130 AFOOT THROUGH THE 



CHAPTER XI 



All was so still and sweet that day, 



The nestling shade, the rippling stream, 

 All life, all breath, dissolved away 



Into a golden dream ; 

 Warm and sweet, the scented shade 



Drowsily caught the breeze and stirr'd, 

 Faint and low through the green glade 



Came hum of bee and song of bird. 



Buchanan. 



I go a pious pilgrimage And am received with respect Subse- 

 quent visits to the gardens of emperors and empresses 

 With some remarks about the raising of floating crops. 



THE coucher du roi had been gorgeous. The king's 

 rising was more beautiful. My early hours had not 

 been altogether a matter of choice, the " first few " of 

 the evil clans of mosquitoes, that later on make life a 

 burden in the lovely valley, had helped to make my 

 narrow bed an unreposeful lair, and had created a 

 desire for tea at such an hour as surprised even my 

 crew, fairly accustomed as they were to matutinal 

 starts. Refreshed and restored, it would have been a 

 mere waste of energy not to go out, and I naturally 

 turned my steps towards the Takht-i-Suleiman that, 

 lying to the eastward of the town north of the river, 

 throws its protecting shadow over the folk below. 



