EX-KING OF AFGHANISTAN

trivialities were having their effect upon the ruler. Old
complaints are not easily forgotten in Afghanistan.
The true Afghan is distrustful, and cannot be put off
with mere compliments. And for ever and for ever,
they would abide by their old contention that the
British were usurpers in India, aliens in the East, and,
more important than all, that they were white infidels.

Tradition dies hard. The mullahs, already cogitating
on the possible advantage they could take of the King's
European visit, were determined that the tradition of
distrust of the British should never be forgotten.

But all was gaiety on the good ship Rajputana as she
ploughed through the Indian Ocean and approached
Aden. Amanullah was energetic and anxious to please.
He distributed largess to the crew. He took part in
every social activity on the wide deck. He was amiable
to every Englishman, and trained himself assiduously
for the ordeal before him.

Queen Souriya divested herself of every trace of
purdah, with the consent and encouragement of Aman-
ullah. She was now the complete Westernised Asiatic.
She bloomed under the treatment, and was herself the
centre of interest in the Royal party.

One of the critical visits of the trip was the arrival
at Suez.

Bang Fuad was out to meet them. In deference to
his wishes, it is believed, Souriya once more wore the
veil, though she was loath to part with the Western
clothes that she already wore with complete lack of
self-consciousness. At Port Said, however, she received
Egyptian officials, wearing the veil, and the news
travelled round the world and back to Kabul.

The guns boomed a welcome from the banks of the
Canal. King Fuad and Amanullah conversed in Turkish.
An elaborate programme had been arranged in Cairo

101