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Updated: June 29, 2025
The wish might possibly have been no more attained than theirs, had he not secured the support of the most capable soldier in Khokand, Mahomed Yakoob, the defender of Ak Musjid against the Russians. It was not until the early part of the year 1865 that this Khoja pretender, with his small body of Khokandian officers and a considerable number of Kirghiz allies, appeared upon the scene.
The Khoja at the Marriage Feast. On the following day Khoja Effendi went to a marriage feast, dressed in his old clothes. His appearance was indeed very shabby, and the attendants were almost disposed to refuse him admission, but he slipped in whilst honours and compliments were being paid on the arrival of some grander guests.
There was no relaxation in the rate of marching, and Khelat-i-Ghilzai was reached on the eighth day from Ghuznee, showing a daily average of nearly seventeen miles. The 24th was a halt day at Khelat-i-Ghilzai, where Sir Frederick Roberts received a letter from General Primrose in Candahar, describing the sortie made on the village of Deh Khoja and giving details of his situation.
When they were all out of sight the Khoja got down and took off all his clothes and folded them neatly together, and put them on the saddle. Then he got up again and sat on his clothes, to keep them dry. By and by the rain ceased, and the Khoja dressed himself and went leisurely home.
After a few days came some men who desired to be guests to the Khoja. "Who are you?" said he. "We are neighbours of the man who brought the hare," said they. This time the soup was certainly thin, but that did not hinder the arrival of some fresh guests in a very few days. "Who are you?" said the Khoja. "We are neighbours of the neighbours of the man who brought the hare," was the reply.
Its advantages were improved so skilfully that it was at one time believed there was a European engineer in Ayoub's camp. Deh Khoja was inconveniently near the Cabul gate, and was always full of men. So menacing was the attitude of the Afghans that a sortie was resolved on against the village, which was conducted with resolution but resulted in utter failure.
One day a man came to the Khoja and became his guest for the night. When they had had supper they lay down to sleep. After a while the light went out; but the Khoja was lazy, and pretended not to observe it, for he did not want to get up. "Khoja! Khoja!" cried the guest. "What's the matter?" said the Khoja. "Don't you see that the light's gone out?" said the guest.
"O most venerable Sage!" replied the Khoja, "have you indeed numbered the stars of the sky?" But as the Khoja spoke the third wise man came forward and said: "Most worshipful Effendi! Be pleased now to hear my question, and if you can answer it, we will conform to the wishes of the Sultan. How many hairs are there in my beard?"
Thus they came to the palace, and the Khoja entered the presence of the Sultan, and gave the salaam and received it in return. Then he was shown where to sit, and being seated, and having made a prayer for the Padisha, "O most noble Sultan," said he, "wherefore have you brought me hither, and what is your will with me?"
By and by it began to rain; every one rode off as usual, and this time the Khoja among them. The Bey, however, could not induce his horse to stir out of a foot's pace, and when he arrived at his palace he was drenched to the skin. "Wretched man!" he cried to the Khoja, "is it not through you that I was induced to ride this useless horse?"
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