JOGEE: A PRIMITIVE MAN 131 



pretty harmless little grass snake crawled up, and 

 into my room, where it was killed before any of us 

 went up in the dark. But suppose it had been a 

 cobra ! I have had a weird feeling of suspense at 

 night sometimes lately, on hearing unaccountable 

 noises ; so the other day, when I was wearing the 

 master's shoes I ordered that fine arenga leaf to be 

 sacrificed. By walking in the master's footsteps, I 

 am enabled to cut trees without asking permission, 

 even of him ! It was Jogee, lean, brown, and 

 shrivelled, who this time walked among the long 

 pinnate branches, that spring, one above the other, 

 from the centre stem. He sat upon one leaf, and 

 chopped at another with a long narrow piece of 

 iron, slightly curved at the end ; a most primitive 

 tool. No tailoring annoyed his body. A piece of 

 coarse cloth deftly fastened, without button or 

 hook, was all sufficient. He picked up his bit of 

 iron with his toes and passed it into his hand. Is 

 he paleolithic or paleozoic man ? 



Talking of rats brings to my mind a dinner- 

 party where a funny thing happened. My neigh- 

 bour was discoursing on a mutual acquaintance at 

 home, when the lady on his right said ; 



