MY LITTLE STAFF HEADED BY PAUL 53 



hatred and love, envy and the thirst for revenge do 

 not travel much further than from hearth to hearth. 

 Thus no one regarded me as the hated foreigner, 

 but rather as a friend sent by their lord and master, 

 their King over life and death. 



The bearers can be seen squatting on their heels 

 in the background, chewing betel-nut and waiting 

 for their burdens. Their faces, disfigured by much 

 hard work and many privations, express indifference 

 and a dull resignation. Six sheep, five white ones 

 and one spotted with red, bleat from time to time : 

 they are to follow as living provisions. There are 

 also twelve hens, with their feet fettered, fluttering 

 about waiting to start "for laying eggs," as the 

 head of the village was good enough to explain to 

 me with respectful gestures. 



" Uzur qui merbani," is the only answer I can get 

 out of all these Secretaries of State of the mountain 

 village to my questions about roads, weather, game, 

 etc. 



" And how about the beautiful, rare markhor ? " 

 I ask. 



" Uzur qui merbani, very numerous, enormous 

 horns." 



" Do you think it possible I shall get a shot at a 

 good buck ? " 



" Uzur qui merbani ! " 



