Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-07
ENGLISH WOMAN AT cABuL.
DR.. Hamf1tOn's Experience With the
Ameer Of Afgha nistan.

the arts of medicine and surgery Miss
Hamilton is the woman doctor who spent
some years In Cabul as the guest and
medical adviser OF the famous despot
| Abdurrahman, and her experiences in the
metropolis of those wild regions proved
to be most diverting.
1t was the Indifference to human life
and suffering, innate in ruler and SUBJ
tects alike, which sometimes made Miss
Hamilton's stay at the court rather pain
ful. She had some very bad moments
! indeed. and not seldom ventured TO argue
with the terrible Ameer, and even to in
| tervene on behalf of unfortunate wrong
doors. 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 10 be hanged.
| With some trepidation, this fact was
| pointed out to him. Innocent said he
| Struggling his royal shoulders. well, II
he isn't guilty this time. he's done some
| thing else at another. Away with him.
| The beggar in Cabul plies his trade with
out any interference by the authorities
One day patriarchial professional threw
! himself in the way Of the Ameer on one
VI MS dllSlHOOu JOutHt9S through his
capital, and begged. What are your
said the Ameer. "A beggar." replied the
supplcant. But how do you get your
living?" by aims" What. do you
mean to say that that you do not work?'
mo" And you never have done any?"
"Never!" Then 1t is time that We We're
relieved of your presence" And the
Ameer nodded TO the High Executloner
On one occasion certain man was con-
demned. and was lucky enough TO escape
from the jailer, who, in much concern
for his own head, went out into the by
ways and seized poor husbandman who
was busy in his field. But what have
done?" asked the unfortunate wre ten
Fatalist, like all the subjects OF the
Ameer, he still was curious to learn the
reason of his seizure. He was approach
ing the gallows. when luckily he met the
Ameer's seal-bearer, or some other high
official. and cried out 10 him, begging him
10 interfere. After some alteration the
prisoner was taken before the Ameer,
who at once exclaimed: why, who is this
man? never saw him before" Then he
quickly discovered the plot, released the
husbandman, and, turning TO Miss Hamil
ton, said: Now, what would do with this
fellow?'-pointing TO the jaller-who hav-
ing let the right man escape did not
think It at all improper to catch another
in his place to meet the ends OF justice
Hang him. answered Miss Hamilton,
forcibly So much for the influences of
environment. The Ameer must have been
tickled by the situation. At all events, he
didn't accept the advice. The jailer had
overheard the suggestion, and he and the
Doctor were never on friendly terms
after the occurrence.
Let 1t be said, in all fairness, that IL
81, las .fff 1nvada ms
the innocent, as his whimsical moods
seize him, he is man Of infinite humors.
A man was once condemned TO have his
ears sliced off quite as a minor punish
ment) He had a powerful friend, how
ever, who was much attached 10 him.
This friend begged the Ameer, in duly
submissive tones. to allow him TO per-
form the operation, favor which was
granted However. the amateur begged
the Ameer to show him what portion OF
each ear he wished to be removed. The
Ameer accordingly touched them lightly.
whereupon the ingenous-and courage
ous-person proceeded lin tremulous tones,
one cannot help thinkingD to quote
passage in the Koran which said that
anything touched by the representative
of the Almighty became sacred. The
despot smiled grimly, and forgave them
BOTH
Miss Hamilton was practising in Cal
cutta when the Ameer took 1t into MS
head that he would like TO see and con-
verse with an educated English woman.
q trust that a publication of this fact
will not cause a rush TO CabuL) His
agent made inquiries, and Miss Hamilton
was asked if she cared 10 make trip 10
the mountains. She was not very Well
at the time, but thinking that the expe-
rience might be interesting, even II II
were rather hazardous, she went. After
a weary and arduous journey she arrived
in safety, and soon got on terms with
this famous Abdurrahman. She was quite
able 10 hold her own with him, even De
fore he was taken i'll, and ne soon ouD
bed her his pattern lady"
"Ahp said the monarch one day when
he was taking her into one of his harems
'vou treat me like a dog" or some such
EXPRESSION. by which the Ameer merely
meant that his medical attendant was
not in the habit of crouching and quail |
Ing in his presence. Just follow me, |
and YOU will see how our women treat |
ne" He has dozens OF harems. and |
when Miss Hamilton asked him how |
many wives or slaves he had, he replied, |
How many? God knows"
II is not difficult 10 understand that her |
presence in the capital of such coun- |
Try was viewed with suspicion and |
jealousy by many eyes The Sultana
openly said: you are a butcher, not |
loctor." And all because OF her skill
With the knife and the bone-saw. She
thought ii wise never TO see a patient in
he harems. If any Of the women wished
0 consult her they came out. She thought
{ not injudiclous 20 refrain from eating
God prepared in the harems. Even the
Ameer himself when about TO par
axe of invalid food-farinaceous
nesses, bee teas, and so forth.
suppose-always contrved that
lis doctor should take spoonful Of
ried II. or course, when in full health,
nd dependent upon his own chefs, the
asters were present at the feast-sug
festive offcial He could not have been
m easy patient. After tending him for
many hours at stretch, the doctor re-
ired TO her room for forty minutes, and
ust as she was doozing of was rudely
Weakened by page with the request that
he should go Immediately to the
Imeer. All he wanted 10 know was
whether he might take a peppermint.
THE CAVE WITH MANY MOUTHS.
Miss Hamilton gives, indeed. a most In
eresting account Of her experiences with
he Ameer, who talked very freely with
er upon all manner of subjects. He has
n inqurng mind, with a power OF cor
osive criticism. which IL is not wise to
ombat too openly There Is little love
'st between him and the white races. OF
'hatever nationality they may be- Here
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