New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-03
AN ENGLISH WOMAN AT CABUL
DIR. HAMILTON'S EXPERIENCE WITH THE
AMEER OF AFGHANISTAN.
From The London News.


From The London News
The Other night 1 happened to be present at a
semi-prvate address on "Afghanistan. the
Ameer and His Court" which was given by MISS
Liliias Hamilton IN audience OF nurses ana
others skilled in the arts OF medicine and sur
gerry Miss Hamilton is the woman doctor VINO
spent some years in Cabul as the guest ana
medical adviser OF the famous despot Abdur-
iahman. and her experiences in the metropolis
OF those wild regions proved to be most divert
ing.
II was the Indifference to human life and suf-
fering innate in ruler and subjects alike which
sometimes made Miss Hamions stay AT the
Court rather painful. She had some very bad
moments indeed and not seldom vcntured to
argue with the terrible Ameer. and even TO
intervene on behalf OF unfortunate WronSdocrS
But he was nearly always ready to. argue
the point His humor is OF the grim order On
one occasion. when in a bad temper and also IN
a great hurry he. ordered an innocent man to be
hanged. With some trcpidation this fact was
pointed out To him. "InnOccnt! said ne. Shrug-
ging his royal shoulders, well. n he ism I
guilty this time. he's done something else at
another. Away with him The beggar in Cabul
plies his trade without any interference ny the
authorities One day a patriarchai professional
threw himself in the way OF the Amecr on one
o: his afternoon journeys through ms captai,
~ bcggar." replied the supplican' "Eut how
do you get your living" by aims. What!
do you mean to say that you do no Work
No" And you never have done any?
Never" Then II Is time that We were relieved
Of your presence And the Ameer nodded TO
the High Exccu,ipncr
On one occasion a certain man was condemned
and VAS lucky enough To escape from the j1i'er.
who in III ich concern for his own head. went
out into the byways and seized n poor husband
man who busy IN his field 'l!ut what
have | done" asked the unfor tunatc wretch.
Fatais, Ike all the subjects OF the Amecr.
ne still was curious 10 learn the reason
Of his SEIZURE lie was approaching the ganows
when luckily he met the Amecrs scal-bcarer. or
some other high official. aud cried out 10 him.
begging him To interfere After some altcrca-
ton the prisoner was taken before the Ameer
who at once exclaimed Why who is this man
| never saw him before" Then he quickly dis
covered III" plot. released the husbandman. and
turning 20 M>s Hamilton. sad Now. what
would you Ia with th:s fellow pointing 20 the
jailcr who having let the right man escap"
did not think 1T at all improper 10 catch another
IN hs place 20 meet the ends II justice. Hang
him" answered Miss Hamilton. forcby. So
much for the influences Of environment. The
Amccr must have been tIckcd by the situation.
AZ ali events h. didn't lcccp, ia" advice. The
taller had overheard 'hc suggestion. and he and
the doctor wcrc never On friendly terms after
the occurrence
Let It be said. in all fairness that II tho
iesI,ut let's OH the guilty u condemns the lnno-
cent. as ms whimsical moods seize him. he is a
man ~ infinite humprS. man vas once CON
drfnncd 10 have his ears sliced of quite as
minor punshmcnO. lie had powerful friend.
however. who was much attached to HIM rms
friend begged he Amer in duly submissive
tones 20 allow him - perform the operation.
favor which was granted However. the anna
tour begged the Amccr 10 show HIM what por-
ton ~ each car hr wished 20 bc removed The
Amccr accordingly touched them lightly.
Whcrcupon tho inGenous-and courageous
person proc, cird in 'remulOuS tones. ono can
not help thinking) 10 quote passage in the
Koran which said that anything touched by
the representative Of the Almighty became