AMANULLAH

aid of the gods, scaring away the evil spirits, urging the
need of prayer and good living on all and sundry.

Presents fly round the family. All are laid down by
custom, all are given in the name of Allah. And eventu-
ally the invitations are sent out, ending with a poem of
the most flowery language, every poet vying with his
neighbour in the composition of fulsome wishes and
adjectives.

And as he prepares himself for the ceremony in his
finest clothes, we can picture the tempestuous Aman-
ullah, nerves taut, reading impatiently such phrases as :
" The birds, with their sweet songs, have brought joy to
the leafless trees, which flutter like a bird without
feathers, as the wind passes throxigh their branches laden
with the fragrance of wild flowers. The sun has poured
gold in the water of the rivers at sunset, and the moon
has shed liquid silver on the crystal ponds. . . ."

But in the year 1910 the ceremony is performed, in a
pavilion specially erected for the occasion, and the stolid
figure of the third son of the Amir, destined to play
a part in Eastern history seldom equalled in its drama,
its pathos, and its occasional broad humour, sits on the
stool of honour with his bride and signs the papers,
attested by every relative who wishes to partake of the
honour.

The pipers play them in and out of their wedding
house. The drums beat incessantly from cock-crow to
sundown. The maids of honour hurry with gifts and
clothes to and from the frightened, imprisoned bride,
during this time receiving a so-called beauty treat-
ment. The wedding feasts are over. The Imam
of the Mosque has paid his ceremonial visit. The
turbulence and the shouting dies down. The beggars
waiting outside the gates are flung their quota of alms*
Sherbet is drunk by every guest, and with the sound of a

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