At the Court of the Amîr: A NarrativeGray, John Alfred
History
At the Court of the Amîr: A Narrative
Gray, John Alfred
'Abd al-Rahman Khan, Amir of Afghanistan, -1901; Afghanistan -- History
Then came the distribution of prizes. To the successful wrestlers the
Prince gave Turkoman coats of brilliant colours--such as the Oriental
loves.
While the sports were going on the Commander-in-Chief and some Officers
arrived. They saluted the Princes and bowed to me; but they would not
sit on the ground while I had a chair. In the presence of the Amîr
they had, at first, been greatly offended at sitting lower than I, and
had made some remark on the subject after I had left: they received,
however, such a severe reprimand from His Highness that they never
repeated it.
When the sun began to set the air became cool, and the Princes rose
and took their departure. I accompanied their Highnesses, leaving the
Commander-in-Chief and the Officers in the Park.
CHAPTER XIX.
THE YOUNG PRINCES.
Infant Prince as the Sultana’s Deputy. Reception by the Prince:
the pavilion: the procession: the guard: costume: presents. Visit
to Prince Hafiz Ullah: his house: conversation: presents. The
wrestling again. Her Majesty’s photograph. Lunch with the Prince in
the Palace Gardens. The “Royal manner.” The third day’s wrestling.
The mother of Prince Hafiz Ullah. A drawing of the Prince.
Adventure with the fat General: his officiousness: the after effect
on certain patients: his bullying: the after effect on himself.
The power of the Amîr’s name. The Amîr as a Consulting Surgeon.
The Fast of Ramazàn: effect of the Fast. Overdose of tobacco:
wailing. The Evening Durbar: His Highness’s remarks: danger if a
King fasts: “Marazàn.” The Durbar as a picture. The “Pig” incident
and the explanation. The surgical operation: attempted vendetta:
the result: the old lady’s sympathy. Flowers in the Palace. The
Usbàk’s artistic design: the Amîr’s criticism. The Amîr’s diary.
The present of sugar. Official notice of return march to Kabul. The
“Cracker.” End of Ramazàn. Preparations for the Exodus. The guard
of Amazons.
On the following day, after I had finished my work, I heard that the
infant Prince, Mahomed Omer, was leaving the Harem Serai, where he had
been living since his recovery from the vaccination, to take possession
of a house that had been freshly prepared for him. I sent to enquire
if he would receive me that afternoon. This may seem a great deal
of ceremony when a baby is the principal personage, but as a matter
of fact it was really paying a ceremonial visit to the Sultana. She
being a Mussulman, of course did not give audience to anyone: her
son received for her. At the time of which I write the baby Prince
certainly took precedence of his brothers, the Princes Hafiz Ullah and
Amin Ullah, who were in Turkestan; but whether he now takes precedence
of his two eldest brothers, Habibullah and Nasrullah, I cannot say.
[Sidenote: Reception by the Infant Prince.]
I was informed that the Prince would receive me. I started accompanied
by the Armenian. The house was near the Harem Serai.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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