He said I looked ill at the Durbar, and he made me drink a tumblerful of sparkling hock at once. I stayed with him a fortnight, till my house was ready. He was exceedingly hospitable, and with well meant, but somewhat mistaken kindness, forced upon me whisky, beer, hock, and all sorts of unsuitable food. He tried to brighten me up by taking me about the workshops and showing me what progress had been made since I had left Kabul, and in the evening he told me yarns and stories without number. Once or twice it was almost too much, and I became giddy and faint. He was very kind, but I was thankful when I got to my house and could lie down.
With proper diet and medicine I began to improve, but it was months before I quite recovered.
CHAPTER XXII.
Life in Kabul.
The Îd festival: salaam to the Amîr: the educating of Afghans. Amîr’s visit to the Workshops: under the mulberry tree: the Amîr’s speech. Products of the Workshops. Royal Lunch at Endekki: the Invitation: the Brougham: the Palace: Lunch: the Drawing-room: the Piano. Evening illumination of gardens: fireworks: dinner. The unreliable Interpreter. A night at the Palace. Commencement of intrigue. Gifts to the Amîr: the presentation. The rebuke to Prince Nasrullah. The barking dog. Noah’s Ark: the nodding images. Illness again: the Amîr’s advice: the effect thereof. An afternoon call: conversation. Illness of the Amîr: the visit: His Highness’s question: the Amîr’s good breeding. An earthquake as an experience. Report on Kabul brandy: Mr. Pyne’s opinion: the Interpreter again: 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.
The “Îd” Salaam.
Four days after our arrival in Kabul, namely on July 28th, the Mahomedan Festival of Îd commenced, and His Highness held a Durbar in the “Salaam Khana.” I went, accompanied by the Armenian. I should have been better in bed. We waited in the large hall, I talking to one of the Chief Secretaries. Presently we heard the rattle of drums, indicating that the Amîr had arrived. He did not, however, come in, and I was wondering where he was, when a Page came and spoke to the Armenian, and he and I and the Secretary were conducted upstairs to the Guest House that I have already described. His Highness, seated in an arm-chair, was almost alone in the room. After I had made my bow an arm-chair was placed for me opposite the Amîr, so that he could speak to me conveniently. His Highness had been talking some little while when Mr. Pyne arrived; he continued talking to us both for some time. He referred to the work we both of us had done: said that it was a means of educating his people; referred to my having become ill in his service, and promised me some months’ leave of absence that winter, in order that I might recover my health in my own country.
Presently, lunch was served, and he ordered for me broth thickened with rice—“Shola.”
Three days after this, the Amîr visited the workshops. I did not join the party until the Amîr had finished inspecting the machinery, but went to see two or three people who were sick. When I returned to the shops I found His Highness had finished inspecting. He was seated in the grounds under the shade of a huge mulberry tree. A table was placed in front of him on which were fruit and sweetmeats.