A WALK IN KIUSITT. 1 1 7 



" You look very warm and tired," she said ; " pray 

 let me bathe your feet ; it is most refreshing, I can 

 assure you." 



While I remained here a couple of swallows kept 

 flying in and out, passing within a foot of my face. 

 Their nest was under the roof close within two or three 

 feet of where I sat, and the little young ones' heads 

 peeped out over the edge, anxiously watching for each 

 return of the old birds with food. 



"Do these birds always build here?" I asked. 



" Oh yes, every year ; if they did not, we should 

 consider it very unlucky." 



" I did not know you people were so superstitious," 

 I remarked. 



" Ah, but we are ; besides, we are fond of birds." 



" I know that," I said. " I see you have one of 

 those curious restless tomtits, which is continually 

 jumping to the top of his high cage, turning over back- 

 wards when there, and lighting again on his perch." 



From the tea-house I kept up the valley, meeting 

 every now and then natives, with their patient well- 

 conditioned old bullocks, laden with rice, charcoal, and 

 other articles. These slow-going carriers plod along 

 quietly, but surely, for great distances. They are shod 

 with straw shoes, but as these things soon wear out, 



