110 AFOOT THROUGH THE 



of statecraft and the ceaseless strain of a great 

 empire. 



While waiting beside the spring I had found, slaking 

 my thirst there, and drowsily watching the swift flight 

 of the kingfishers, a native boy approached, and with 

 many salaams offered for my acceptance a basket of 

 fresh fruits and dun (walnuts), with much pride 

 pointing out the " gilas " (cherries), the very first that 

 had ripened. With the fruits was a bunch of roses and 

 " mogra " flowers (jessamine, used throughout India as 

 a symbol of welcome or affection) ; these he gave, with 

 a message from his master, a pious fakir, that he would 

 like a visit from the Huzur. As my men were apparently 

 lingering trying the pipes of all their acquaintances in 

 the various villages they passed, I thought it best to 

 make use of the fruits to stave off the pangs of hunger, 

 and to fill up time went down to see the kindly sender. 

 He proved a charming old man, dwelling with much 

 content in a largish cave beside the lake, a well-filled 

 garden surrounding his abode. He was used to visitors, 

 and seemed happy and sociable, but when I asked him 

 certain questions that always interest me, and which, 

 I think, are more likely to be known to those lonely 

 seekers after knowledge than to others, he shook his 

 head sadly. " In the time I have learnt much, known 

 much, but then I was solitary and silent. As the time 

 draws near for me to know Siva (god of death, and 

 therefore, according to Hindu teaching, god of new life), 

 I seek to know this world well, and its dwellers, my 

 brethren, and I talk to travellers of their countries, and 

 it may be that when I am young again my mind will 

 work as in old days, and I shall take part in the secrets 

 of the mighty ones. Read, think, learn, but rewards 



