Travels in the Panjab, Afghanistan and Turkistan to balk, bokhara and herat; and a vist to geat britain and germany

· 1846 · Public domain (published pre-1930) · archive.org ↗

1MIN/Sr^

2ception of the real importance to an Asiatic of the

3ability to arrange the ample drapery of his turban

4in a becoming manner. This gift among them ranks

5second only to that of a handsome face, and as almost

6all the world judge of persons by their outward ap¬

7pearance, the possession of such an accomplishment

8is likely to have a beneficial influence over a per¬

9son’s prospects through life.

10From Herat, Mohan Lai proceeded in company

11with Dr. Gerard to Candahar, where he attracted the

12particular notice of the Barak zai chiefs of that place.

13Indeed Mohammed Saddiq Khan, the eldest son of

14Kohan Dil Klian, the principal chief, was so deeply

15interested by the information which Mohan Lai,

16owing to his English education, was able to impart

17to Mm, that he had at one time made up his mind

18to accompany him to Calcutta, in order to acquire the

19same advantages; but he was prevented from carry¬

20ing this resolution into effect by the unexpected

21approach of Shah Shuja, which rendered it necessary

22for him to remain at his post.

23From Candahar the travellers returned to Kabul,

24where perhaps the highest compliment of all was

25paid to Mohan Lai’s character. Sardar Dost Mo¬

26hammed Khan, the stern and penetrating ruler

27of that country, pressed him to enter into his

28service, and the good-natured Jabbar Khan, Dost

29Mohammed’s brother, with difficulty got him excused

30on the plea that he had been long absent from his

31father, and that it was therefore his duty to return