The Amîr’s autograph letter. Medical consultation concerning the rearing of the Prince. Conflicting customs of the Orient and the Occident. Conservative nurses. The “Hakim fair to see”: the patient: his fate. Lessons in Persian and lessons in English. Portrait painting. Dietary difficulties. Gracious acts of His Highness. Amîr’s letter of condolence. The Royal visit by deputy. Congratulations of the British Agent. The doleful dumps of illness and the cheery Armenian. Accident to the favourite Page. The khirgar. Story of the attempt upon the life of the Amîr. An earthquake. Afghan appreciation of pictures and jokes. Generosity of the Amîr. The first winter Durbar. His Highness’s invention. The Royal costume. The bearing of the men brought before His Highness. The Amîr’s question: the Parable. Arrangement and furnishing of the dining-room. The guests. The breakfast. The press of State business. Amîr’s thoughtful kindness. The Armenian’s comment. Visit to the Commander-in-Chief. The ride to the Hospital. Adventure with the “fool horse.” Hospital patients in winter. “Two much and three much.” At the beginning of October I received an autograph letter from His Highness, directing me to consult with the two chief Hakims, Abdul Wahid and Abdur Rashid, and advise as to the best manner in which to rear the infant Prince. This is a literal translation of His Highness’s letter:-- [Sidenote: Amîr’s Autograph Letter.] “To the Honourable and Righteous Dr. Gray, “Be it known to you that my two Physicians, Mirza Abdul Wahid Khan and Mirza Abul Rashid Khan, are directed by me to consult you and take your advice concerning the customs and ways in which Europeans of to-day rear their children, and also concerning the proper time for putting on and removing the bandages, and the time of giving milk, and of cradling and sleeping, and all things which are necessary for the nourishment of a child, which are written by the doctors and scientific men of Europe. These physicians are acquainted with the customs of the Greeks, and I desire that they be informed concerning the customs of Europeans.” AMÎR ABDURRAHMAN, “Finis.” “I have written it.” The Hakims arrived at half-past seven in the evening. I have spoken of the courtly old Abdul Wahid with his Roman face. He was Hakim to Amîr Shere Ali. Abdul Rashid was the very fat man with interminable words. He did the talking, because he was ignorant, and Abdul Wahid sat silent. They were both exceedingly polished as became Court physicians. We compared the customs of Orientals and Occidentals in the rearing of infants. The Hakims were very surprised to hear that we did not bandage infants closely from shoulder to ankle, and so prevent them from moving a limb. “How then can you ensure that the child’s limbs grow not crooked? What other method is there for keeping them straight?”