IN THE JUNGLE 



smilingly across the space that separated us. And 

 about eight or ten seconds after his emergence — 

 again just the right dramatic pause — the bushes 

 parted again to give entrance to four of the quaint- 

 est little dolls of wives. These advanced all abreast, 

 parted, and took up positions two either side the 

 smiling chief. This youth was evidently in the 

 height of fashion, his hair braided in a tight queue 

 bound with skin, his ears dangling with ornaments, 

 heavy necklaces around his neck, and armlets etc., 

 ad lib. His robe was of fine monkey skin embroi- 

 ered with rosettes of beads, and his spear was very 

 long, bright and keen. He was tall and finely built, 

 carried himself with a free, lithe swing. As the 

 quintette came to halt, the villagers fell silent and our 

 shauri began. 



We drew up and dismounted. We all expecto- 

 rated as gentlemen. 



*'These," said he proudly, '^are my beebees.'* 



We replied that they seemed like excellent beebeeSj 

 and politely inquired the price of wives thereabout, 

 and also the market for totos. He gave us to under- 

 stand that such superior wives as these brought 

 three cows and twenty sheep apiece, but that you 

 could get a pretty good toto for half a rupee. 



*'When we look upon our women," he concluded 

 grandly, "we fi^nd them good; but when we look upon 



2^1 



