THE KHOND HIGHLANDS. 263 



Degraded as these Khonds may be, 

 and repulsive as is their appearance, it 

 is to their credit that they have a great 

 regard and respect for their women. 



I visited our captives as they sat 

 round their camp-fire in the morning, 

 and found them bearing captivity with 

 great philosophy ; they only asked for 

 tobacco and toddy in addition to their 

 food. The tiny urchins, sitting with their 

 toes in the warm ashes, had each a bit 

 of a cigar in his mouth, and took kindly 

 to the toddy, which we were assured 

 was their daily regimen. 



Their capture weighed more heavily 

 on their relatives than on themselves, 

 for next day the Mazi, or headman, sent 

 me in a green bough and an arrow in 

 token of submission, and proposed to 



