215 



of small bulk; which they exchange, on their return, for gold- 

 dust, musk, and other things of a similar nature, concealing them 

 easily in their hair, and in the cloths round their middle; carrying 

 on, in proportion to their numbers, no inconsiderable traffic by 

 these means." 



These people were often brought to me secretly, to know if I 

 would purchase ottah of roses, pearls, or other concealed commo- 

 dities : I had frequently some trouble with them as custom-master 

 at Baroche. 



Kimcatodrah, being near the river, is amply supplied with water. 

 Most villages in this tract of country have public wells and tanks, 

 where the pilgrim and his cattle are sure of finding abundance, 

 except in dry seasons; and then some charitable individual gene- 

 rally alleviates the failure, by placing a person to dispense water 

 gratis from a temporary receptacle. On our Saviour's words, 

 " Whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink, in my name, 

 verily I say unto you he shall not lose his reward." Harmer justly 

 remarks, that " the general thought is plain to every reader; that 

 no service performed to a disciple of Christ, out of love to his 

 master, though comparatively small, should pass away unrewarded : 

 but those in more temperate climates, are sometimes ready to 

 think that the instance our Lord mentions, is of so very trifling 

 a nature, that it appears almost ludicrous. It certainly would not 

 be so now to an inhabitant of the east; nor did it then, we have 

 reason to believe, appear in that light to them, to whom he imme- 

 diately made that declaration ; a cup of cold water is to them a 

 refreshment not unworthy of acceptance." To this, Dr. Clarke 

 adds a further illustration, that " it appears from the most authen- 



