288 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



even the soldiers not on duty stood up as he passed 

 and respectfully saluted him. This seemed to im- 

 press him and the other officers of the Ameer very 

 favourably. As to our paying for provisions from 

 the villages, he remarked that we had paid so high 

 for everything that the people would never be con- 

 tent to take the old normal price again ; also dwelt 

 very strongly on the fact of not a single outrage hav- 

 ing been committed on the women throughout the 

 occupation by either officers or men, British or na- 

 tive. " Xever," said he and others to whom we 

 spoke, " have we seen an army at once so powerful 

 and so courteous and quiet ; it is no wonder you can 

 march them to the ends of the world." Xor must it 

 be supposed that they spoke thus from mere fear or 

 courtesy; they perfectly well understood that we held 

 no high position in the force, either military or politi- 

 cal; and talked on that and all other subjects with 

 extreme freedom, not hesitating to express adverse 

 opinions when inclined to do so as when speaking 

 of the first Cabul war and its causes and conse- 

 quences, for instance. 



