DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15174#0043
CHAP. XII.
NATIVES OF ORGUNJE.
27
for he might have proved himself " a very Tartar"
under his British colours. He spoke a little Per-
sian, and said, " You are from Cabool?" to which
I gave a nod of assent. The Doctor stretched
himself back in his pannier, and our visiter ad-
dressed himself to an Afghan, one of our people, of
which I was glad, since it would keep up the
illusion. It is said that the natives of Orgunje are,
of all the tribes in Toorkistan, most hostile to Euro-
peans, as well from their vicinity to Russia, as their
knowledge that the Persians, who threaten their
country, are assisted by them. They of course
know nothing of the different nations of Europe,
and look upon all Europeans as their enemies. I
was not sorry when the Toorkmun chief selected
another group, and that he had made no discovery,
even after seeing us, and entering into conversation.
The whole scene appeared to me a perfect riddle,
for we ourselves had mixed with the Toorkmuns of
our party as Europeans; and our real character
was known to every individual of the caravan. Fear
may have prevented some of them from making a
full disclosure, but it was very creditable ; since I
have reason to believe that the people of the Or-
gunje Khan would not have willingly extended
their favour towards us. We, however, had one
instance of bad feeling, in a quarter where we least
of all looked for it, at the hands of our Cafila-
bashee. He required money to pay the just taxes
on goods, which he had at the outset hoped to
smuggle, and though all settlement had been made
between us, and he had nearly received the full
NATIVES OF ORGUNJE.
27
for he might have proved himself " a very Tartar"
under his British colours. He spoke a little Per-
sian, and said, " You are from Cabool?" to which
I gave a nod of assent. The Doctor stretched
himself back in his pannier, and our visiter ad-
dressed himself to an Afghan, one of our people, of
which I was glad, since it would keep up the
illusion. It is said that the natives of Orgunje are,
of all the tribes in Toorkistan, most hostile to Euro-
peans, as well from their vicinity to Russia, as their
knowledge that the Persians, who threaten their
country, are assisted by them. They of course
know nothing of the different nations of Europe,
and look upon all Europeans as their enemies. I
was not sorry when the Toorkmun chief selected
another group, and that he had made no discovery,
even after seeing us, and entering into conversation.
The whole scene appeared to me a perfect riddle,
for we ourselves had mixed with the Toorkmuns of
our party as Europeans; and our real character
was known to every individual of the caravan. Fear
may have prevented some of them from making a
full disclosure, but it was very creditable ; since I
have reason to believe that the people of the Or-
gunje Khan would not have willingly extended
their favour towards us. We, however, had one
instance of bad feeling, in a quarter where we least
of all looked for it, at the hands of our Cafila-
bashee. He required money to pay the just taxes
on goods, which he had at the outset hoped to
smuggle, and though all settlement had been made
between us, and he had nearly received the full