AN ASIAN TYRANT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1998, 6 February 1907, Page 4

AN ASIAN TYRANT.

The A moor of Afghanistan, whose tour ill Iml in seems to lie a groat success, is described by Dr. Angus Hamilton, who was his physician for some years, as smaller in stature and much sal lower than his father, whom he greatly resembles. The Ameer wears his clothes with a clumsy dignity, and is particular about their cut and finish, his prejudice against foreign innovations does not'prevont him wearing, at ordinary times, a short black coat and vest-, knickerbockers,stockings and low shoes. The frock coat, grey trousers, and patent leather attire is reserved for private audiences with Europeans. Ho is already inclined to stoutness, “llis knowledge of our language is meagre, and he understands English hotter than he speaks it. In every way milder than his father, who was as quick to road character as ho was to resent injury, the discernment, judgment, and courage of the older man are wanting in the son, although the two share in common a certain grimness of humor. 'flu's faculty sometimes manifests itself in unpleasant ways with the Ameer. One morning ho noticed a black scorpion, the sting of which is particularly agonising, in a hoot he was just about to put on. Summoning his chief bodvseivant. the Ameer complained that the boot pinched his foot, and ordered the man to draw it on to stretch it. Incidents like this, observes Dr. Hamilton, tend to make service- in the Royal household sometimes of a trial. Recently the Ameer was attacked with gout, and being without a qualified medical attendant, suffered many sleepless nights. There had just come to Kabul an Indian hospital assistant, who. with more confidence than knowledge, proposed to start practice. The man prepared a very potent sleeping draught for tile Ameer, and sent enough of it to last several days. The Ameer, with his usual distrust of foreigners, administered half of the stuff to a servant. A few days later the hospital assistant was summoned before the Ameer, who produced the other half of the mixture. “One half of this,” said the Ameer, “has killed my servant. Abdul; the other half, by the grace of Allah, has been preserved. Drink, and may you sloop sound 1” The unfortunate man had to obey, but there was fortunately a sympathiser at hand who know the virtue of an emetic,