. The villages of Kok Robat and Ak Robat (names meaning Blue and
White Post-house respectively) wore a flourishing look, and the
appearance of Yakoob Beg's soldiery, still _jigits_, who looked prim on
parade, and yet could play the part of waiter, carpenter, or what not,
with equal facility, added a sense of order and cohesion to the whole
display. The appearance of Yangy Hissar was made more imposing to the
view by the proximity of the formidable fort Yakoob Beg had erected
there; but in itself, owing to the houses being surrounded by mud walls,
with crenellated tops, it closely resembled a fortification. There was
only a brief stay here, and the mission then commenced its last stage of
all. The 4th of December, 1873, was the eventful day which first saw an
English envoy enter that capital, which Mr. Shaw had visited four years
before in a non-official capacity. Special quarters had been prepared,
at a short distance from the fort, where is also the royal palace, for
the envoy, and these Elchi Khana had been fitted up in a very
comfortable, if not luxurious style. Ihrar Khan Torah, who had visited
India as envoy twice before, was the first to pay a visit to the new
arrivals, and to request that they would come at once to see the Athalik
Ghazi. The following description is Sir Douglas Forsyth's own account of
his first interview with the Ameer:--

"According to etiquette we dismounted at about forty paces from the
gateway, and walked slowly along with Ihrar Khan, the Yasawal-Bashi, or
head chamberlain, with white wand in hand going ahead. In the outer
gateway soldiers were seated on a dais with their firearms laid on the
ground before them, their arms folded, and their eyes on the ground. We
then crossed obliquely an empty court-yard, and passing through a second
gateway filled with soldiers, crossed another court, on all sides of
which soldiers in gay costumes were ranged seated. From this court we
passed into the penetralia, a small court, in which not a soul was
visible, and everywhere a deathlike stillness prevailed. At the further
end of this court was a long hall, with several window doors. Ihrar Khan
then led us in single file, with measured tread, to some steps at the
side of the hall, and, entering almost on tiptoe, looked in, and,
returning, beckoned with his hand to me to advance alone. As I
approached the door he made a sign for me to enter, and immediately
withdrew. I found myself standing at the threshold o