah; besides whom their nation has "produced many conquerors of provinces. The Afghans are called Solaimani; either because they were formerly the subjects of Solomon king "of the Jews, or because they inhabit the moun"tain of Solomon *."

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It must be confessed, that this Afghan tradition bears a strong resemblance to many of those Mohammedan legends, which are founded upon Scripture; whence it is certainly not impossible, that a tribe of Mussulmans might be in possession of it without being descended from the house of Israel yet I know not whether another instance can be produced of a nation, which professes the faith of Mohammed, believing itself to be of Jewish origin.

Asiatic Researches, Vol. II. Numb. 4.

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