opinion, they said they
would not interfere with our decision, and were ready to do exactly as
we liked. But as for the European portion of our party, there was no use
concealing the fact that we were frightened, and we speedily prepared to
start. Five minutes later we mounted the elephants, and, in a quarter
of an hour, just when the sun disappeared behind the mountain and heavy
darkness instantaneously fell, we passed the gate of Akbar and descended
into the valley.

We were hardly a quarter of a mile from our abandoned camping place when
the cypress grove resounded with shrieking howls of jackals, followed
by a well-known mighty roar. There was no longer any possibility
of doubting. The tigers were disappointed at our escape. Their
discontentment shook the very air, and cold perspiration stood on
our brows. Our elephant sprang forward, upsetting the order of our
procession and threatening to crush the horses and their riders before
us. We ourselves, however, were out of danger. We sat in a strong
howdah, locked as in a dungeon.

"It is useless to deny that we have had a narrow escape!" remarked the
colonel, looking out of the window at some twenty servants of the Patel,
who were busily lighting torches.

Brahmanic Hospitalities

In an hour's time we stopped at the gate of a large bungalow, and were
welcomed by the beaming face of our bareheaded Bengali. When we were
all safely gathered on the verandah, he explained to us that, knowing
beforehand that our "American pigheadedness" would not listen to any
warning, he had dodged up this little scheme of his own and was very
glad he had been successful.

"Now let us go and wash our hands, and then to supper. And," he added,
addressing me, "was it not your wish to be present at a real Hindu meal?
This is your opportunity. Our host is a Brahman, and you are the first
Europeans who ever entered the part of his house inhabited by the
family."----

Who amongst Europeans ever dreamed of a country where every step, and
the least action of everyday life, especially of the family life, is
controlled by religious rites and cannot be performed except according
to a certain programme? India is this country. In India all the
important incidents of a man's life, such as birth, reaching certain
periods of a child's life, marriage, fatherhood, old age and death,
as well as all the physical and physiological functions of everyday
routine, like morning ablutions, dressing