MAHDOO. 43 



boxes, filigree gold jewellery, &c, are rather in the way 

 on a shooting expedition. The watchmakers (or rather 

 menders), and coppersmiths, were the most persistent. 

 Trade must be very slack, for they follow us in boats 

 at least a couple of miles up the river. I am rather 

 in favour of taking the clock-man with us, for Alan's 

 w T atch is the only one among the party, and if anything 

 goes wrong with it, we shall never know the time again 

 until we return. 



It was very cold at night, more particularly so as the 

 boatman continued his old trick of leaving a large hole 

 in the roof, through which he talks to Alan at intervals, 

 telling him how cold it is and miserable. " Nevertheless, 

 because the great Sahib has commanded, he will go 

 another mile, although all other boats have long since 

 stopped, but he knows the ' Noble Presence ' will pay 

 him well for it, and what is he but his ' Highness's 

 servant and slave," and so on, giving Alan every possible 

 title of honour, of which "Protector of the Poor" is the 

 favourite one. By the way, his own name is "Alahdoo," 

 which I believe means "Almighty Being." 



All next day we were on tin- river. Mahdoo is as 

 pleased as a child at our catching some fish, which also leads 

 to the suggestion that we should give him our fishing rods, 

 as they will only be an incumbrance on the hills. He is 

 not in the least annoyed when we refuse, only saying mildly 



