DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15173#0141
CHAP. v. CHARACTER OF THE AFGHANS.
123
miration ; for, in his own words, " its verdure and
flowers render Cabool, in spring, a heaven."
Our intercourse with the people was on a much
better footing in Cabool than at Peshawur ; for we
were no longer in the house of a chief, and not
troubled by -two many visiters. The Nawab oc-
cupied one side of a large mansion, and left the
other part to us. He, however, rallied round him
many good sort of people, with whom we became
acquainted: he brought them over in person, and
we passed to and fro between each other's apart-
ments during the whole day. The habits which
we had adopted, now gave us many advantages in
our communications with the natives. We sat with
them on the same carpet, ate with them, and freely
mingled in their society. The Afghans are a sober,
simple people. They always interrogated me closely
regarding Europe, the nations of which they divide
into twelve " Itoollahs," or crowns, literally hats.
It was delightful to see the curiosity of even the
oldest men. The greatest evil of Mahommedanism
consists in its keeping those who profess it within a
certain circle of civilisation. Their manners never
appear to alter. They have learning, but it is of
another age, and any thing like philosophy is un-
known in their history. The language of the
Afghans is Persian, but it is not the smooth and
elegant tongue of Iran. Pooshtoo is the dialect of
the common people, but some of the higher classes
cannot even speak it. The Afghans are a nation
of children ; in their quarrels they fight, and be-
come friends without any ceremony. They cannot
123
miration ; for, in his own words, " its verdure and
flowers render Cabool, in spring, a heaven."
Our intercourse with the people was on a much
better footing in Cabool than at Peshawur ; for we
were no longer in the house of a chief, and not
troubled by -two many visiters. The Nawab oc-
cupied one side of a large mansion, and left the
other part to us. He, however, rallied round him
many good sort of people, with whom we became
acquainted: he brought them over in person, and
we passed to and fro between each other's apart-
ments during the whole day. The habits which
we had adopted, now gave us many advantages in
our communications with the natives. We sat with
them on the same carpet, ate with them, and freely
mingled in their society. The Afghans are a sober,
simple people. They always interrogated me closely
regarding Europe, the nations of which they divide
into twelve " Itoollahs," or crowns, literally hats.
It was delightful to see the curiosity of even the
oldest men. The greatest evil of Mahommedanism
consists in its keeping those who profess it within a
certain circle of civilisation. Their manners never
appear to alter. They have learning, but it is of
another age, and any thing like philosophy is un-
known in their history. The language of the
Afghans is Persian, but it is not the smooth and
elegant tongue of Iran. Pooshtoo is the dialect of
the common people, but some of the higher classes
cannot even speak it. The Afghans are a nation
of children ; in their quarrels they fight, and be-
come friends without any ceremony. They cannot