curio on exhibition, but they did not like being stared back at.

There was no hint of violence or interference, and no apparent
resentment of an alien's presence in their midst. The loud-
lunged bodyguard shouted out to all and sundry to make way for
the "Amerikani," and way was made forthwith, although several
times the bodyguard was stopped and questioned after I had
passed, to make sure I was really American and not English.
Ahmed assured me that if I had been English they would have
"massacred" me. In view of what transpired he may have been
right, though I doubt it. They might have held me as hostage.

Not that they were in any kind of over-tolerant mood. There was
a man's dead body hanging by one foot from a great hook on a high
wall, and the wall was splattered with blood and chipped by
bullets. I asked Ahmed what kind of criminal he might be.

"He did not agree with them. They are for war. He was in favor
of peace, and he made a speech two hours ago. So they accused
him of being a traitor, and he was tried and condemned."

"Who tried him?"

"Everybody did."

"War with whom?" I asked.

"The British."

"Why?"