A Peep into Toorkisthhan | Page 9

approach to Bamee[=a]n was very singular; the whole face of the
hills on either hand was burrowed all over with caves like a huge
rabbit-warren. I am informed that these caves are the work of nature,
"yet worked, as it were planned," and are occupied occasionally by
travellers both in summer and winter; they are observable in many
places in Toorkisth[=a]n, and, when situated high up on the face of the
hill, afford a safe retreat for the hunter. The road was tolerably good for
the last three miles, running along a narrow valley sprinkled with
numerous forts, which are generally occupied by the Huzareh tribes, an
ill-featured but athletic race.
I shall not detain the reader by any description either of the wonderful
ruins of the ancient city of Goolgoolla or of the gigantic images of
Bamee[=a]n, these curiosities having been ably described in Masson's
very interesting work; but I was a good deal amused by the various
legends with which the natives are familiar, of one of which, relating to
a chalybeate spring in the neighbourhood called the "Dragon's Mouth,"
I shall take the liberty to offer a free version. It was related to me by an
old gentleman who brought a few coins to sell, and I listened to him
with some patience; but in proportion as the old fellow observed my
passive attention did he increase in verbosity and pompous description.
I still waited for the point of the story, but my friend, after exhausting

his powers of speech and metaphor, was fain to wind up his tale with a
most lame and impotent conclusion. I now give it to the reader, not
from a wish to punish him as I was punished, but because from the
prolixity of the narrator he necessarily most minutely described scenes
and customs, which, though they had nothing on earth to do with the
"Dragon's Mouth," may prove interesting to the reader, as illustrating
the peculiarities of the people amongst whom we were now sojourning.

CHAPTER V.
"A TALE OF THE DRAGON'S MOUTH."
In the reign of Ameer Dost Mahommed Kh[=a]n, when all the pomp
and pride of glorious war was in its zenith at C[=a]bul, there lived on
the borders of Kulloom and Kundooz, a chieftain named Khan Shereef,
whose grandfather had accompanied the illustrious Nadir Shah from
Persia in his expedition through Affghanist[=a]n, and followed the
fortunes of his royal master, even to the very gates of the imperial
Delhi. On his return towards Persia, he had for a time intended to settle
in C[=a]bul, but "death, who assaults the walled fort of the chieftain as
well as the defenceless hovel of the peasant," seized him for his own;
the father also paid the debt of nature in the capital of Affghanist[=a]n,
but not before the young Khan Shereef had seen the light. Growing up
to manhood and wearying of the monotonous life a residence in
C[=a]bul entailed, he pursued his way across the frontier mountains of
Toorkisth[=a]n, and arrived at the court of Meer Moorad Beg. Here he
performed good service in the field, and becoming his master's personal
friend and favourite, had a fort and a small portion of territory assigned
to him. It was at the court of the Kundooz ruler that he first became
acquainted with Zebah, the lovely rose of Cashmere, whom he
eventually purchased from her father for his wife.[*] He started with
his bride to take possession of his newly-acquired gift, an insulated
fortress in the heart of a country abounding in those extensive prairies
for which Toorkisth[=a]n is so justly celebrated. On these magnificent
savannahs he reared the Toorkman steed, and soon boasted an
unrivalled stud.

[* Note: It is customary in this country as well as in other parts of Asia
to purchase the young women who may be selected for wives of their
relations, the purchase money varying according to the degrees of
beauty.] Towards the close of the first year he became a father, an event
which was hailed with extravagant joy by all his vassals, the old
retainers of his father foretelling the future achievements in the foray of
the young Abdoollah Reheem.
A few months had scarcely elapsed, when the anxious mother spied an
old crone moving about in the court-yard; their eyes happening to meet,
Zebah screamed and fell into a swoon. The young heir was instantly
hurried away, but not before the old hag had cast a withering glance on
the boy's beautiful face; every one was now fully convinced that he had
been struck by the "evil eye," which was but too clearly proved by the
event, for from that day he sickened and pined away till reduced to a
mere skeleton.
Large sums of money were expended by the fond parents in