A PICTURE OF THE AMEER "AT HOME."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5993, 30 July 1887, Page 6

A PICTURE OF THE AMEER "AT HOME."

A correspondent o£ the Journal des Debats sends the following account of the Ameer o£ Afghanistan, •which, is interesting and sufficiently correct to merit notice : — " Abdurrahman in the first part of his career was a soldier ; when he was raised to the Ameership he became a bureaucrat, a new rdle for an Afghan ruler, and one not likely to be popular. Two days a week ho devotes to his correspondence — Monday for that with the Upper country (Herat, Candahar, &c,)> Thursday for that with the Lower country (Cabul, Peshawur, and India). On Tuesday he holds his military durbar and receives the officers of the garrison, all of whom dine with him. It is also the day of private reception. On Wednesday and Saturday he administers justice, and adrnit3 the public to his presence, even to the last beggar, Friday is treated as Sunday i& in London — all the bazaars, shops, and the Palace itself are closed, the mosques alone remaining open. Sunday is devoted to the Ameer's private affairs. The two most important days are Wednesday and Saturday, for the Ameer is above all a dispenser of justice. He dispenses it with his hand on the hilt of hi 3 sword. Highway robbers are brought before him and lie hears the charge. Then he says one of two things : — ' Bekoushid,' and they cut their throats j or ' Gargara kounid/ and they lead them off to be hung. If an article is lost on the road no one is allowed to pick it up. If any one does so his hand is cut off. The Ameer has only one wife, Bibi Malika or the Queen, but he has 101 concubines called kaniz. By the Queen he has no children (they died), but he has five by four of the kaniz. The eldest, Habibullah, is 16 years of age, and in default of a legitimate successor is the heir-apparent. He was recently married to the daughter of Mahomed Ameen, Brigadier of Cabul, an officer, despite his high title, possessing no authority. The Ameer is writing his memoirs, beginning with his ninth year, and he is now 42. They will be full of interest if the Ghilzais will only allow him to finish them."