The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-12
GOING TO HIS GRAVE.
Major Cavagnari's Triumphal En-
try Into Yakoob Khan's Capital.


The British Embassy entered Cabul on
the morning of the 24th of July. About
four miles from the city Sirdar Abdoolah
Khan, accompanied by the Minister for
Foreign Affairs and an escort of cavalry,
met the Envoy. Two elephants, with
gilt and silver howdahs, had been sent
for the use of the Envoy and his staff.
Close to the city the whole of the Cabul
garrison, consisting of two cavalry regl-
ments, two batteries of artillery and nine
infantry regiments, were drawn up IN
close column, and presented arms as the
cortege passed. :,
The bands played what they imagined
was "God save the Queen" As the En-
voy's elephant entered the gate of the
Bala Hissar, or citadel of Cabul, salute
of seventeen guns was fired by heavy
battery posted on some rising ground in
front of the city. The housetops and
shop-windows were crowded with sight
seers, but the conduct of the crowd was
orderly and respectful in the extreme. A
guard of honor was drawn up a short dis
lance from the gateway of the quarters
appointed by the Ameer for the residence
Of the British Embassy, and as the Envoy
alighted from his elephant the Com
mander-in- Chief and the Finance Minis
ter waited on him and conveyed friendly
inquiries from the Ameer. In the after
noon Major Sir Louis Cavagnari and staff
paid a formal visit to the Ameer. The
building in which the members of the
Embassy are lodged is very commodious
and is considered one of the best dwell
ing houses in Cabul.
There are two houses, one four-storicd,
the other two-storied, connected by side
walls, so that there is a spacious quadran-
gle in the centre. The superstructure of
these houses is principally of wood, with
small kiln-baked bricks built in between
frame works of wood. This is said to be
the best style Of building to withstand
earthquakes, which are very frequent in
Cabul. The houses had been thoroughly
cleaned and whitewashed and are by nc
means uncomfortable. During the whole
of the journey the officers and escort OF
the Embassy were the guests of the Ameer
Large trays Of cooked food of various de-
scriptions were sent three times day to
the officers, and rations were served cut tC
the escort and camp followers. Fruit
was supplied in such great profusion that
the baggage animals were seen feasting of
a large heap which the camp followers
were unable to dispose of.
The peaceful and uneventful journey
of the Embassy and the honorable anc
ostentatious reception it met with wher
entering Cabul will, it is to be hoped
give quietus to the pessimists who arc
disposed to question the Ameers power
throughout his kingdom. Some ever
went 20 far as to doubt whether Yakool
Khan really intended to receives British
Embassy at his Court. That there ar
diftiulties in front of the Envoy can no
be denied, but there is every hope tina
! these can be grappled with, and that il
the course of time the Ameer and tn
people of Afghanistan will cease II
brood over the memory of the past ant
no longer resent or view with suspicion
the presence of British officers in an.
part of the country.