1 362 DOST MAHOMED SENDS
2 On the &th of June intelligence was received
3 of Dost Mahomed’s sending off his family on
4 the road’ to Kholam. He delivered all his
5 having only one half of the area dug out, by which means
6 a change of temperature was to be obtained ; whilst a few
7 constructed apartments under ground, at the depth of
8 seven or eight feet. For myself, I preferred the simple
9 canvas with a tatter (khus-khus, screen-wetted), although
10 much warmer; but there was a dampness in the Sard-
11 khanas (cool apartments) which in my opinion is not
12 wholesome, and I also dislike the feeling of moisture that
13 invariably clung to the dress after sitting in one for any
14 length of time. F., whose tent was pitched opposite to
15 mine, had built one of these “ vaults for the living,” on
16 the most approved principles, and was sitting in it, on a
17 certain sultry day, transacting the affairs of his company
18 with his subahdar and havildar, when down came the
19 whole fabric on the top of them, the beams, as they fell,
20 fortunately taking such directions as completely saved
21 them, if not from destruction, at least from broken limbs.
22 I heard the crash, and immediately ran over to assist ;
23 ‘but on reaching the spot, I became convulsed with laugh-
24 ter at the appearance of the gallant captain, who, being a
25 stout man, had perspired freely, and dust from off the
26 clay roof had stuck to his face and plastered it as if with
27 a coating of mud: not a feature was to be distinguished ;
28 and beside him stood the subahdar, a poor, withered-
29 lookig old man, who seemed as if he was just issued from
30 a baker’s shop.