THE HUMOURS OF SPEAR-GRASS. 93 



hard smooth white clay, which makes a cleaner and drier 

 floor than we usually get. The inhabitants do not seem 

 to mind tent pegs being driven into the roofs of their 

 houses. Apparently the only one annoyed is the big 

 reddish-gray sheep dog, when at dusk he returns home with 

 the cattle. Seeing the new top story to his house he is 

 much distressed, and gives vent to loud and long wailings, 

 which he prolongs far into the night. 



November 15th. — Great part of our road to-day led 

 through long seeding spear-grass. It was most unpleasant. 

 The little sharp-pointed seeds detach themselves from the 

 stalks and pierce through dress, stockings, and everything, 

 causing horrible irritation. Each spear is provided with 

 a kind of fish-hook to its blunt end. This fastens in your 

 clothes and drives the barb home. Leather, and closely 

 woven linen are proof against the little darts, which were 

 evidently only designed as weapons of offence against hairy- 

 coated animals or garments spun from wool. In the early 

 struggle for existence, I suppose the grass evolved this 

 extremely unpleasant method of compelling the primitive 

 passers-by to scatter its seeds, and so lend involuntary 

 aid in its propagation. It would be an interesting problem 

 for some Himalayan Darwin to investigate : whether Nature 

 were capable of sharpening these spear-heads, or in some 

 way adapting them to altered conditions and more impene- 

 trable clothing. 



