AKOULL THE DIPLOMATE. 67 



region. We afterwards saw miicli of her ; and 

 whether abroad or installed as mistress of her father's 

 large yarang, which she managed without control or 

 interference, Meeco was Propriety's self. 



Mi-yo, the second daughter, was much younger 

 and smaller than her sister; a quiet, pretty little 

 girl, who said little and smiled much. Both the 

 sisters pleased us much by their looks of superior 

 cleanliness. Akoull and Belconta soon arrived. It 

 was evidently part of the former's arrangement that 

 we should never be permitted to communicate with 

 strangers or men of influence without his presence and 

 assistance, if possible ; or, at any rate, his immediate 

 cognisance of the event by means of one of his many 

 spies : assuredly friend Akoull had a keen under- 

 standing, and a ready fimd of assurance which stood 

 him in good stead on many ominous occasions, and 

 would have conducted him to wealth and distinction 

 in other lands where they are sharpened by competi- 

 tion, and more speedily appreciated than among these 

 people of simple mind. Akoull was a just embodi- 

 ment of his moral qualities, small, shrivelled, and 

 yellow, yet of nervous and active development and 

 habits ; of speech low-toned, fluent, and insinuating, 

 with small quick eyes, sparkling and restless, stealthy 

 step and deferential address, he looked himself — 



f2 



