“Well, that may be,” he said; “but yet it is not the personal passport such as we all carry, and which is essential for identification.” “Such a document,” I said, “is before you.” Somewhat annoyed, he broke out: “No! no! it is not, this is a travelling passport; where is the passport you were given when you had completed your time in the army?” “Well,” I said, “that I do not possess----” “Oh! oh! why not?” “Simply because we have the honour not to be Turkish subjects, do not have to serve in the army unless we please, and are not called upon to carry passports of identification everywhere with us; for we are not subject to the inquisition and annoyance enjoyed under Turkish rule, and there are too many of us, and we have too much to do, to waste our time and money on paying ornaments like yourself to harass us.” The poor police effendi had never been thus insulted before, and rose furious. The Kurds were enjoying the scene, and one or two advised the policeman to leave me alone, as it was evident that I was not to be scared sufficiently to bribe him. He had my passports in his hand, and stood for a moment irresolute, so, thinking to bring matters to an end, I said: “What do you want?--tell me, and perhaps we can conclude.” “What do I want?” he exclaimed; “why, satisfaction for the indignities you have put me to, your passport of identification, and a surety that you are not a seditious person: I must hold an examination!” “Good,” I said, “let us hold an examination, but not before I have seen the Governor. As a foreign subject I demand my right of appeal to him, and as you know, a British Consul is coming here in a few days (such was the bazaar rumour), and complaint of you and your ways will then be easy.” “Very well,” and he shrugged in anger, “if you desire to increase your troubles, come along.” So together we left the bazaars and came through the long, busy street to the outside edge of the town. He became friendly. He took me by the hand, and we walked thus hand in hand while he began asking me again, and this time in a friendly, solicitous way, why I had wanted to come here. “Why,” I said, “in olden times, when there were Hamadan merchants here, you did not question them, and annoy them by such queries and doubts. They were buyers and sellers, and so would I be, were the country more secure. Meanwhile, what can I possibly do but wait the moment when peace will allow of commercial venture?” “With what places would you trade?” he asked. “With Saqiz and Bana, Keui and Kirkuk, Panjwin and Sina, as do others,” I said.