228 RESULTS OF THE TURKS 5 MISCONDUCT. [chap. y. 
It was remarkably unpleasant to be dragged into 
a row by the conduct of these brutal traders, with 
whom I had nothing in common, and who, should 
a fight actually occur, would be certain to behave as 
cowards. The Latookas would make no distinction 
between me and them, in the event of an attack, as 
they would naturally class all strangers and new 
comers with the hated Turks. 
It was about 5 p.m. one hour before sunset. The 
woman who usually brought us water delivered her jar, 
but disappeared immediately after without sweeping 
the courtyard as was her custom. Her children who 
usually played in this enclosure had vanished. On 
searching her hut, which was in one corner of the yard, 
no one was to be found, and even the grinding-stone 
was gone. Suspecting that something was in the wind, 
I sent Karka and Gaddum Her, the two black servants, 
to search in various huts in the neighbourhood to 
observe if the owners were present, and whether the 
women were in their houses. Not a woman could be 
found. Neither woman nor child remained in the 
large town of Tarrangolle. There was an extraordinary 
stillness where usually all was noise and chattering. 
All the women and children had been removed to the 
mountains about two miles distant, and this so quickly 
and noiselessly that it appeared incredible. 
