1 a vizier's daughter - Hazara.net

156
A VIZIER’S DAUGHTER – A TALE OF THE HAZARA WAR
settled by you in person, for it is so many years now since you were at
home, you are not able to grasp the situation from my description.”
And so it was arranged. But he soon understood the uselessness of his
petition.
The Ameer withdrew his favour at once from the hitherto honoured
guest, and he was sent home with considerable haste and not too great
courtesy.
Moreover, the Chief Secretary found to his cost that he had indeed
enemies. In a court full of intrigue and jealousy, who has not? Like
vultures they stood round watching for the slightest flaw, the faintest
weakness in the man whose post the y conveted. Here was their chance;
they d iscovered they could at any time provoke the Ameer against his
favourite b y hinting at his desire to leave the country and seek repose
elsewhere.
At first the suggestions met with ind ifference and even an occasional
angr y retort, but after a time the shafts sank in and made the Ameer
determine to chain this man, on whose services he was so dependent,
more closely to his capital; and thinking he was unsettled owing to
domestic discomfort, he began again looking around for a suitable wife
for him – one who was young, good-looking, and had a sufficient
dowry.
The Ameer’s intentions soon became an open secret, not only in the
cit y itself but in all the countryside, then spread to distant provinces.
The Chief Secretary was quite the best parti available outside the ro yal
circle. He was the court favourite, had been allotted the house that had
been always occupied by the Vizier, when Afghanistan could boast of
such an official, drew what was considered in Kabul a ver y high salar y,
and, moreover, had many allowances and consequently but few
expenses. Besides, there were the gifts that fell to him in virtue of his
office, both from the Ameer and princes, but more especially from
other sources, and these were quite worthy of any one’s consideration.
Last, but not least, perhaps, in importance, was the fact that not only
had he no other wife at the time, but was known to have always been
satisfied with one, and that circumstance, even in a country where
polygamy is not only tolerated but in many cases encouraged and
sometimes almost forced, is considered of the ver y first importance in
the selection of either a son or brother-in-law. What we should
consider the natural order of events was therefore absolutely reversed
in this case. Instead of young and handsome suitors, vying with one
another in the richness or their attire, their youth, and comeliness,
waiting outside her window for some sign from the fair lady to whom
they would fain pa y their devoted court, elaborately comparisoned
horses carr ying undoubtedly rich and prosperous riders sought
interviews with the Chief Secretar y for the purpose of la ying before