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AMANULLAH

Even now a railway was under construction which
would make history in the country. It was the
first, and a neat little station was already built in
Kabul It would run on a single line to Darulaman,
taking the visitors and the foreign business men to the
capital.

A new palace was to be built. It would connect
closely with the city of clerks, and would form a detail
in the huge scheme of reconstruction and enlargement.
Kabul, the new city with the name of Amanullah
figuring for ever in its plaques and on its foundation
stones, would rise anew a safe distance away from the
history-soaked remnants of the old.

Amanullah even contemplated a clearance scheme in
the old commercial centre of Kabul City. Such a rabbit-
warren could not be allowed to exist within hail of the
wonder city. He contemplated a sudden swoop on the
old place, driving out the merchants and forcing them
to inhabit new and thoroughly modern dwellings and
shops near Darulaman.

These many plans simmered in his brain. The
contractors were only too ready to start work, or at
least to dump the goods in their appointed places for
the builders. Then they began the more delicate but
amenable pastime of petitioning for their pay.

There were already thousands of men working at
Darulaman* They had succeeded, under the command
of foreign architects, in at least giving an indication of
the size of the future city. Amanullah went there
often* to supervise the work and watch his plans put
into concrete and brick. He was still the impetuous,
the impatient, and the energetic young man.

But the city of Darulaman was destined never to
rise very high on its foundations under Amanuilah's

90