f a very
common-looking room, perfectly bare of all ornament, and with a not very
good carpet on the floor: looking about I saw enter at a doorway on the
opposite side a tall stout man, plainly dressed. He beckoned with his
hand, and I advanced, thinking that it must be a chamberlain who was to
conduct me to 'the presence.' Instinctively, however, I made a bow as I
advanced, and soon found myself taken by both hands, and saluted with
the usual form of politeness, and I knew that I was standing before the
far-famed ruler of Eastern Turkestan. After a few words of welcome the
Athalik led me across the room and seated me near him, by the side of a
window. At this moment a salute of fifteen guns was fired. His Highness
asked in an eager tone after the health of Her Majesty, and of the
Viceroy, and soon afterwards called, in a low voice, to Ihrar Khan to
bring in the other officers. They came in one by one, and each was
shaken by the hand, and made to sit down by my side. Then there was a
long and somewhat trying pause, during which the Athalik eyed each one
of us with intent scrutiny. I had been told that etiquette forbade the
guest to speak much on the first interview, and that it was a point of
good manners to sit perfectly still with downcast eyes.... After this
silent ordeal had been undergone for some time, at a sign from the
Athalik, sixteen soldiers came in with the dastarkhwan, and the Athalik
breaking a loaf of bread shared it with us. After the cloth was removed,
we, remembering our lesson in manners, rose up, and stroking our beards,
said, 'Allah o Akbar;' soon after which the Athalik said, 'Khush,
amadeed' ('You are welcome')."

Thus ended this imposing interview, imposing not for any magnificence or
barbaric splendour that appertained either to the court or person of the
ruler, but by reason of the mysterious character of the Ameer himself,
of his vague power and influence, and of the hold he had acquired over
such of his subjects as comprised his court and his body guard. All his
Khokandian friends and relations, whose fortunes, indeed, depended on
his power, were stanchly attached to his person. It could not be given
to envoys to possess such complete prescience as to foresee that the
jarring elements, that still existed beneath the surface would suffice
to overthrow his rule still more irretrievably when it received its
first shock from external foes. To the observer, the appearance of
Yakoob Beg and his mil