A thorough miser, the Khan does not, like most Eastern potentates, pass the hours of night surrounded by the beauties of the harem, but securely locked in with his money-bags in a small, comfortless room on the roof of his palace.
[Illustration: THE KHAN OF KELAT] There is not the smallest doubt in my mind that Russian influence is, indirectly, being brought to bear on the Court of Kelat.

But Mir Khudadad may be said to have no policy.

As the French say, "Il change sa nationalite comme je change de chemise," and is to be bought by the highest bidder.
Although the Khan's subjects are heavily taxed, there is no protection whatsoever of life or property in or around Kelat.

Theft is, according to the penal code, punished by fine and imprisonment, murder and adultery by death; but the law is subject to great modifications.

In a word, the Khan is the law, and so long as a man can afford to pay or bribe him handsomely, he may commit the most heinous offences with impunity.
Two instances of the way in which justice is carried out happened just before I arrived at Kelat.