EX-KING OF AFGHANISTAN

It had lit up with inspiration at the same moment at
the same place twice a week for six weeks. He was
suddenly relieved of the burden of care with which this
difficulty had saddled him.

" Perhaps five rupees . . . ? " he hinted.

No. His Afghan Majesty's servants could not be
bribed.

u But ten rupees . . . ? "

Honour was satisfied, and we went our way.

Just out of the village, the road ended. That, at any
rate, was how it looked to me. The tiny wall of loose
stones at the side of the rough track, however, seemed to
continue, and along here the driver proceeded steadily,
often slowing down to walking pace and bumping over
the deep holes in the surface, unrepaired since last year's
rains had swept over the deep holes.

We were following the dry bed of a stream, and more
than once crossed it on a frail bridge of sticks and stones
and the boughs of trees. Ahead, there loomed the hills,
and on either side we were frowned on by the first
sentinels of the great range of snow-covered mountains.
The old car stumbled on, every joint and coupling creak-
ing and complaining.

*ft We have done well," said the driver. " It is best to
hasten things through the Dacca Customs. But it costs
money. We shall reach Jallalabad for the night, and it
will be cooler."

A hundred miles the first long day ! That was speed
for you I Since the new roads were made, this being
one, things had indeed changed in Afghanistan for the
tourists !

We were now seldom in top gear, and the car was a
blazing and quivering body of hot metal, burning to the
touch, I clung to the struts supporting the hood, care-
fully keeping my hands off any piece of metal that was

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