DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15173#0166
148
OUR CAFILA-BASHEE.
CHAf. VI.
We halted for the night at a small village called
Killa-i-Kazee, and, at the first outset, experienced
the influence and utility of our Cafila-bashee. He
cleared out a house for us, by bribing a moollah to
leave it; and we found the quarters very snug, for
it was piercingly cold. Our friend Hyat was a
good-humoured man, and we made Jthe reasonable
bargain with him, that he was to be rewarded ac-
cording to his merits, of which we were to be the
judges. We committed ourselves to him as a bale
of goods, and desired him to march as he thought
best. I gave him my few books and instruments,
which he passed oif as part of the property of the
Jewish families who had left Cabool in the preced-
ing year. Prudence dictated our proceeding very
quietly in this part of our journey ; and we were
now designated " Meerza," or secretary, a common
appellation in these countries, which we ever after
retained. The doctor allowed his title to slumber.;
but it was soon apparent that we should have been
helpless without our conductor; for, on the following
morning,i a fellow, possessing some little authority,
seized my horse's bridle, and demanded a sight of
the contents of my saddle-bags. I was proceeding
with, all promptness to display my poverty, when a
word from the Cafila-bashee terminated the inves-
tigation. We were not now recognised as Euro-
peans by any one, which certainly gave a pleasing
liberty to our actions. Among the contraband
goods, for which the officers of the Custom-house
were desired to search, was the singular article of
Korans; for it appeared that the traders had ex-
OUR CAFILA-BASHEE.
CHAf. VI.
We halted for the night at a small village called
Killa-i-Kazee, and, at the first outset, experienced
the influence and utility of our Cafila-bashee. He
cleared out a house for us, by bribing a moollah to
leave it; and we found the quarters very snug, for
it was piercingly cold. Our friend Hyat was a
good-humoured man, and we made Jthe reasonable
bargain with him, that he was to be rewarded ac-
cording to his merits, of which we were to be the
judges. We committed ourselves to him as a bale
of goods, and desired him to march as he thought
best. I gave him my few books and instruments,
which he passed oif as part of the property of the
Jewish families who had left Cabool in the preced-
ing year. Prudence dictated our proceeding very
quietly in this part of our journey ; and we were
now designated " Meerza," or secretary, a common
appellation in these countries, which we ever after
retained. The doctor allowed his title to slumber.;
but it was soon apparent that we should have been
helpless without our conductor; for, on the following
morning,i a fellow, possessing some little authority,
seized my horse's bridle, and demanded a sight of
the contents of my saddle-bags. I was proceeding
with, all promptness to display my poverty, when a
word from the Cafila-bashee terminated the inves-
tigation. We were not now recognised as Euro-
peans by any one, which certainly gave a pleasing
liberty to our actions. Among the contraband
goods, for which the officers of the Custom-house
were desired to search, was the singular article of
Korans; for it appeared that the traders had ex-