Omaha daily bee., 1907-02-24


theirs 1 could not think Of putting ON
mine"
That remark made the amir popular at
snoe and his popularity increased with
every day that passed. He oonverses we'll
with all manner Of people and. like the
true tourist, seems to believe that every
body he meets can tell him something in-
teresting.
For example. after the parade and while
he was still surrounded by British officers
of nigh rank. he saw a tall, good-looking
woman crossing the grounds.
''who is she7'' he asked.
They told him that she was the wife Of q
common sergeant
IT want to speak TO her" said he.
ANYBODY who has had the slightest con-
tact with military life in America OF else
where will perceive the astounding nature
Of this request. The British sergeant lie an
essential feature of the military establish
nent doubtless q very good sort Of fellow,
too and his wife is necessary person ana
presumably estimable. but It is not think
able that she should breathe the same air
as a colonel's wife, much less a generals,
The officers thinking that the amir mad
nislmderstood repeated the explanation
that the woman was sergeants wite' put
he blandly reiterated his wish TO speak 20
her, and the embarrassed officers could 90
nothing but summon her. She was sadiy
fustered at thus being brought INTO the
presence of royalty with her ordinary
cIothes on. but the amir had little difhculty
in putting her at her ease. ana they con-
versed for quite ten minutes
This - n fair sample Of all the happeH-
,nrs during Habib Ullah's stay at Agra
He had a question for everything ne saw.
sometimes childish. sometimes shrewn' puS
tNfn
ventures.
n vas IN AGRA that he took his nrst ride
IN n motor car. Lord Kitchener accompany
,nv MIN. The amir had owned car for
two wears. II was the gift Of q distant
sarnirer but II has lain unused In tho
roval stables ever since It was delivered al
Kabul.
ryhere vss nobody 70 run the thing, per- .
hans. though II is hardly conceivaoie' LOT
the late amir established several factories
at Kabu where munitions OF war are
nade "a we'll as other articles that require
thu services Of skilled mechanics Moro
likely the arnir's reluctance 10 railway
travel was the manifestation OF genera
distrust OF wheeled contrivances' ana thS l
motor car may have been regarded an
thing best let alone. /
nat that car will be put into commission I
roads are good in and around Agra Lordl
Kitchener took him at a moderate speeoe,
several miles into the country.
IIabib Julah was delighted and insisted
that the machine be driven at full speed on
the way back. He made known his inten-
ton OF using his own car in the futures ,
and It is fair to prophecy therefoTe thaSl
there will presently DO reform In tho
roads Of AfghahistAn.
The amir also took a short trip In bali
loon while he was at Agra but he did not
intimate that aeronautics would be MADE
the fashionable diversion at Kabul. Mo-
tor1ng first presumably, and when the edge
has worn Off that balloon, perhaps.
It is rather striking that while the amir
was ignorant of motor cars and railways
and much else that pertains to the ordi-
nary life of western civilization he has
long been familiar with and personally ex-
pert at photography. While he was yet a
prince he took an excellent picture Of his
father and more recently he has taken ono
OF himself Both these productions OF the
royal photographer accompany this letter.
The Amir Is a Mohammedan, OF course
and very devout. His sightseeing was
always interrupted at sunset for prayers.
on which occasions he would call in LOUD
voice: III there are any Mohammedans
here lot them now withdraw to pray
II was his religious faith rather than hla
curiosity as q tourist that led him to make
a speciaI trip to q suburb Of Agra where
stands the Taj-Mahal, one Of the most
beautiful buildings in the world. 1t wan
built about $50 years ago by the Emperor
Shah Jahan as a mausoleurn for his favorlte
wife and the emperor himself, one OF
the greatest In Indian history, is also
buried there.
The Tai-Mahal II more than a building.
the majestic tomb being the central feature
of elaborate gardens some 600 yards long
by more than 800 wide The gardens ara
as beautiful in one way as the mausoleum
"a In another. They are crossed by canals
lined with white marble. there are numer-
Gus marble fountains, and grateful relief
20 the prevailing white tone in a number
OF cypress treea
The mausoleum stands on a marble
terrace elevated eighteen feet above the
general level OF the gardens The main
building, s1s fest square, IL. roughly speak
ing, a superb shell enclosing the tomb
propef, which Is a special structure in the
interior some lss feet square.
There are no windows, light beang adj
uitted through screens OF marble trellis
work OF the most exquisite design. The
device would make the interior OF the build
ing gloomy II It were set up in New York.
but In india the atmosphere II usually 30
binding bright that the effect is an agree
able softening Of the glare that Is nicely
adjusted TO the most effective display OF
some Of the most wonderful decorative
effects known TO architecture
The walls are in messios In which twelve
different precious stones figure In amazing
abundance. Among the jewels used In
these mural decorations are agatea blood
stones and jaSpers. but the lapis lazuli
leads in quantity and brfllisncy OF erect
II is impossible TO estimate the money
value Of the materials Used in this remark
able structure. but II Is knSwn that 300
men were occupied twenty-five years In
erecting H. The Amir visited the Taj-
Mahal as a religious duty and prayed there.
There is one feature Of the Anirs con-
versation that IL aitogsther novel. lie
manages never to leave his listeners IN
the slightest doubt a. 20 the intent Of his
remarks 'A0sntlsnen." he viii say. Il