EX-KING OF AFGHANISTAN

the old gossips of social Kabul delight in. There is the
pretence of this being a casual friendship, the true motive
being sanctimoniously concealed. There are the whisp-
ered rumours and the business conversations* Lastly,
when the old gossips had long ago arranged every detail
to their satisfaction, there is the visit of close relatives to
the mother of the favoured girl.

Long speeches follow, ending with the plea : " My son
is well favoured and strong. Yet he will be gentle in
spirit and meek in the delight of marriage with your
daughter. He would be as dust on which your daughter
may tread. . . ."

And the object of these compliments is the happy-go-
lucky youth with the arm of a giant and the constitution
of a horse, even at that moment fretting at the delays
that keep him from the leadership of his cavalry. Such
an allegation of meekness in any other circumstance
would hastily end in retribution.

Even after thus coming out into the open, nothing
further is done for months. Amanullah has not yet seen
his bride. Save now and then he may have caught a
glimpse of ankles beneath the all-enveloping folds of her
white purdah. He may have guessed at pale blue
Afghan eyes through the lace network before her face.
He may have heard the tinkle of her laugh. No sort of
courtship, this, for a man who is already called by his
troops by the affectionate nickname of " Amanullah the
Impetuous."

The breaking of sugar-loaf follows. Relatives, always
ready for partaking in any intimate domestic festival,
with its music, sweetmeats, and gaiety, are already
clustering round the parents9 doors. There is a regular
ceremony to mark the betrothal. There is a procedure
for every stage of the preparations for the wedding
itself. The mullahs are at the house again, invoking the

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