118 The Hunting Grounds 



the raised verandah just behind our sedan, a fine mat 

 screen preventing them from being seen ; and the 

 old lady took the whole of the compliment to her- 

 self, and warmly reproved her followers for tittering 

 at my speech, assuring them all in a very grave 

 manner, " that the Mogli sirdar (Mogul officer) with 

 the long black beard (meaning myself) was a very 

 respectable man, and knew what was what ; and that 

 when a man was hungry, a group of peris from 

 heaven would be but a poor exchange for one good 

 cook." 



On hearing this I drew in my breath, gave a deep 

 sigh, and declared " that the gifted woman who was 

 hid from my sight by the cruel screen spoke like a 

 book ; and that, although pretty women were as nu- 

 merous as the hairs of one's beard, yet an observant 

 man might travel from country to country until his 

 hair was white without finding or even hearing of such 

 a paragon of perfection as she whose hospitality we 

 were then enjoying." 



Just at this moment two jugglers entered the circle, 

 during an interval between the dances ; and one of 

 them placed before him a large earthern jar, over the 

 mouth of which a piece of skin was tightly stretched, 

 so as to form a kind of drum, which he beat with two 

 small sticks, keeping time to a curious monotonous 

 song, in which he exhorted his companion to display 

 the utmost of his talents, so as to amuse the noble 



