t impatience, she hits me upon the side
of the head, and I say to my heart it is your hands.

Now this is the French language, Mother.

(1) _Zuur mononfahn._ The morning salutation.

(2) _Wasi lakafeh._ Coffee is prepared.

(3) _Abil towah mononfahn._ Rise and go to parade.

(4) _Dormeh beeahn mon fiz nublieh pahleh Bondihu._ This is their
dismissal at night, invoking the blessing of their God. They use a
_Tasbih_ [rosary] in form like ours but of more beads. They recite
prayers both sitting and walking. Having seen my _Tasbih_ these old
people become curious concerning the Faith. Certainly they are
idolators. I have seen the images by the roadside which they worship.
Yet they are certainly not Kafirs, who hide the truth and the mercy of
Allah is illimitable. They two send you their salutations thus:--_Onvoyeh
no zalutazioun zempresseh ar zmadam vot mair._ It is their form of
blessing.

She has borne three sons. Two are already dead in this war and of the
third no information since the spring-time. There remains in the house
the son of the eldest son. He is three years old. His name is Pir,
which in their language also means a holy man. He runs barefoot in
summer and wears only one garment. He eats all foods and specially
dates. In this country it is not allowed to give children pepper or
cardamoms. He has learned to speak our tongue and bears a wooden sword
which was made for him and a turban of our sort. When he is weary he
repairs to the centre of my bed which is forbidden to him by his
grandmother of whom he has no fear. He fears nothing. My Mother, he is
almost the same sort as my own. He sends his salutations to him. He
calls him "My brother who is in India." He also prays for him aloud
before an idol which he is taken to worship. On account of his fatness
he cannot yet kneel long, but falls over sideways. The idol is of
Bibbee Miriam [the Virgin Mary] whom they, in this country, believe to
watch over children. He has also a small idol of his own above his bed
which represents a certain saint called Pir. He rides upon the ass and
says he will become a trooper. I take delight in his presence and his
conversation.

The children in this country are learned from their very birth. They go
to the schools even when the shells fall near by. They know all the
countries in the world, and to read and write in their language and to
cast accounts. Even the girls of eight years can cast accounts and
those that are marr