'Russia, India and the Persian Gulf' [‎10v] (20/46)

16 The Western Frontiers of India.
distinct. India’s attitude towards Britain is very different
from that of the loyal, the too much protesting loyal,
Colonies, whose loyalty and whose aspirations for con
federation will not stand the test of a collection. Will she
always pay the bill as the frontiers are pushed farther and
farther west, after so much of the Afghan hills and the roof
of the world has been practically annexed, and Beluchistan
added to the Empire, when the flank has been turned, and
the frontier appears still farther west in Seistan, in Ears, in
Arabistan, and in the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. ? Or will the burden
be transferred to the patient shoulders of that uncomplain
ing beast of burden, the British taxpayer, who could a
few years back have bought the position now occupied by
Russia in Persia for a loan on excellent security of the one
hundred and fiftieth part of what has already been spent on
the Transvaal. This question will have to be faced one
day, and it is no real use to censure those among us who
have joined the Russians in creating the great North-West
Frontier Phantom Invasion. What floating batteries, war
ships, and repairing docks might not have been created for
the protection of the shores of the Gulf, and India’s Mala
bar and Coromandel coasts, with the money poured out on
an already naturally fortified frontier, often in removing
stumbling-blocks from the paths of our enemies, and in
subduing tribes whose fierce and unconquerable indepen
dence is at once their own and our most valuable asset, who
would hate any invader, and most of all the arch-enemy of
Islam in Central Asia! And in this aspect of the question
no one, who like myself has been for years a regular student
of the Persian and Hindustani newspapers, and of the views
of Mohammedans in different parts of Asia, can help re
gretting that circumstances have made it difficult for us to
avoid offending our Mohammedan friends and fellow-
subjects. Neither to Shia nor Sunni do we seem alto
gether warm and dependable friends. Much of this is
unfortunately unavoidable, but when the Cape, Somaliland,
Greece, Egypt, and Venezuela give a moment’s respite, a