2o8 Leaves from an Indian J.ungle. 



More marching brought us to the river again, having now 

 crossed the big elbow or bend in its course. The country 

 now grew more interesting. The villages were inhabited 

 by Mariahs, the wild tribes that people the uplands of 

 Mardian across the river, and were entirely novel. 

 Well-built thatched cottages, each separated from its 

 fellow, stockaded compounds, and very neat bamboo 

 fencing enclosing each little, establishment. On our arrival 

 at our half-way place, by name * Yayanar,' we were escort- 

 ed to a little building in the centre of the village, and 

 prayed to seat ourselves, while one well-built young Mariah 

 beat ferociously on a large tom-tom suspended from the 

 rafters. 



This little house, open on all sides, was evidently the 

 Town Hall and Theatre of Varieties combined. Weird- 

 looking carved wood maces and clubs, for dancing purposes, 

 so we were told, reposed among the rafters. Besides this, 

 we heard later on that these * Town Halls ' are consid^ 

 ered by the young Mariahs of both sexes as the ' abode of 

 love' places where pace Robert Burns the youthful, 

 modest, loving Mariahs 



" In other's arms breathe out the tender tale, 



Beneath the big tom-tom that scents the evening gale." 



The Mariah language is. very pleasing to the ear, being 

 very liquid, with curious soft gutturals and clicks of the 

 tongue. 



The men wear very little clothing, a thin strip of cloth, 

 suspended from a string tied round the waist, passing 

 between the legs, from front to back, and a kind of 

 kamarband wrapped round and round the waist, with the 

 end hanging down in front. The rich Mariah does not 

 sink his treasure in more clothes, than these ; but he goes 

 in for a large and varied assortment of beads, and has the 



