64 THIRTY- FIVE YEARS IN THE EAST. 



his brother Dost, and that the Governor of Bamlan was 

 removed from his post, all my things being returned to 

 General Avitabile, from whom I received them. Had I,. 

 in my first excitement, opposed them, and fired at them, 

 I should have been murdered. 



At Holm I was recognised in the court-yard of the 

 receiver of the customs, notwithstanding my Afifghan 

 costume, and though still on horseback, I was requested to 

 alight there and take up my quarters. There is no doubt 

 that I was betrayed by my own attendants, especially by 

 Kheiat, who feared he would be punished when the caravan, 

 which was coming behind us, should arrive, and give 

 information of his having been my guide, and his passing 

 me secretly through that country. The receiver of the 

 customs instantly dispatched a man to Koondoos, where 

 his superior officer, Utmaram, a Hindoo, minister to 

 Emeer-Murad-Beg, resided. When informed' of this cir- 

 cumstance, I sent off one of my attendants with the letter 

 of recommendation which the Nawaub Djubber-Khan had 

 addressed to Utmaram, in which he recommended him 

 to take care of my person, or else he would destroy his 

 property at Peshawur. This letter made such an impression 

 on the minister; that the receiver of the customs received an 

 order to forward me instantly and secretly, by an escort, 

 to the frontier ; fearing that if the Emeer-Murad-Beg] should 

 learn that I was there, he might insist upon my coming 

 to Koondoos, and keep me there a prisoner. Thus I 

 arrived safely at Balkh, where I waited for the caravan with 

 my luggage; and the winter being very severe, I ordered 

 a pair of kadjevahs. These are large baskets, which are 

 placed on the camels, the interior of which being lined 

 with woollen rugs, they prove to the traveller, who is 

 accustomed to cower down, or sit with [outstretched legs, 

 a very comfortable contrivance. During two days, while 

 we stopped on our way on the left bank of the Amoo 

 (Oxus river), I did not stir from this warm abode ; for the 

 kadjevahs are ample enough to allow onejto keep in them a 

 charcoal fire, as also to perform the required necessities ; and 



