202 HAUNTS AND HOBBIES 



towns or villages in the neighbourhood. Both I and 

 my servants were greatly puzzled. 



Presently there appeared before us a grove of trees. 

 We passed the grove, and the mystery of the noise 

 stood revealed. About a mile away, on the other side 

 of the canal, we beheld a collection of tents and 

 booths, and around and among them a vast concourse 

 of people. It was from this concourse that the mur- 

 muring sound proceeded. 



The mystery of the noise thus explained, another 

 enigma presented itself. What was the cause of the 

 assemblage? No great fair was ever held in these 

 parts ; and yet what else could have ever drawn so 

 many people together? While the servants were 

 making all sorts of surmises we reached one of the 

 many bridges that cross the canal. A small party of 

 villagers were passing over it from the other side. We 

 stopped, pointed to the crowd, and inquired its mean- 

 ing. One of the party stepped forward and answered. 

 He told us that a very wealthy banker had lately died 

 in a town not far distant. By his will he had directed 

 that a sum of one or two lacs of rupees should be 

 bestowed in charity on the poor of the neighbourhood, 

 and this spot, for some reason or other, had been 

 selected as the place of distribution. 



The man added that the whole country far and 

 near had flocked in for a share, and, among the rest, 

 himself and his companions. To their extreme disgust, 

 the money was distributed, not in silver, as they had 

 expected, but in copper, and that of coins of the very 

 smallest value. He and his party had received not 



