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AMANULLAH

Hard on the heels of the rumour came its official
confirmation. In a declaration, Amanullah stated his
reasons and his hopes in making the journey.

He was slightly apologetic, as well as challenging.
He made it clear that he did not intend to brook opposi-
tion, but he thought it wiser to represent himself as a
humble pawn of fate rather than as a ruler breaking
away from precedent for the love of it.

For he knew what would be said by the mullahs.
He was right.

They looked more and more gloomy as the news was
confirmed-
No Amir had left his country before, save for sudden
rushes across the Frontier at the head of his troops.
No Amir had cast curious eyes further than the bound-
aries of his State. No ruler had sought to see the other
world across the Black Water, being, in point of fact,
rather contemptuous of the soft and easy living which,
it was reported, was the custom among the feringhe.

Rumour, moreover, attributed some strange reasons
for the impending tour. It was, frankly, for the
assimilation of European ideas. It was for the collection
of those very habits and customs which Afghans had
ever prided themselves on resisting* It was for the plain
purpose of bringing back European ways to Afghanistan.
No wonder they pondered sadly as the news rippled over
Afghanistan like the waves from a stone thrown in a
pond.

The news was substantiated from abroad. In regular
succession there came invitations from the Powers of
the West. Italy, France, Germany, Russia, Egypt,
and Switzerland sent their official programmes, as well
as Great Britain. Day after day the wireless stations
of the world were busy with the name of Amanullah.
Nation was vying with nation to do him honour.

94