THE KILLING OF THE GREY BEAR 171 



the conformation varies but little, but in this small 

 settlement every sort and kind of ear was to be 

 studied, the pointed, the erect, the fiat, the flap, 

 the stuck-out, the pretty, the neat, the heavy-lobed, 

 the thick-rimmed, the thin-rimmed, the intricate, 

 the open, the hirsute, the fiery, the flabby, the gouty — 

 all so expressive and so extraordinarily diverse. I 

 tried to question Ali about them, but to no purpose. 

 Everyone could hear, he said, and that was all that 

 mattered. 



If their ears varied, their voices did not. They were 

 loud and self-assertive. The savage shouts because he 

 is always talking over long distances, either across 

 valleys, or rivers, or country. The highly-cultured 

 man speaks so that he can just be heard — there is no 

 need to hit the ear. Perhaps its effect on the voice is 

 the best gift civilization bestows for the tolls levied on 

 us. A beautiful voice is very potent, and has won as 

 many victories as riches or power or the pen. A man 

 may make a speech that will read well in the papers 

 to-morrow, but he may make no effect on his audience 

 without a rich and telling voice. 



I wondered how these mountain men talked love to 

 their many wives. Can love be spoken harshly — in 

 raucous tones ? I suppose it can. But then, love is a 

 wonderful thing. 



When he knew we were out after tur the Headman 

 said he would save us all further trouble for he had 

 any amount of horns, useless to himself, from which 

 we were welcome to take our pick. He would have us 

 go at once and view the trophies. 



