p. 189, 
p. 181. 
112 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. (February, 1913. 
The next thing to do was to imprison the spirit of fire 
on the scene of the disaste~. The burnt houses were hedged in 
and surrounded with devil-scaring emblems. In spite of these 
precautions, it was feared that the devil might escape and take 
refuge into some odd corner of the village, so the very next 
day all the men, armed to the teeth, with beating of drums, and 
fearful howls, set out in pursuit of the devil, far into the jungle. 
The two families whose dwellings had been burnt down, 
were banished for one year, for if any of their members were 
to set foot in a house within those twelve months, the building 
would not escape from the flames. ; 
Useless to add that my presence was made responsible for 
all those accidents. The loss of two mitous (wild cows) sus- 
tained by my next neighbours increased the public distrust. 
Great, however, was the embarrassment of those poor people ; 
on the one hand, they had found in me a friend, ready to do 
anything to bring relief to their bodily as well as to their spiri- 
tual ills; on the other hand, fright chilled their attachment to 
The diplomats of the village could not bear to see me 
settling so close to Assam ; as for me, I delayed my departure 
s much as I could, as I was anxious to give to my confrére, 
Mr. Bourry, sufficient time to join me. 
Eventually, on Good Friday, whilst all the huntsmen were 
gathered at my house for a hunting-meet, Lendemk, the great 
chief, said to me :—‘* I order you to leave the village to- 
‘“ morrow.’’—** All right,’’ Isaid. ‘‘I had come to give you 
“my affection, and to offer you my services, but as you refuse 
‘“my benefits, I will carry them elsewhere.’’——‘‘ Oh! I don’t 
‘* the reason that induces me to go,’ I answered. ‘‘ The very 
rst accident that happens in the village, you will attribute it 
to m 3? 
20’ (Greenwich). 
_ Then I cast a long parting glance towards the village of 
Mimbo which I was so sorry to leave. | 
