THE KISS OF DEVOTION. 447 



never omitted, at least in the presence of a white man. 

 After prayers every one kisses every one else three times, 

 once on each cheek and once on the mouth. This is univer- 

 sal men, women and children, servants and masters, sol- 

 diers and their commanding officers. It is neither the 

 ecstatic nor paroxysmal kiss nor yet the Platonic, but simply 

 the kiss of devotion. 



The entire household join in prayers, all standing before 

 the chromos of saints with metallic rays attached to their 

 heads in the most realistic fashion, and cross themselves 

 and bow in unison unless some one particularly devout pros- 

 trates himself upon the floor and kisses the planks in the 

 fervor of his religious zeal. It was a beautiful sight to me 

 to see the gray haired prefet take the little Nanyah by the 

 hand and lead her before the family altar, where they stood 

 side by side at their devotions. When finished, she would 

 cross her dear little hands and hold them suppliantly toward 

 her companion, while he made the sign of the cross over her 

 and dropped his hard hand upon hers. This concluded the 

 devotion. It is a convenient religion for a lazy man, for in 

 the 365 days that compose the year there are no less than 

 450 saints' days or holy days, and no good Christian would 

 work upon a holy day. Were it not that the fish are so 

 abundant I fear these people would starve to death. 



I never could make out the exact position occupied by 

 la petite Nanyah in the household at Sredne. She seemed 

 to unite the duties of a plaything, a daughter, and a servant. 

 I first saw her the day that I arrived at the house of the 

 prefet. My attention had been attracted by a brilliant 

 costume of the Amoots, and to show it to better advantage 

 the ever-useful Nanyah was called upon as a lay figure. 

 There was neither hesitation nor boldness in her manner. 

 She was simply showing the dress, not herself. She had 

 neither fear of the stranger nor hesitation to accommodate 

 him by wearing this gaudy, savage costume. With her it 

 was simply a pleasure to please others. 



I was told that Nanyah was to be our traveling companion 



