HINTS TO TRAVELLERS. 255 



against the side of the room, which, from its mealy 

 appearance, was evidently used as a mill. From 

 the roof was hung one of the large water-tight 

 baskets of the common construction, containing, I 

 presume, the family riches of tobacco, beads, bits 

 of paper, coloured rags, and lumps of sheep's-tail 

 fat. Very few natives interrupted me in my ex- 

 amination, as they evidently thought I was fasci- 

 nated with the beauties of their handsome sister; 

 and this little experience was of service to me, for 

 afterwards, when, as was always the case, I did not 

 want to be troubled with the numerous beggars 

 who, in populous districts, besiege the traveller 

 with requests for everything they see, I used 

 to station at the entrance of my hut one of their 

 women, and it was seldom, or never, that the 

 men would then intrude, and if they did, some 

 trifle, or a word from my keeper, always sent them 

 away. The husband or the father of the woman, 

 however, always came up on leaving our halting- 

 place to receive the gift which was expected for the 

 services performed, and which, of course, when I 

 came to understand their customs better, I took care 

 to reserve for them. The traveller will generally 

 find that the older his duenna is, the more relief 

 and rest he will obtain after his journey, for she 

 will take care to keep away all intruders, and it is 

 laughable to observe the abuse or threats they 

 indulge in, whenever the younger girls come peeping 

 and running about. A few needles, a piece of 



