186 



THE BLAT ELEPHANT. 



AHMAN, my head boatman, came into the verandah 

 by the front stairs, and I knew that he had important 

 news. The old man had his own way of doing every- 

 thing, and whenever he came to see me about the 

 Government boats, or any other matter of pure 

 business, he came in through the servants' entrance. 

 If he came on an errand connected with shooting or 

 fishing, he felt that the relationship between us 

 justified him in using a side entrance to the bungalow. 

 But when he came with khabar of big game, he always 

 presented himself at the front door. When I looked 

 up from my official correspondence I saw him in the 

 doorway. A smile beamed upon his face, and with an 

 air of appreciation he scratched his left shin-bone 

 with the gaunt big-toe of his right foot. He stood in 

 silence, waiting till my expectancy should reach that 

 happy moment when it is fully ripe, and is as yet 

 untouched by the canker of irritation. His smile 

 grew and broadened until he showed every ragged 

 tooth or empty socket in his old head. 



"The Blat Elephant is feeding near Kuala Sol." 

 He paused to let me take in the news to its full 

 extent, and then continued : " The tide will be 



