Page:Thirty-five years in the East.djvu/104

his brother Dost, and that the Governor of Bamian 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 Afighan 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 circumstance, 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 oneto keep in them a charcoal fire, as also to perform the required necessities ; and