236 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



path to which passed through a small village. As we 

 approached, a knot of Pathans stood in the way, and 

 objected to our further progress, when the following 

 conversation occurred : luckily we understood the 

 language, a great advantage. 



Surveyor. " What objection have you to make to 

 my going to that particular tower, when you make no 

 objection to my passing through your country ?" 



Pathan. "Our houses lie in the way, and we do 

 not wish you to go into our houses." 



Surveyor. " My work is on your hills, not in your 

 houses, and from that tower I should obtain a fine 

 view." 



Pathan. "Yes, and a good view into our houses 

 also ! " 



Here a new speaker, who had spent some time 

 in British territory, came forward and said : " You 

 see, Sahib, their Mem Sahibs (ladies) are in the 

 houses." "But," said the surveyor, "if I wanted 

 to look at Mem Sahibs I would have stayed in 

 India : have we not enough there 1 " " Yes," he 

 replied, "but they are not here." A general laugh 

 followed this, and it being unanswerable, the surveyor 

 turned back. But the feeling had changed ; he was 

 now invited to go on, and did so among a chattering 

 mob, taking great care, of course, not to look round 

 when female voices and giggling reached his ear. 

 This jealous feeling is characteristic of all Afghans, 

 and till the last winter the Pathan looked upon the 



