94 EVERYDAY LIFE ON A 



CHAPTER VII 



I have just met a curious procession of coolies 

 going to one of their Saami places, evidently to 

 perform some act of devotion. This sacred 

 place is in a nook between the projecting roots 

 of a huge banian tree, and the spot is always 

 kept carefully swept. I happened to be walk- 

 ing near and seeing the procession behind me, 

 motioned them to pass, no cooly will pass his 

 44 Dorei " or " Dorei Sani," without permission 

 to do so. First came a man carrying an oil 

 bottle, then another bearing aloft a basket 

 shaped like a round straw hassock, on this was 

 a coil of twisted wet white cloth like the coils of 

 a serpent, a third had a long tile filled with 

 wood ashes still alight, whilst a fourth carried 

 a plantain leaf. They were followed by a few 

 more coolies, these being empty handed. I 

 was sorely tempted to climb up a little knoll to 

 watch the proceedings, but on second thoughts, 

 I came to the conclusion that to do so would be 

 an act of impertinent intrusion on my part, 



