144 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



and horses, were received most cheerfully, though 

 arriving at a late hour and in such formidable 

 numbers. The most hospitable attention was paid 

 to us, and abundant provision of all kinds made; 

 and at our departing our entertainers would receive 

 no penny of recompense. And other such can I 

 remember, though none perhaps where the demand 

 was so strong. 



Rejected from the gate of the Seraph, whom we 

 voted a barbarian and a curmudgeon, our ambition 

 resolved itself into the anxiety to reach the Man 

 before they shut up for the night. Our new ac- 

 quaintance, who had guided us to this inhospitable 

 threshold, was waiting for us outside, as though in 

 distrust of our being received. He stuck by us like 

 a good man and true, till he had conducted us far 

 away to the upper part of the town, where lies the 

 khan. 



"We saw a large building, with a frontage some- 

 thing like Kewgate. On a rude sort of divan, in the 

 doorway, sat the Khandgi smoking, who gave not 

 the least sign of noticing our approach. Through 

 the doorway we had a perspective view of an inner 

 court of considerable extent, in different parts of 

 which glimmered the cheerful blaze of fire and lamp. 

 Several people were passing to and fro, and altogether 

 the place looked far more lifelike than the dull 

 streets through which we had been passing. 



Our friend approached and saluted the Khandgi, 



