CABUL SOCIETY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3472, 28 May 1879, Page 3

CABUL SOCIETY.

WhUe there is a pause before the curtain rises in the serious drama thafc is preparing in the gloomy dufiles of the Khaibar, we Bhall anticipate the arrival of our soldiers in the Afghan capital, and tako a stroll down the Regent street of Cabul. Descending from the Bala Hissar, at once a fortress and a palace, where Shere Ali holds regal state, through the Harem Serai gate and over the ditch, we are in the principal thoroughfare, which, with a breadth of some ten or twelve foet, traverses fche city to tho bridge over the Cabul river and into tho suburb of Deh Afghan. Leaving tho Shor Bazaar and the Chob Frosh, or wood-market, on the left, wo pass a caravanserai, or hostlery, affected by merchants from Bokhara, a knot of whom, in uncouth head-gear of fur and dirty chintz dressing-gowns, are talking a jargon which sounds, for all the world, like the rattle of pebbles chasing a receding wave; while their patient Bocfcrian dromedaries, during the process of unloading^ supply a dismal chorus of asthmatic groans in response to the objurgations of the surwans or drivers. Threading our way through the seething crowd of human beings, horses, dogs, yaboos, camels, and bullocks, we arrivo afc a chouk or open space aboufc a hundred feefc squaro, where commences— or rather commenced—the Chahar Chutta, or four covered arcades, that used to be the glory of Cabul until George Pollock's sappers blew them up. Tho arcades of burnt brick, dating from the days of Aurungzebe, ond painted over with figures of trees and fruits, purple, red, and green on a whitish ground, ore things of tbe past, but another bazaar has taken its place, and the street is stiU the mosfc frequented in Cabul, and the " grand emporium " of Afghanistan. Here are to be seen types of nearly every Eastern nationolity— the übiquitous Jew, reputed grand-parent of the sons of Abdul ; the busy, grave, and shambling Armenian, tho sleek and oily Bunneah from Hindostan 5 the lithe and supple Persian; the squat and Tawny Thibetan ; the blue- eyed and light complexioned Shiahposh Kafir with his block goatskin vest and leggings ; the cufc-throot-looking, Bwartby Beloch, and tho pugfaced Oozbek. All these ore easily distinguishable in tho crowd among the native Afghans, with their light-brown omplexions, flowing beards, muscular figures, and aquiline features. A Cabulleo dokan, or shop, lias bufc a faint family resemblance to ono in the Burlington Arcade. Conceive a hole in tho wall aboufc the height and breadth of a man in a sitting posfcuro, and conceive thafc man squatted outside of ifc like a dog at the door of his kennel. Ranged and piled round him aro tho wares for sale— according to his guild— of ironmongery, silk, wool, or cotton goods, cops, shoo/>, or what not. One such trader, with " Beui-Israel" writ largo over lub forehead, nose and beard, but who by the fold of his puggrie should be a Lohanee, is ongagod in earnest conversation about the merits of a Kashmir shawl, with a figure dressed, in a bedsheet. Tho only sexual indications of this j figure ore a pair of unmistakable eyes flashing ] through two slits in the sheet, and a pair of tiny feefc in red shoes. This domino costume has its advantages as well as its disadvantages, for ifc entirely prevents a Cabulleo dame being recognised by her scandal-loving neighbours, and even by her husband. For does nqfc fche Persian proverb say— A Cabul wife in Boorka cover Was never known without a lover. and is nofc tho district of Cabul declared hy Oriental traditions fco be one of the very sites of tho Garden of Eden ? Displeasing as it may be to the "unco guid," who wail hysterically over their own countrymen and countrywomen as the most depraved and unscrupulous beings on the globe, and who aro just now taking the bjamelpss and ill-used Afghans to their bosoms, the plain truth is that Afghan men and women are no better than thoy should be, and considerably worse. In accordance with the national character for suspicion, tho intrjguo, and corruption, on Afghan dweUing-house is like an Afghan boorkaposh— a whitened sepulchre. The flat roofs of the houses have generallv a parapet wall formed of rail-work, thickly overlaid with mud, and five or six feet high, to allow fche women of the family to take on airing unveiled, as fcheir lords ore very jealous oboqfc their being overlooked. But, however much on Afghan would think himself disgraced by his wife's faco being exposed to the vulgar gaze, ho has not the slightest objection to being " squared" to "keep her purdah;" or, in pthep words, conniving at her connubial vagaries for a consideration. The wives may go wherever they please in their boorkaposhes, to stop or to visit relations, but they mußfc "keep their purdah," otherwise, avoid a scandal. In some of the walls facing the street little loopholes with tiny shutters exist, through which an Afghan beauty may te soeu glancing quiokly and furtively at the passing stranger, whilo her grim old lord and mas'ter sits stolidly gazing afc vacancy through a wider aperture below. Here is o picture of an Afghan bemtf behind the purdah. The -blue-black hair is plastered down stiff with gums in various forms on the head, and from the roots behind plaited into numerous long tails, hanging oyer the' shoulders and back. The outer margin of the * ears, »a.U round, is pierced ond decorated with rows qf small silver rings, larger ones hanging from the lobes. The neck ond breast are tattooed ond dotted oil over with little figures of, stars and flowers,. The lustrous blaok of the eyes is further 'enhanced by loading the lids with soormo, or block antimony. Thf cheeks are rouged and pioked out with

little round moles of gold and silver tinsel fixed on with gum. A loose yellow, blue, or red jacket of muslin or silk, hanging below the waist, and paijamas or wide trousers of silk or other coloured- materials, form the indoor costume. On going out, leggings of c tton cloth, gartered at the knee, walking shoes of red or yellow leather, and the indispensable boorkaposh are added. A lady of fci.e Kuzzilbneh tribe is sometimes distinguished wifch tho further addition of a black horsehair veil ; and it is also considered t'Jiic to Wfear a vinaigrette filled with attar of roses or other scent on tho forehead. — Whitehall Review.