of things for
me to eat. What more am I to say for the concern she has for my
welfare?"

MOTHER. Fools all old women are! May God reward that Kafir woman for
her kindness, and her children after her.... As though any orders could
keep out a mother! Does he say what she resembles in the face?

SON. No. He goes on to speak more about the customs of the French. He
says: "The new men who join us come believing they are in the country
of the Rakshas [Demons]. They are told this by the ignorant on their
departure. It is always cold here. Many clothes are worn. The sun is
absent. The wet is present. Yet this France is a country created by
Allah, and its people are manifestly a reasonable people with reason
for all they do. The windows of their houses are well barred. The doors
are strong, with locks of a sort I have never before tried. Their dogs
are faithful. They gather in and keep their kine and their asses and
their hens under their hands at night. Their cattle graze and return at
the proper hour in charge of the children. They prune their fruit trees
as carefully as our barbers attend to men's nostrils and ears. The old
women spin, walking up and down. Scissors, needles, threads, and
buttons are exposed for sale on stalls in a market. They carry hens by
the feet. Butchers sell dressed portions of fowls and sheep ready to be
cooked. There is aniseed, coriander, and very good garlic."

MOTHER. But all this--but all this is our very own way----

SON. He says so. He says: "Seeing these things, the new men are
relieved in their minds. Do not be anxious for me. These people
precisely resemble all mankind. They are, however, idolators. They do
not speak to any of us about their religion. Their Imams [priests] are
old men of pious appearance, living in poverty. They go about their
religious offices, even while the shells fall. Their God is called
Bandoo [Bon Dieu?]. There is also the Bibbee Miriam [the Virgin Mary].
She is worshipped on account of the intelligence and capacity of the
women."

FATHER. Hmm! Ah! This travelling about is bad for the young. Women are
women--world over. What else, Akbar?

SON [_reading_]. "There are holy women in this country, dressed in
black who wear horns of white cloth on their heads. They too, are
without any sort of fear of death from the falling shells. I am
acquainted with one such who often commands me to carry vegetables from
the market to the house which they inhabit. It is filled wit