Page:Thirty-five years in the East.djvu/106

66 literary men) in Bokhara, for converting the musselmans living in Russia. Hoshbegi examined the diploma in my presence, and stated that it contained nothing more than the assertion that D — had undergone a severe examination in the Arabic language, to the satisfaction of his examiners: thus he was acquitted ; but his accusers caused him to be brought before the Emir, when he and his diploma were again examined, with, however, the same result.

A short time before my departure, Hoshbegi requested me, by the bread and salt whith I had eaten in his house, to write to him from Russia, informing him whether this eldjee (ambassador) was a Christian or a musselman. I was of opinion that it could be easily ascertained, even at Bokhara, by examining his body ; besides that, his light hair indicate, that he was not an Arab. The minister probably did not like to urge the matter any further, because Monsieur D. had brought him some valuable presents. When I entered Bokhara, I was forbidden to write ; and I did not transgress that prohibition. It is probable that the Englishmen who came shortly after my departure to Bokhara (Colonel Stoddart and Captain Conolly) acted otherwise, which led to the discovery of their being spies, on account of which they were beheaded. Dr. Wolff, whose acquaintance I made at Lahore, and whom I saw last year in England (at the Isle Brewery, near Taunton), told me that these two Englishmen had been taken as spies and convicted, and that it was Ubd-ool- Sumet Khan, a Persian rogue, who informed against them, and afterwards caused Hoshbegi to be beheaded ; and who, eventually, was himself decapitated.

In consideration of my attendance on the various patients, I obtained, by order of the minister, permission to pass on horseback through all the bazzars of the holy city, accompanied by a servant of his. Nevertheless, I observed many fanatic students plotting against me, on whom I had my revenge, although not intentionally. I am sorry to say that a student of the high college died in consequence of an operation performed by me. My enemies, however, could do me no harm, as I had effected several important