Chapter XXII: Life in Kabul

The Îd festival: salaam to the Amîr: the educating of Afghans. Products of the Workshops. Royal lunch at Endekki: the Invitation: the Brougham: the Palace: the Drawing-room: the Piano. Evening illumination of gardens: dinner. The unreliable Interpreter. A night at the Palace. Commencement of intrigue. Gifts to the Amîr. The rebuke to Prince Nasrullah. Noah’s Ark: the nodding images. Illness again: the Amîr’s advice. An afternoon call. Illness of the Amîr: the visit: His Highness’s question: the Amîr’s good breeding. An earthquake. Report on Kabul brandy: Mr. Pyne’s opinion: the Amîr’s perplexity. The Hindu’s objection. The mysterious midnight noise: the solution of the mystery. Mumps. The wedding of Prince Nasrullah: invitation from the Sultana: the Fête: a band of pipers. The Prince and his bride. Overwork at the Hospital. One of the troubles of a Ruler. Scenery near Bala Hissar. The Amîr duck shooting. The sick chief: his imprudence: his amusements. The will of the clan.

CHAPTER XXIII.

THE AMÎR’S ILLNESS

Sent for to the Palace. The Amîr’s health: the Liniment. Questions in chemistry. Early breakfast at the Palace. A courtier as a waiter. Called to Prince Aziz Ullah: his illness. Illness of the Deputy Commander-in-Chief. A visit to Prince Mahomed Omer. The Queen’s brougham: her Reverend Uncle. The Jelalabad official and his promise. Dinner with Mr. Pyne. Death of Prince Aziz Ullah. The Chief ill again. The weather. The silence at the Palace. December 2nd: the Call. The town at night. Illness of the Amîr: former treatment. The Amîr’s prayer. Bulletins. Called to the Sultana. The Harem. The Sultana’s illness. A poisonous dose. Improvement of Amîr: and of Sultana. The innocent plot. A present. Musicians. Amîr and Sultana as patients. Annoyances by an interpreter. A shock. The Sultana’s letter. News from Malek, the Page. In the Harem: the Armenian’s comments. Quarters in the Prince’s quadrangle. The Amîr’s relapse.

CHAPTER XXIV.

ROYAL PATIENTS

The Hindustani Interpreter. The Amîr as a host: the Sultana as hostess. The Amîr’s photograph. The Sultana’s name. Sirdar, the girl-boy. The sleeping draught. The tea cup and the thermometer. The Christmas Dinner: the guests: the menu: music. The Amîr’s fainting attack: the remedy: effect on the physician: the substituted remedy: further effect on the physician; the Amîr’s prescription. The Amîr’s alarming nervous symptoms. Hospital cases. Duties of the Princes Habibullah and Nasrullah.

CHAPTER XXV.

A KABUL WINTER

Hindustani intrigue: information from the British Agent: offer of assistance: measures for protection: further intrigue. The “Royal manner.” The two factions: Habibullah: Mahomed Omer. The question of succession. Return to the City House and English Society: the cold of Kabul. The naked beggar boy. The old Kabul bridge. The question of “bleeding.” Disbanding of a Shiah regiment. Amîr’s advice to his sons. Improvement in Amîr’s health. The Hindustani again: Sabbath. The Afghan noble as workshop superintendent. New Year sports. The grand stand: the crowd: refreshments. Horse-racing: collisions. Tent pegging and its dangers. Lemon slicing. Displays of horsemanship. Amîr’s absence from the sports. The Naû Rôz levee. Salaam to the Sultana. Amîr in the Salaam Khana: reception of the Maleks and merchants: presents. The Princes standing before the Amîr. Reception of the English engineers: the “White-beard:” his age: the Amîr’s surprise.

CHAPTER XXVI.

A KABUL SPRING

Spring clothing: a grateful Afghan. Poison bowls. A haunted house: the skeleton in the garden. Increase of patients. Called to the Palace: Amîr’s costume. Troubles of a Ruler: Secretary in disgrace. Amîr’s plans for the future. Geologists in the service. Occidental v. Oriental. Mercantile commissions. The Armenian’s leave. The locusts. Prince Mahomed Omer and his Lâla. The Palace gardens. A military Durbar. Amîr’s thoughtfulness. A portrait. Amîr’s opinion of his people: education of his soldiers. The arrest: murder of the prisoner: the Amîr’s decision. Ramazàn. Rising of the river. The Íd Festival. The Physician’s plans: the Amîr’s comment. Prince Habibullah’s portrait: Prince Nasrullah’s portrait: his remark.

CHAPTER XXVII.

ON LEAVE

The last Durbar: the Amîr’s remark: a wedding present. The journey down. An awful day: “difficult hot.” Exhaustion. The work of the locusts. The breeding establishment: a study in colour. An illegal march. Simla. The Despatch. Dinners and dances. The study of character. The Armenian in London. Return to India.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

THE WELCOME TO KABUL

Pathan rifle thieves. Dacca. The midnight alarm: the melée. “Bally rascals.” The next morning. The terror of the Amîr’s name. Running postmen. Kabul post. Armenian’s opinion of London. Changes in the English “staff.” Visitors: letters. Lady doctor’s application. Salaam to the Amîr. His Highness’s welcome. The military Durbar. Presents. The new British Agent. Visit to the Sultana. Salaam to Prince Habibullah. Another visit to the Amîr: his appreciation of scenic effect. His answer to the lady doctor’s application.

CHAPTER XXIX.

THE CHOLERA

Ramazàn. The outbreak of Cholera. Precautions. Notices in the bazaars. Rapid spread. European medicine. The overwhelming dread. Processions to the Mosque. Oriental fatalism. The shadow of death. Removal of the Court to the mountains. Closure of the workshops. The Armenian as an Inspector. The Prince’s chamberlain. Death of the Dabier-ul-Mulk. The mortality. An incident. Afghan appreciation of British motives. Arrival of an Englishman with thoroughbred horses. Dying out of the Cholera. Visit to Paghman. The soldiers in chains. Anger of the Amîr. An earthquake: the Amîr as a scientist. Illness of the “Keeper of the Carpets.” Arrival of Mr. Pyne and other Englishmen. Another visit to the Amîr. His Highness’s description of a Royal illness. Dinner from the Palace: the sealed dishes.