252 COLLECTOR'S KAMBLES 



Generally the expense comes after they are married. 

 The parents of some girls are so anxious to dispose of 

 their daughters that they buy husbands for them." 



Lohier laughed, and rolled on the ground, evidently 

 thinking that a great joke. 



"How do the girls of Narmuma please you?" 



" They are very sociable." 



" Would you marry any you have seen here ? " 



" Hardly. You see, Lohier, we came a long, long 

 distance to get to Narinuma; and, as we are rich and. 

 very good-looking (?), we ought to have the best your 

 country affords." 



Up started Lohier, with a whoop and a yell that 

 echoed through the town, and was off. 



We had a laugh at his curious questions, and at the 

 way he left us, and went on with our work, thinking no 

 more about the whole affair. 



We did not see him for several days, and were told 

 by those whom we asked, that he had gone away, but 

 would soon be back. 



As we were preparing our dinner, one afternoon, a 

 titter and giggle were wafted to our ears ; and, looking 

 round, we beheld Lohier in the midst of a group of 

 girls, some fifteen or twenty in number. A broad 

 smile lit up the dusky face of the chief, and the girls, 

 many of thesm of superior beauty, were laughing and 

 peering at us over each other's shoulders. In their hair, 

 they all wore flowers, and bands of green leaves adorned 



