“British Motives!”
Another story, less hideous and perhaps more interesting was this: A man coming up to a group standing in the street said—
“A relative of mine is ill with this disease.”
Said one of the group—
“Why go you not at once to the English Doctor, he is giving medicine.”
“Nay,” answered the man, “the British Government sent him here to poison as many as he can.”
“Khair,” said a third, “not so. To my wife, ill with this disease, he gave a medicine: she is now well.”
“Beshak,” said a fourth. “Undoubtedly; but the Sirkar-i-Engrez send him that by curing us he may gain our friendship. Thus they hope to draw away the people and the country from Amîr Sahib, that they may come themselves and rule us.”
Meanwhile another Englishman, Mr. Clemence, had arrived. He brought with him from England two or three thoroughbred stallions and some hackneys, for the improvement of the Amîr’s stud. He had, however, been directed to make a detour and avoid Kabul, and had been conducted to Faizabad, where he took up his quarters. Shortly afterwards he rode into Kabul to visit the other Englishmen: a woeful time to arrive in a strange town.
About the middle of June we had violent thunder storms and heavy rain, a most unusual occurrence at that time of the year, and the weather became cool, much cooler than it was in April.