The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1878-12-20
sHERE ALI.
rc.-P.o.ure oftAe Ameer ofAfsh.nissan
lLetter to q London Pape

Amer of Cabul, In March, 1869. He
was then about fifty years OF age, OF
middle stature, with marked aqueline
features, and with fine, soldieriy
bearing. Shere Ali struck me as a man
of remarkably good common sense, and
his powers of conversation were very !
great. During his stay at Peshswur,
both on his way to Umballa and on
his return to Cabu1, he held daily
levees, and spent most of his time IN
friendly interviews with the Europeans
and natives who visited him. In his
leupthened conversation with European
visitors with whom he always took
tea3 he evinced a very correct acquaint-
ance with the leading facts OF Euro
pean history. This was all the more
notable because he was unable to read
or write, and had acquired his infor-
nation from conversations with those
of his attendants who were able to
read. and special clerk acquainted
with English has always been Kept at
Cabul to translate articles ana teie-
grams from the Indian newspapers.
found he knew much of the history OF
Napoleon L., Alexander, Peter the
Great. and even Alfred the Great.
His favorite character was Napoleon,
and on no account would he yield the
palm to our Wellington.
His sense Of humor was very great.
81 know I am savage" he said one
day, "but you English were just as
bad three hundred years ago" Once,
when he was unusually laxative, he
said: elbow dreadfully afraid you
English are of the Russians?' "Not
in the least" replied; eve shall DC
excellent neighbcrs some day." "Ah,'
he said, ssif you were not afraid OF the
~ vrn IN N0nnN
of me.D He affected not to be I'M
pressed with the beauty of English
q ladies'. and several times remarked q
no Passed them ttAhl see you keel
all your pretty women at home" He
frequently expressed his adherence Of
low-necked dresses and short-tailed
coats, and said such advances In the
scale of civilization were contrary t.
his religion, for they were forbidden
by the Prophet! He protested to be
devout and pious Moslem, but numer'
GUS empty bottles told of frequent dc,
partures from the strict injunctions Of
his RELIGION: and when at Jalandar,
where he was received In the most
friendly manner by Sir ID. Forsyth,
he did not hesitate TO suggest that
cherry brandy was much more suited
to his taste when served in tumblers
than in small liquor glasses.
The Ameer's youngest son, Abdullah
Jan, was with him, and appeared to be
a youth of some promise-he was then
about ~ years of age. He could read
and write Persian, and was then learn
ing English. The Ameer often spoke
of his eldest son, Yakoob, in terms o.
admiration, and told me he was yer,
fair English scholar and fine SOLDIER
The Ameer generally spoke Persian
but to the Afghan villager and hill
men he spoke Pushtu; he could also
make himself understood in Hindu
stani, and could give the militar,
words of command in English. III
has had the reputation of being an au
thor, for a book against WahnabysiI
bears his name, but it was written D.
Moulvie in the name Of the Ameer Q
Cabul. He always seemed much IN
terested in the manner and customs {
English people, and conversed &c
hours on subjects connected with GU
national and domestic life. When l
India he bought up all the secont
hand uniforms of European officers h
could lay his hands on, for the use
his staff, and he also purchased rattle
an expensive English wardrobe Il
himself. He said the European Dire
was the dress for soldiers, and tho Or
entail for women and priests. Whe
asked by Lord Mayo how he like
the dress of the highland regiments,
said it was ssterrific," but "was
decent ?''
AFTER GIRARD'S ESTATE.