FROM TONKIN TO INDIA 



this was warped up stream, and then let go diagonally with the 

 current, a man aft checking it with a large rectangular paddle. 

 Whilst this was in progress I watched the natives at break- 

 fast : the men ate first Chinese fashion, seated on stools 

 round a wicker table, the women after, taking the rice in their 

 fingers. 



On the other side of the S^-kianq- we began to ascend a<>ain. 



Rafl on the Se-kian^. 



Now that we were far from towns, the mafous were working 



creditably. Although very fair walkers, their calves were not 



much developed. On the march they were just like children, 



singing and whistling ; but their chief joy lay in the pipe, water 



or ordinary, which they passed from mouth to mouth. One 



amused us by persistently flourishing in one hand an open 



umbrella, acquired from Nam in exchange for a hat, and in the 



other a fan, without preventing his also bearing his fair share of 



1 06 



