. ` It must hold everything that thou hast seen or touched or considered . Write as though the Jung-i-Lat Sahib himself had come by stealth with a vast army outsetting to war . ' ` How great an army ? ' ` Oh , half a lakh of men . ' ` Folly ! Remember how few and bad were the wells in the sand . Not a thousand thirsty men could come near by here . ' ` Then write that down -- also all the old breaches in the walls and whence the firewood is cut -- and what is the temper and disposition of the King . I stay here till all my horses are sold . I will hire a room by the gateway , and thou shalt be my accountant . There is a good lock to the door . ' The report in its unmistakable St Xavier 's running script , and the brown , yellow , and lake-daubed map , was on hand a few years ago -LRB- a careless clerk filed it with the rough notes of E 's second Seistan survey -RRB- , but by now the pencil characters must be almost illegible . Kim translated it , sweating under the light of an oil-lamp , to Mahbub , the second day of their return-journey . The Pathan rose and stooped over his dappled saddle-bags . ' I knew it would be worthy a dress of honour , and so I made one ready , ' he said , smiling . ` Were I Amir of Afghanistan -LRB- and some day we may see him -RRB- , I would fill thy mouth with gold . ' He laid the garments formally at Kim 's feet . There was a gold-embroidered Peshawur turban-cap , rising to a cone , and a big turban-cloth ending in a broad fringe of gold . There was a Delhi embroidered waistcoat to slip over a milky white shirt , fastening to the right , ample and flowing ; green pyjamas with twisted silk waist-string ; and that nothing might be lacking , russia-leather slippers , smelling divinely , with arrogantly curled tips .
` Upon a Wednesday , and in the morning , to put on new clothes is auspicious , ' said XXXXX solemnly .
Delhi King Mahbub Seistan day return-journey right turban-cloth waist-string war