An American Engineer in Afghanistan

by Marjorie Jewett Bell (Editor)

An American Engineer in Afghanistan was first published in 1948.The legend of Afghanistan as “The Forbidden Country” grew chiefly from a warning of the British Indian Government which once guarded the Afghan frontier north of the Khyber Pass -- “It is absolutely forbidden to cross this border into Afghanistan.” A glance at the endsheet map in this book will recall its strategic position in the Middle East.When A. C. Jewett entered in 1911 with an escort supplied for his safe transportation to Kabul, he was the first American permitted to live in the country since 1880. He was employed by Habibullah Khan, the Amir of Afghanistan, to take charge of installing a hydroelectric plan, and it was during this stay that the first attempts toward modernization were made in Afghanistan. Although he came for only a year, it was eight years before his work was completed. Electrical apparatus had to be hauled over rough mountain passes. The work elephants’ harnesses had to be made by hand. Labor was not skilled and whenever crops were harvested, his deliveries of supplies stopped!Written in a lively, readable style, Jewett’s letters and journal notes tell the story of the land of the Afghans. An isolated country of ancient caravan trails, mull-walled caravansaries, and villages -- it was little touched by Western ideas in the last days of the old monarchy. But forces have been unleashed in Asia which even remote Afghanistan is unlikely to escape. Jewett’s entertaining story will help westerners to understand coming events.

Genres: History

342 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1948

Reviews

[Barry · Rating 3 out of 5]

A three-year project to bring a hydro-electric plant on line in Kabul Afghanistan began in 1911. Expecting to finish in three years, American engineer A.C. Jewett described the nearly eight years struggle to complete the work in a poor, backward country beset by corruption, poverty, ineptitude and superstition. Every item needed, every travel arrangement had to be approved by the Amir, His Majesty Habibullah Kahn. The Amir was quick to grasp concepts and friendly to Jewett, but could seldom find the time to meet with the engineer or visit the sites because he was busy playing golf, visiting the harem or moving from one dilapidated palace to another as the seasons changed. The Amir, when he could find the time, conscripted laborers and unskilled "craftsmen" for the project, but he was immune from the concept of a schedule and months would pass waiting for approval for men, supplies and parts. Jewett sympathized with the workers and servants, who were little more than slave labor, but had contempt for the primitive Afghan society and seemed to have little reticence beating lazy and dishonest workers.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was found in my aunt's garage after her death. Apparently, A.C. Jewett and Marjorie Jewett Bell are distant relatives of ours. (My great grandmother was Abby Wilder Jewett Cates; I suspect A.C. might have been a cousin or a nephew of hers.)
A. C. Jewett was one of the first Americans allowed to visit the mysterious kingdom of Afghanistan. He was there at the invitation of the Amir Habibullah Khan to lead the construction of a hydroelectric plant north of Kabul. Despite an original commitment of three years, the project dragged on from 1911 to 1919 because of constant delays in getting materials and other approvals, harsh weather, and problems with the labor force.
I found it very interesting to read about Afghanistan in the early 20th century, and I suspect that in some ways, not much has changed--particularly the mistrust and hatred of "the infidel." There were a lot of details about daily life and struggles with the project, as well as the challenges of adapting to a foreign culture and learning to speak Persian, told in a series of letters and journal entries.
The author seemed to harbor a disdain for the local people, and an attitude that our Western culture is superior. Probably not unusual for the times when this was written, but the bias prevents the reader from gaining a full understanding of the Afghan mindset.

[Jeffrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting account of life in Afghanistan in the 1910's from the perspective of an American Engineer retained by the King to buid a hydroelectric plant. Lots of cultural color - elephants hauling equipment, etc. - but very superficial insights into the people, not that you would expect much more from a series of letters written at that time. Eventually though it gets pretty repetitive - how many times do you really need to read annecdotes about how stupid and unreliable the Afghan workers are.