Among the Wild Tribes of the Afghan Frontier with Theodore Pennell

Theodore Leighton Pennell [1867-1912] was a medical missionary to the North West Frontier of what is today Pakistan. Writing in the The Biographical Dictionary of Christian Missions C.H. Grundmann notes:

Pennell’s fame was due not only to his medical skills and daring itinerations, mostly on bicycle and always moving unarmed amongst the heavily armed Muslim peoples of the mountains – but to his irenic missionary existence, of which he gave account in his widely read Among the Wild Tribes of the Afghan Frontier (1909). He adopted the Afghan ways of dress, food, and habits; ran a school; and operated a small printing press, from which he issued a newspaper in vernacular Pushtu. [p.525]

My thanks to Redcliffe College for providing a copy of this book to scan. This title is in the public domain.

Theodore Leighton Pennell [1867-1912], Among the Wild Tribes of the Afghan Frontier. A Record of Sixteen Years Close Intercourse With the Natives of the Indian Marches, 5th edn. London: Seeley, Service & Co., Ltd., 1913. Hbk. pp.324. [Download complete book in PDF]

Contents

• Introduction
• Prefaces

1. The Afghan Character
2. Afghan Traditions
3. Border Warriors
4. A Frontier Valley
5. The Christian’s Revenge
6. A Day in the Wards
7. From Morning to Night
8. The Itinerant Missionary
9. Afghan Mullahs
10. A Tale of a Talib
11. School-Work
12. An Afghan Football Team
13. ‘Alum Gul’s Choice
14. ‘Alum Gul’s Choice (Continued)
15. Afghan Women
16. The Story of a Convert
17. The Hindu Ascetics
18. Sadhus and Faqirs
19. My Life as a Mendicant
20. A Frontier Episode
21. Frontier Campaigning
22. Chikki, The Freebooter
23. Rough Diamonds
24. Deductions
25. A Forward Policy