64 AFOOT THROUGH THE 



The day was but too short for all the impressions to 

 be garnered, the heat was tempered, clouds blew up, a 

 coolness spread itself over everything, the sun began to 

 think of its bed-going, and with sad thoughts of the 

 many, many morrows that must pass ere ever Martand 

 could be seen again by me, I, too, began to think of 

 moving, but I allowed some time to pass in irresolution. 

 Again I attempted to leave, and reached a tiny pond 

 near which a vast crop of iris was growing. Impossible 

 to depart without one more view, so I returned to 

 have a last look at the great arch, over forty feet, by 

 which the " nave " and cellar are reached. A woman 

 in grey puttoo frock was there. ; ' Why have you 

 returned ? " she queried ; " why have you been sitting 

 here? Why do the Sahibs like this place? One was 

 here as late as yesterday making the pictures with the 

 ' big eye ' (a camera) after the manner of Sahibs. I 

 understand not why you come ; it is but a poor ruin, old, 

 and the walls are all falling apart, When I visit the 

 big temples I go to the great ' Manda ' in the city, 

 built by the Maharajah Sahib. A fine place that; it 

 glistens in the sun like precious jewels. That is a 

 handsome place ; no mere pile of broken stones." 



The woman grunted with exasperation at the folly 

 of folk in general, and the peculiarities of the Sahib log 

 in particular. Leaving such abstract questions, we 

 found we understood each other better when we argued 

 the question of the correct fee to be paid to her boy 

 for carrying my small impedimenta to the boat five miles 

 away. Women have naturally concrete minds, and they 

 agree best when steering clear of the discussion of all 

 but homely, matter-of-fact affairs. 



Tearing myself away at last from the great sun 



