278 " AHAI OW MAZADA !"

small, roundish grains. Hunger and avarice impelled the poor hags, and their speed and agility soon cleared the ground of every trace of a grain, the very dust being raked up and sifted, that none should be lost.

Then came the finish of the cattle-purchase. Buz Nyal, having failed to extract another sack of dhurra from me, had a final conversation with us through Belal, clinching matters by spitting once more into Belal's hand and then deluging that unfortunate's face. Belal blinked involuntarily during the operation, but stood it bravely, being to the manner born. Happy was I that I had brought him as deputy. Buz Nyal ended up by asking in turn for my eyeglasses, mirror, and spyglass, and refusal by no means offended him.

1 noted on the bank a heap of briquette coal, which had been there prior to our first visit, and, on expressing surprise that it was left quite unguarded, I was assured that it would be perfectly safe to leave one's goods and chattels unattended amongst the people—they would not be interfered with. Dishonesty would appear to attend the march of civilization, for so admirable a trait does not endure long.

I had been overtaken here by the Inspector, who had been up an out-of-the-way khor, Nwaznyel, for the purpose of visiting villages, and tumbled into luck on the way. As he passed by a gametrack through a region of grass, he was faced, at about 50 yards, by a bull buffalo, which a clean