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the port, where a large gathering of notables had come out to meet him. Thence he was taken to the Afghan Consulate where a grand meeting was held in his honour. He was requested to give his opinion about the future of Afghanistan. His reply was brief and to the point. After expressing his deepest sorrow for the national catastrophe caused by the unwise and misguided actions of its ruler, he said, "I am proceeding to Afghanistan solely with the object of doing my best to restore peace and order and to unite the different tribes now at war with one another. I cannot foretell the result, but this much I can assure you that I will either achieve my object or lay down my life in the attempt." His health did not permit him to stay long in the meeting, so he proceeded to the Taj Mahal Hotel, where he stayed for a few days, during which time, contrary to the advice of his doctors, he took no rest, but continued to study the Afghan problem and the ways and means of coping with the situation. Many newspaper correspondents asked him to give his opinion on the situation in Kabul. To all he would make this brief 80