The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-10-24
DDOINGS OF AN AUTOCRhT'
Notes Veucllsafed the World by
Abdurpahman Khan.
Bits From the Autobi-
ograDhy of the Ameer of Afghan
istan-ConstnHtly Thinking of the
Needs of HIS Country-His Enter
tainments Conducted Very simply

One of the poets says rightly: "a lever
seems to find pleasure in the pursuit o.
his ambitions, as the dust that arises
from the feet of the flock is a salye to
the eyes Of the wolf pursuing the f5cG."
In my pursuit after the welfare of At
ghanistan the more that / see signs CT
change and progress the faster | FLOW
them, as a lover follows the traces CT the
footmarks of his ideal. which make him
more eager TO keep on the road l pray
God to help me in carrying cut this duty
for which he has selected me from among
other rIen.
On many occasions I get quite sc5ur-
aged on account of the misbehaTi9r Ct ny
people. who keep on rebeliEg, quarre. ng.
and intriguing against each other, and
making false reports CT each other to ne.
] have then to make enquiries to find out
the truth, and this wastes mere tntn half
CT nay valuable time; 50 that as / Try 10
walk IN the steps of progress they keep
on pulling me back. | get very weary,
and sometimes think that their p ,sition
is Interchangeable and their intrigues in
durable, and that it is Impossible to raise
them to that standard which would ma ke
them equal to their neighbors in strsLg n
and character | feel that it Would se
everlasting anxiety and struggle and "a e
a quiet. peaceful life somewhere else.
leaving my people to fight among III en-
selves until they are ruined But t1.s
would be cowardly action and refusal
10 fulfill the duties ordained by the real
Almighty Master and Sovereign, f-r
which he has created me. / bel eve tn1t
a true lover must never turn his face
from the difficulties that constantly me
in his way, and he must look upon all the
naughty and misohievous play Of his be-
loved, and the crueltics shown To him as
very pleasant pairs and occupl ii rs. III ;
pains CT the lover are the Injuries Ct his
love: and the difficulties and anXisties Of
a retorIueT only add to his enthusiasm
and spur him on to fresh exer;ions.
There was no fixed time and no proper
programme fer me throughout the TWEEN
ty-four hours of the day and night in
which / work; go on working from morn
ing until evening. ana from evening again
until morning, Ike any laborer- / cat
when / am hungry. and some days do
not remember that have not eaten my
meais-I forget all about it, and ask my
ceurtiers all at once raising nay head
from writing: Did l eat my dinneer to-
day or not?' In the same way, when |
get tired and sleepy. l go to sleep tn the
same bed which is my chair for work
DO not require any private room or bed
room, neither any room for secrecy or
for grand receptions. There are plenty
OF such rooms in my palaces, but | have
no time 10 spare, even TO move from one
room TO another. OF course, ] love to go
to my harern and spend an evening with
my family. and they are equally delight
ed when | pay these visits, but my lime
is so full that there is none to spare ex-
cept occasionally when l make il!
AS have said. there is no fixed time for
,,1
mention that my usual custom is 10 go to
rest about s or in the morning, rising
again about in the afternoon Tie
whole time that / am in bed my sleep is
disturbed in such q way that | awake
nearly every hour. and keep on thinking
about the improvements and anx:eti $ OF
my country; then / 80. to sleep again, an
so on. ! get up between and ) in tie
afternoon. and the first thing l do is t.
see the doctors and hakims, who exam n =
me to see IL / require any med5 cine. AT er
this the taller cones in, bringing vi
him several plain suits made in ths Eu-
ropean style | choose enc fer that day s
use After l have washed and dressed.
my tea bearer enters carrying tea and z
light breakfast. During the wh IL of thu
time, from the entrance Of the hakims
until / have finished breakfast, the usher,
the secretaries. tie naZiF tor lord Of the
ssaD and one or TWO other officials keep
CT looking q me, and saying in their own
minds, 'Oh. be quick, and let Us each put
our work before you" ! do no. blame
them for. this. because the secretaries
have to take answers to all the lette. s
and documents and dispatches Ct the day;
the lord of the seal has TO seal all the
orders for the daily expenses Ct the GOV
eminent and to put all the reports Ct III :
i intelligence Department which have been
received since l went TO sleep b re me
The usher has to introduce hundreds OF
| people who have their cases or appeals
/ to be tried by me- or who have to be ap-
pointed On certain duties and services,
| and so on. But no sooner do l appear a.
/ work after finishing my breakfast than
! various officials, my sons, and household
Servants step in TO take instructions for
! their various duties. Every page boy, CT