Rory Stewart was offered a large dog who seemed to have a few health and other ‘issues’. I like that his decision to take the dog seems to have been triggered by the animal’s feeble attempt at a tail-wag and a tiny signal of friendliness. I also like that ten minutes after accompanying his new master on his great Afghan hike, Babur decides to go no further.Â
The relationship between the man and the dog is a delightful element of this charming travel account. Â
‘I couldn’t decide whether he was very depressed or very old or both. He looked over his shoulder and saw me. The stump of his tail moved slightly and he took a slow step towards me. I decided to take him back with me to Scotland … Half an hour later, having given some money to the villagers, I left with the dog. I called him Babur, which means tiger … After ten minutes’ walk, Babur met the cold wind on the crest, lay down and wouldn’t move.’Â
For other Babur tails, see ‘Never Look a Gift Dog’, along with ‘I love Babur I’ and ‘I love Babur II’. Hope you love him too.Â
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Source: Rory Stewart, The Places in Between (London: Picador, 2014), p. 153-54
Photo credit: ArmyAmber at pixabay
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