1 a vizier's daughter - Hazara.net

99
A VIZIER’S DAUGHTER – A TALE OF THE HAZARA WAR
“Have you a slip of paper?” Gul Begum asked, “and pen and ink. I can
give you a few lines to let your officer know that I have reached my
destination safely. That is all you want, is it not?”
The man could neither read nor write himself but he carried in his
pocket the ordinary Afghan pen box, containing also a tiny bottle of
ink, and now produced both it and a scrap of paper. One of his duties
was to wait upon his superior officer and he often had to provide him
with writing materials on an emergency. Dipping the pen in the bottle,
it was found to be quite dry, but that in no wise nonplussed the soldier
– he walked a few steps to the water channel, and dipping his hand in,
poured a few drops on to the dried-up particles in the bottom of the
bottle, then shook it. Again Gul Begum dipped in her pen, and now was
able to write. That is the way with Afghan ink; it is like a sort of paint
that only needs water to be added to it to make it fluid, and ready for
use.
Three lines were all she wrote, then read them to the man:
“Greetings to the Commedan of the camp, which I left at daybreak this
morning. May God give you happiness. I have reached Colonel Ferad
Shah’s garden in safety, and am thoroughly satisfied with the conduct
of the three men who acted as my guides and protectors during the
journey.
GUL BEGUM.”
The door-keeper took the paper from the girl’s hand – looked at the
writing, and then at her dress, but failed to reconcile the two – then
handed the paper to the soldier. “It is a deal more than you deserve,”
he said. “You have done your duty. You had better go back to your
master.”
“No, that I will not,” the soldier said. “Is this Afghan hospitalit y, when
we have walked from dawn? You must give us some supper and a bed;
we will be off at daybreak to-morrow, we cannot start to-night.”
The old man thought a moment, and in the pause Gul Begum advanced
a step towards him.
“Give them some food,” she said gently. “Two of the men, at any rate,
have not offended you, so do not punish all for the sake of one.”
He looked at her as many another had looked, recognised the something
that the y too had recognised, and gave way.