EX-KING OF AFGHANISTAN

glared suspiciously into its innocent depths. He thought
it was demon alcohol. The Duchess saw his plight,
assured herself of its purity as the unfermented juice of
the lemon, and made reassuring signs to the King. The
honour of the Prophet was saved. And saved too was
the King's sense of humour at that dinner party.

Amanullah's most personal gift to the King was care-
fully chosen and carefully brought from his own country.
It took the form of a couple of Afghan wolfhounds, the
long thin dogs of the hills, heavily " trousered " as if in
cowboy's chaps against the cold of the Afghan hills.
They are curious animals, and have only lately enjoyed
a vogue in England. Sensitive, swift, and nervous, they
combine the speed of a greyhound with the mute pathos
of a spaniel. For a time at least they held an honoured
place in the King's kennels, and it may be that part of
the present London fashion for these dogs arises from
that gift from Amanullah to his host.

Another embarrassment to those who were playing
the temporary host was the generosity and skill of the
various London firms who wished to sell goods to the
visiting ruler. Every day hundreds of pounds* worth
of goods were delivered at Claridge's on approval for
the examination of the King. The majority had not
been ordered by Amanullah. They were sent on the
off-chance that they would take his fancy, and the stories
of his lavish expenditure and royal cc tips " to servants
no doubt served to foster hope in the breasts of enter-
prising tradesmen. Many of these goods eventually
found their way back to Afghanistan, for Amanullah
and his Queen commented favourably on the enterprise
of London tradesmen in persuading visiting Royalty.
It is naturally expected that visiting Royalty wish to
buy, and Amanullah and his Queen were no disappoint-
ment to the big London luxury stores.

H 113