EX-KING OF AFGHANISTAN

work went on, hastened by Amanullah himself, the
burden of debt increasing day by day by the beginning
of huge new projects,

Certainly there was one example in Kabul which may
have urged the King still further in his extravagances.
This was the building of the new British Legation, under
the direction of Sir Francis Humphrys. It was a
magnificent building, and if the intention was to impress
the Afghan Court with a semblance of permanency and
confidence, then the great white house and its elaborate
gardens served its purpose.

It was surrounded by a wall of imposing dimensions,
but of little purpose as a possible fortification. It was
approached by great iron gates reaching to the top of the
walls, and at each side a small guard-house stood for the
convenience of the small Indian cavalry garrison.

It was white, spacious, and terraced in white stone,
leading down to gardens of English pattern. It had
balconies and wide verandahs. Inside, it was gaining
the appearance of a real English country house trans-
ported into the wilds.

An English butler was already installed. He would
admit with the customary imperturbability, heritage
of the English butler, all the strange figures then leading
Afghanistan, conduct their shuffling feet into the library,
and insist as far as was possible on the retention of
those formalities which were practised by his father
and his grandfather in the handling of guests.

The dining-room was oak, and round its imposing
table, in the light of candles, the strangest mixture of
races and individuals would meet on those frequent
occasions when Sir Francis held receptions and intimate
little dinner-parties.

Amanullah would be a frequent visitor. He had

83