'Through Persia on a side-saddle' [‎215] (250/360)

THROUGH THE DESERT TO BAM PUR AND PAHRA 215
from the days when Alexander and his army passed
through, and we wished we could excavate it for possible
traces of a Greek occupation, and offered money for
coins or old pottery ; but the villagers did not respond
in any way.
That night the Governor of Baluchistan invited us
to dine with him, and ordered a large crimson - lined
tent, like a gigantic parasol, to be pitched between our
respective camps. Nominally it was his party, but I
had almost as much to do with it as if it had been
my own. Our tables, chairs, plates, knives, forks, and so
on, were requisitioned for the entertainment, our cooks
were borrowed to manufacture European dishes, and the
Assad-i-Dowleh sent a special message begging me to
provide a jelly, as he had so much enjoyed the one at
our dinner-party! We supplied wine, sweets, and bis
cuits, so that, as far as I could judge, the Governor's
contribution to his own feast was merely a couple of
pillaus. In fact it would almost have been less trouble
to have had the whole affair in our camp, although one
great point in having it elsewhere was that we were at
liberty to retire when we chose. It was a moonless
evening when the fat interpreter appeared to escort us
to the big tent, and a great bonfire was blazing up in
front of it, t illuminating the scarlet and blue-clad band
which stood round in readiness to discourse sweet (?)
harmonies, their big drum occupying a perilous position
close to the flames. Branches of wood flaring in high
iron stands served as candles for their scraps of manu
script music, throwing up in silhouette the figures of our
host and the others who marched out to meet and wel
come us. I was placed next the Assad-i-Dowleh, whom