that the
party had not been more numerous; and some expressions of anger, at
the spies on the road by which the traders had come, for not
letting them know beforehand, so that they could have placed their
whole force there and carried away all the goods.

"These are the things that suit us best," Meinik said to Stanley.
"You see, one can go down with a parcel of cinnamon or pepper, or a
bag of dyes, or fifty pounds of cotton into the town; and sell it
in the market, at a fair and proper price. Of course, one dresses
one's self as a small cultivator; and there is no suspicion,
whatever, that all is not right.

"We shall keep a sharp lookout for the men, as they come back
again, and relieve them of the silver or goods they may have taken
in exchange; that is, if they come by the same road--but it is more
likely that, after their adventure today, they will choose some
other, or take a guide and travel by village tracks. No doubt they
think that they have got off easily, for they have not lost more
than a quarter of their goods. It is war time now, and there is no
fear of a force being sent against us; but usually we do not take
so much as a quarter of the merchandise. Were they to lose
everything, they would make complaints; and then we should have a
force sent up against us, and be obliged to move away, for a time.
But as it is, they are so pleased with getting the greater part of
their goods safe to market that they do not care to make a fuss
about it; for they might have to pay the court officials, and
others, more than the value of the goods lost."

"They do not often resist, then?"

"Not often. If a man loses his goods, he can gather more again; but
when his life has gone, everything has gone. Besides, as a rule we
take care that we are so strong that they see, at once, that
resistance would be hopeless. Sometimes they bring armed guards
with them. These are men who make it their business to convoy
traders down, when the times are troubled. Sometimes we have fights
with these but, as a rule, we seldom attack them unless we are so
strong that they do not dare to oppose us. Still, we do have fights
sometimes, for these Shan guards are brave fellows. Their convoys
are generally rich ones, for it would not pay small traders to hire
men to protect them.

"In times of peace, we seldom stop long in one neighbourhood for,
when it once becomes known what road we are lying near, they come
along in parties too strong to