A VILLAGE SCENE. 



179 



Later on we found the Lumbardar sitting on the 

 steps. Alan thought it was out of politeness, and begged 

 him not to wait. He said gently that his business de- 

 tained him ; and after some cross-examination we dis- 

 covered our home was his office, and that he was transacting 

 the village work on the steps. 



Our breakfast now arrived in procession from the 

 kitchen at the other end of the lane ; and it was funny 

 to see Santan, in spotless white costume, struggling to 

 keep it and the dishes clean from the knee-deep mud. 

 The ayah simply tucked her skirts up to her knees, and 

 seemed quite in her element wading with 

 bare feet and legs through the black slush. 



There was plenty to observe from our 

 door. The women, with red water-jars 

 piled two or three high on their heads, 

 went past in chattering troops to the well. 

 Occasionally came little black donkeys, 

 carrying bigger jars, slung on either side. 

 Then flocks of goats and sheep going to 

 graze, filing out of their masters' houses, where apparently, 

 like Paddy's pigs, they pass the night. 



An observant little crowd of children are still outside, 



and they seem hurt when the increasing heat of the sun 



brings out more strongly the many and varied odours 



of the town, and hastens our return to camp. Some one 



n 2 



GOING TO THE WELL. 



