UNDER THE ABSOLUTE AMIR [Illustration: AMIR HABIBULLAH KHAN. [_Frontispiece._] UNDER THE ABSOLUTE AMIR BY FRANK A. MARTIN FOR EIGHT YEARS ENGINEER-IN-CHIEF SUCCESSIVELY TO THE AMIRS ABDUR RAHMAN AND HABIBULLAH, AND FOR THE GREATER PART OF THAT PERIOD THE ONLY ENGLISHMAN IN KABUL _Illustrated by the Author’s Drawings and Photographs, and by other Photographs_ [Illustration] LONDON AND NEW YORK HARPER & BROTHERS 45 ALBEMARLE STREET, W. 1907 CONTENTS PAGE CHAPTER I ON THE ROAD Order of march—Soldiers and guards—Method of carrying goods by pack animals—Description of camps—Marches—Welcome given to Sirdar Nasrullah at villages and cities—Description of country passed through—Kandahar—Amir and the moullah who took refuge in the Kandahar Sanctuary 1 CHAPTER II ON THE ROAD—_continued_ Method of fishing in the rivers—Route through Khilat and Mukur to Ghazni and distance from Kandahar—Cold and snow on journey—Ghazni—Robberies and murders on roads before Amir Abdur Rahman’s time—Villages and cultivation _en route_—Arrival in Kabul and reception of Sirdar Nasrullah by Amir 16 CHAPTER III KABUL The Mihman khana or Guest-house—Description of hamams (Turkish baths)—Description of people met with on roads and streets—Amir Abdur Rahman—Description of palace and audience chamber, and his reception of me—Situation of Kabul and description of country around—Kabul city, its bazars, streets, and filth—Water-supply and drainage systems—Sanitary arrangements—Pariah dogs and crows scavenging city 33 CHAPTER IV KABUL—_continued_ How streets are governed—City magistrate—Robberies and murders—Bazar shops—Style of palaces and better-class houses—Climate of Kabul 47 CHAPTER V MANNERS AND CUSTOMS Belief in the supernatural—Dress of men—Complexion—Character of people—Description of various tribes—Languages and schools—Feuds between families—How holidays are spent by the people—Singing and musical instruments—Games and amusements 58