is their custom, in
company across these desolate wastes. On they came rapidly, the biggest
males on the margins. But presently, while they were yet some little way
off, at sound of a great shout all came to a standstill, the sun now
being set, to take up their night-quarters. Even in the fading light
their body-colours glowed, scarlet and purple, and bright Candar blue,
where, squatting in their hundreds at supper (some meanwhile pacing
sedately on the outskirts of the company like watchmen, to and fro on
all fours, with long, doglike snouts and jutting teeth), they made their
evening encampment.

All that night our Mulla-mulgars never ventured to kindle a fire. They
huddled for warmth as best they could in a crevice of the rocks, warmed
only by their own hairy bodies. For they had heard of old from Seelem
how these Babbab[=o][=o]ma troops resent with ferocity the least
meddling with them. They will speedily stone to death any intruder, and
will tear a leopard in pieces with their teeth. But the travellers, all
three, curiously, cautiously peeping out, watched their doings while
there was the least light left, taking good care that not a spark of
their jackets should be seen, for these Babbab[=o][=o]mas fret more
fiercely even than our bulls at the colour red.

They watched them sprinkling, scratching themselves, like the
Mullabruks, with their feet, and dusting their great bodies with dry
snow, rubbing it in with their hands, though for what purpose, seeing
that snow had never whitened their pilgrimages before, who can say? The
children, the Karakeena-Babbab[=o][=o]mas, squealed and frisked and
gambolled in the last sunshine together, quarrelling and at play. The
old men sat silent, munching with half-closed eyes, and watching them.
And it seemed that the big shes of the Babbab[=o][=o]mas had brought
some small tufty, goatlike animals with them, which they now sat milking
into pots or gourds. And with this milk they presently fed the littlest
of the young ones.

For many hours after the sun had gone down the three brothers sat wide
awake, whispering together, listening to the talk and palaver of the
chiefs of the Babbab[=o][=o]mas. Sometimes they seemed to be clamouring,
fifty together; and then presently a great still voice would be lifted
over them, and all would fall silent; while of its calm authority the
master-voice said, "So shall it be," or "Thus do we make it." Then once
more the clamour of the rabble woul