Burnes, Alexander: Travels into Bokhara: containing the narrative of a voyage on the Indus from the sea to Lahore, ... and an account of a journey from India to Cabool, Tartary and Persia ; performed by order of the supreme government of India, in the years 1831, 32, and 33 (Band 1) (London, 1835)

60

HOSPITALITY AT KHYRPOOR. chap. hi.

ing to other people's concerns as well as our own.
He examined my sword, a small cavalry sabre, and
remarked that it would not do much harm; but I
rejoined, that the age of fighting with this weapon
had passed, which drew a shout and a sigh from
many present. There was so much mildness in all
that the Ameer said, that I could not believe we
were in a Belooche court. He expressed sorrow
that we could not stay a month with him ; but since
we were resolved to proceed, we must take his state
barge, and the son of his vizier, to the frontier, and
accept the poor hospitality of a Belooche soldier,
meaning himself, so long as we were in the Khyr-
poor territory. I must mention that the hospitality,
which he so modestly named, consisted of eight or
ten sheep, with all sorts of provisions for 150 people
daily; and that, while at Khyrpoor, he sent for our
use, twice a day, a meal of seventy-two dishes.
They consisted of pillaos and other native viands.
The cookery was rich, and some of them delicious.
They were served up in silver. We quitted Khyr-
poor with regret, after the attentions which we had
received. Before starting, the Ameer and his family
sent to us two daggers, and two beautiful swords with
belts ornamented by large masses of gold. The
blade of one of them was valued at 80/. To these
were added many cloths and native silks; also a
purse of a thousand rupees, which I did not accept,
excusing myself by the remark, that I required
nothing to make me remember the kindness of
Meer Iioostum Khan.