chap, xi.] KAMRASFS SATANIC ESCORT 321 
drainage. For about two miles we continued on the 
bank of the Kafoor river; the women who carried the 
luggage were straggling in disorder, and my few men 
were much scattered in their endeavours to collect 
them. We approached a considerable village; but 
just as we were nearing it, out rushed about six hundred 
men with lances and shields, screaming and yelling 
like so many demons. For the moment, I thought it 
was an attack, but almost immediately I noticed that 
women and children were mingled with the men. My 
men had not taken so cool a view of the excited 
throng that was now approaching us at full speed, 
brandishing their spears, and engaging with each other 
in mock combat. “There's a fight! there's a fight!" 
my men exclaimed; “we are attacked ! fire at them, 
Hawaga." However, in a few seconds, I persuaded 
them that it was a mere parade, and that there was no 
danger. With a rush, like a cloud of locusts, the natives 
closed around us, dancing, gesticulating, and yelling 
before my ox, feinting to attack us with spears and 
shields, then engaging in sham fights with each other, 
nnd behaving like so many madmen. A very tall 
chief accompanied them; and one of their men was 
-suddenly knocked down, and attacked by the crowd 
with sticks and lances, and lay on the ground covered 
with blood: what his offence had been I did not hear. 
The entire crowd were most grotesquely got up, being 
dressed in either leopard or white monkey skins, with 
cows' tails strapped on behind, and antelopes' horns 
fitted upon their heads, while their chins were orna¬ 
mented with false beards, made of the bushy ends of 
cows' tails sewed together. Altogether, I never saw a 
more unearthly set of creatures ; they were perfect 
illustrations of my childish ideas of devils—horns, 
tails, and all, excepting the hoofs; they were our 
escort! furnished by Kamrasi to accompany us to the 
lake. Fortunately for all parties the Turks were not 
with us on that occasion, or the satanic escort would 
certainly have been received with a volley when they 
