The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-06-21 00:00:00

PHOTOGRAPHING THE AMEER.

A correspondent writes tD the Daily News from Ganda.
mack, My 17 :

"The day before yesterday it had been arranged
that after the political sitting was finished the Ameer
was to have another sitting, in order to be photo-
graphed by Mr. Bourke, and the special artists of the
illustrated papers were also to be allowed the privilege
of "gazing on the light of the Ameer's countenance."
These proceedings led to a sort of free and•easy,
mixing of those present, and the grave Councillors
of State threw off the reserve of official dignity, and
walked about with more freedom from restraint than
we had yet seeu. The Ameer himself disappeared
and in a very short time returned in a mucn more,
gorgeous costume than he has ever turned out in herej
before. This was perfectly European in all its details.l
The style was evidently formed after the model of aj
dress worn by a German, or, most probably, a Russian
Kaiser; certainly it was not copied from the Prince of
Wales' the Viceroy of India, or from any of our
officials, civil or military. The coat and trousers were,
of white cloth, heavily embroidered with gold, epau-
lettes of goli, and a sash of blue, witn three gold
stripes through it, was worn over the left shoulder.
"As no star or other decoration accompanied this
part of the uniform, the conclusion is reasonable that
it did not belong to any order, bat that it was merely
worn fur the sake of appearance. The head gear was
a steel helmet with gold, and a plume of feattners sur-
mounting it. He was photographed with tbis helmet'
on, and then with it if and this gave us opportunities
of seeing more accurately the character of the man's
face and head. He parts his hair in the middle, and
when the helmet was off the front view of the face pre-
sents a wonderful resemillance to the Duke of
Edinburgh—this was noticed by more than one of those
present. In profile this likeness could not be seen.
The projection of the forehead over the e) es is marked,
hut the brow retreats very much, the head being
remarkably high and email, the height being behind
and not in front. The Lhotograph negatives were
submitted for his inspection, and then he askea to see the
artists' sketches. These rough outlines had only ben
done while the Ameer was being posed for the photo-
grapher, and were made from a distance. They were
fragmentary and unfinished, and it was evident the
ruk,r of Uabul did not consider that sufficient
justice had been done to his face or his splendid
uniform. Howev3r, he took everything very good.
naturedly, and repeatedly laughed at what was
going on. Evidently the cares of State were
forgotten for the moment, or the negotiations had
gone on favourably during the morning sitting. A
group of his Highland Brigade had to be done, and
the posing of these uncouth Afghans led to more
laughter. An attendant brought the Atneer's chillam,
or ' bubble-bubble,' which he smoked. and looked on,
taking a great interest all the details of photography,
and I was much astonished to find that he could speak
English. He cannot be said to be quite au fait at
that language, still he could form sentences, and
managed in rather a slow way to express himself. It
would seem that he learned it when a boy, and it is
said he can read it very well.

"Dand Shah took some interest in the posing of the
Highlanders: but from the way he pushed the tallest
men to the front and the short ones to the rear, it was
evident that a good military appearance influenced his
thoughts more than that of picturesque effect. The
Mastaua also took a great interest in the proceedings.
He seems a good natured little man, and smiled and
laughed with the others. Indeed they all seemed so
ha ppy,one could not for a moment suppose that there was
a single hitch in the more serious political deliberations
which were for the moment in the background. Being
photographed and sketched was evidently quite a new
sensation to these people, who have passed their lives
in such an out-of the-way pima m Cahn], and they
seemed to enjoy the new experiences immensely.
Orientals are very anxious about their appearance in
a picture. No young lady could be more sensitive on
this point, nor harder to please, than they are."