EX-KING OF AFGHANISTAN

ullah's approval, were sufficient to discourage even the
bravest of the leaders.

The submission of an Afghan to a foreigner, even
though the latter be a co-religionist, was unnatural, and
many a Turkish officer concealed a trembling heart under
the swagger and bravado with which he surrounded him-
self in civil and military life in Kabul. He was a glitter-
ing figure in State processions. He made the most of the
dashing uniform supplied by direct order of the King*
He, a Turk, was the pride of the Afghan Army.

These new uniforms, which were devised in the brain
of Amanullah himself, were strange combinations of
musical comedy chorus apparel and utility. Somewhere,
Amanullah must have seen and admired the pictures of
an ancient army which went to war clad in all the
panoply of the stage costumiers. Nothing would satisfy
him but elaborate tunics with an abundance of gold
braid. The epaulettes were heavy and of silver braid.
The breeches of his Royal Bodyguard were creamy
white. For caps, he went back a few years for the
inspiration of the shako, and decorated it with a heavy
tassel which pulled it to one side at the most dashing of
angles. Boots were of the Central Asian type, since
revived in every self-respecting Drury Lane drama of
impossible kingdoms and romantic armies of the lighter
stage. They were high-heeled and shiny, and reached
well up the thigh, to be rounded off with a natty design
in chased leather work and a further tassel for State
occasions.

Long curved swords clanked through the new Kabul
gardens in these days, and trailed along the roads in
wonderful semblance of military splendour and complete
uselessness. Gloves were white, and the sun was put to
shame by the patent leather, gold braid, pipe-clayed

F 81