'THIM DAYS IS GONE' [‎58r] (115/248)

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Living in the empty Consu1 ate-Genera 1 compound in
isolated from the Persians - there were of course, no
was dull and lonely. The compound was surrounded by
and the empty Consu1 ate-Genera 1 stood in the middle
garden which, lacking the climate of Meshed and the
Zabul , and
Europeans -
a high wall
of a large
loving care
of a resident ‘owner* and his wife, was fairly derelict. However
erect*" 665 W6re the best ln Seistan and some of them were almost
A unique feature was that all the rooms were domed (as they are
in all of southern Afghanistan) owing to the lack of building
timber. The domes were lit by glazed sky-lights, the walls had
for orndments > lamps or books, and mud-brick ottomans
lined the walls.
This doesn't read like a breakthrough in interior decoration,
but I found the domed ceilings gave me a serene feeling of
tranquility - just as well because the only amusement apart from
reading weeks-old newspapers was listening to the wireless.
The cook, engaged locally, was called Ismail pronounced somewhere
between 'smell' and 'smile', either of which, in fact, was
appropriate enough. Apartfrom cooking game in a variety of ways
and making endless pots of duck-liver pate he had one culinary
accomplishment. He could make delicious fritters from dates.
Never have I been able to get anyone else to produce anything
1 i ke them . y
In spite of the delights of date fritters, life in Seistan was
fairly stark, and it wasn't difficult to understand why the
pandits of the Foreign and Political Department were reluctant to
recruit junior officers who were married.