ROBBING AN AYAH. 301 



On our way to Deoli we passed the Raja's camp, and 

 went in to pay our respects. He was seated under an open 

 tent, surrounded by his attendants in regular Durbar 

 fashion, and received us with much formality. Round his 

 neck he wore strings of really wonderful pearls and rubies, 

 the latter flat and uncut. After an exchange of a few con- 

 ventional remarks, we were hung with garlands of flowers 

 and sprinkled with rose-water, a present of a piece of betel- 

 nut concluding the interview. 



We arrived at Deoli about 6 p.m. and drove straight to 

 Captain Bell's house. He had very kindly asked us to stop 

 and get a day's sambhur shooting. I found my ayah, who 

 had been sent on yesterday evening, half hysterical with 

 grief and excitement. She had been robbed during her 

 journey last night, and gave me a graphic account of her 

 adventures. 



"Memsahib, I fast asleep feel my blanket pulled. I 

 think it slipping, I pull, and see one man pulling too. 

 Then I call to ghari-wallah (driver), and say, 'I robbed.' 

 He say, ' You dream.' Then I see one hand put in carriage, 

 and take my beautiful brass mug all made of copper. Then, 

 Memsahib, I give ghari-wallah one push. He fell on road. 

 I say, ' You go find my blanket ; you not come back.' So he 

 go, and says he sees man run away very fast. ' You not oet 

 your blanket again.'" 



And she did not. No trace could be found of the thief 



