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2 ♦
3 CHAP. VL
4 BOiPtTAUTT.— 'PKEDATOBT HABITS, &C
5 /^NE of the most remarkable characteristics of tlie Afghauns, is
6 their hospitality. The practice of this virtue is so mucli a
7 iMtiftiMil point of honour, that tliar reproach to inheritable man,
8 is that he has no Pooahtoonwuliee, (nothing of the customs of die
9 A)%^nni8). All peraons mdisczuninately are entitled to profit by
10 this piacCice; and a man, who travelled over the ^ole oountiy
11 ivithout money, would neirer be in want of a mealr unless peihaps in
12 towns. Itistheg^reatestofaffirontstoanA4;|ia«ntoGaiTyoffhisguest;
13 but his indignation is never directed against the guest who quits him,
14 but the p^son who invites him away* AH thedetula of the practkse
15 of hospitality will appear in the particular account of the tribes ; but
16 I idiall here mention some customs connected with that principle.
17 The most remarkable is a custom peculiar to this people and called
18 Nannawantee, (from two Pushtoo words, meaning *< I have come in").
19 A person, who has a &vour to adk, goes to the house or tent of the
20 man on whom it depends, and refuses to sit on his carpet, or partake
21 of his hospitality, till he shall grant the boon required. The honour
22 of the party thus solicited will incur a stain if he does not grant the
23 favour askrd of him ; nnd, so far is the practice carrieil, that a man
24 over-matched by his enemies, will sometimes go inmnawautee to the
25 .house of another man, and entreat him to tal<o nyi his<|uarrel ; which
26 the other is obliged to do, unless he is utterlv unable to mierfere
27 with effect, or unless some circumstance render his mterference
28 obviously improper. *
29 • Tt appoured to rae at first that tht-ro wns gome rcscmblnncr b,mvf-cn nannnw nyfee and
30 the wdl known Indian custcm of Dbunuu They are, however, entirely unlike. In
31 1
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