EX-KING OF AFGHANISTAN

surprising total of £4,500,000 ! The mind boggles at
his arithmetic. We have seen the Rolls-Royce presented
by King George. * We have seen the orders conferred
on his proud breast, to which, perhaps, he attached a
monetary value to appease his questioners. There was
then, and may be at this moment, a magnificent chestnut
stallion in a British Government cavalry depot near
Lahore, a present from the King of England, But even
after crediting him with these gifts, it is difficult to
arrive at the stupendous figure with which Amanullah
consoled his critics. Perhaps he added in the date line.

More important than the figures, however, is the fact
that he did take the trouble to explain these delicate
financial matters in public. This did not seem to be
the manner of Amanullah the Fearless, who hitherto
had brooked no criticism from any of his subjects.

This was already recognised, therefore, as a different
matter from the trouble he had had four years before,
when the men of Khost rose up against him, headed by
a queer legendary figure known as the " Lame Mullah/'
and recruited the sympathy of the whole district against
new laws which were said to be contrary to the Koran.
On that occasion, after a hard though short struggle,
the rebels had been taught a severe lesson, executions
followed, and trials for heresy terrified the ringleaders.

But Amanullah was not altogether in a mood for
forgiveness and excuses. Even in face of this active
disagreement in the south, he pressed on with reforms.
A new staff college was opened at Khurd Zabitaa for
cadets, controlled by Turkish officers, by now regarded
in much the same light as Victorian mothers regarded
French novelists. Sixty-five officers were sent to France,
Italy, Germany, and Russia for training, and twenty
came to England. Fifteen students went to Baku for
modern training in oil-fields. Among the importations

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