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Finally Futteh Ali Shah forgot all his Bombay manners; he leaned across Ralston, and cried to Rahat Mian: "Do you know what I would like to do with you? I would like to string my bedstead with your skin and lie on it." And upon that Ralston arrived at the conclusion that the meeting might as well come to an end. He dismissed Rahat Mian, promising him a safe conveyance to his home.
Rahat Mian lived in one of the square mud windowless houses, each with a tower at a corner which dot the green wheat fields in the Khyber Pass wherever the hills fall back and leave a level space. His house was fifty yards from the road, and the trench stretched to it from his very door. But not two hundred yards away there were other houses, and one of these held Rahat Mian's enemies.
Until married, the rahat is their sole garment. Throughout the Arab tribes of Upper Egypt, chastity is a necessity, as an operation is performed at the early age of from three to five years that thoroughly protects all females, and which renders them physically proof against incontinency. There is but little love-making among the Arabs.
The rahat is a fringe of fine dark brown or reddish twine, fastened to a belt, and worn round the waist. On either side are two long tassels, that are generally ornamented with beads or cowries, and dangle nearly to the ankles, while the rahat itself should descend to a little above the knee, rather shorter than a Highland kilt.
"I have brought you here that together we may put an end to your dispute with Rahat Mian," said Ralston, and, taking no notice of the exclamation of surprise which broke from the Pathan's lips, he rang the bell and ordered Rahat Mian to be shown in. "Now let us see if we cannot come to an understanding," said Ralston, and he seated himself between the two antagonists.
Armed with his pedigree rifle, Futteh Ali Shah lay in wait vainly for Rahat Mian, until an unexpected bequest caused a revolution in his fortunes. He went down to Bombay, added to his bequest by becoming a money-lender, and finally returned to Peshawur, in the neighbourhood of which city he had become a landowner of some importance. Meanwhile, however, he had not been forgetful of Rahat Mian.
He left relations behind to carry on the feud, and in addition he set a price on Rahat Mian's head. It was this feud which Ralston had it in his mind to settle. He turned to Rahat Mian. "You are willing to make peace?" "Yes," said the old man. "You will take your most solemn oath that the feud shall end. You will swear to divorce your wife, if you break your word?"
Although the tope or robe, loosely but gracefully arranged around the body, appears to be the whole of the costume, the women wear beneath this garment a thin blue cotton cloth tightly bound round the loins, which descends to a little above the knee; beneath this, next to the skin, is the last garment, the rahat.
"He had better be safely lodged. Where is he?" "I have him outside." Ralston rang for lights, and then said to Singleton: "Then, I'll see him now." And in a few minutes an elderly white-bearded man, dressed from head to foot in his best white robes, was shown into the room. "This is his Excellency," said Captain Singleton, and Rahat Mian bowed with dignity and stood waiting.
Until married, the rahat is their sole garment. Throughout the Arab tribes of Upper Egypt, chastity is a necessity, as an operation is performed at the early age of from three to five years that thoroughly protects all females and which renders them physically proof against incontinency. There is but little love-making among the Arabs.
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