down on the ground, and began knocking his head against the floor, whining and talking in the most melancholy way, which, as I don’t understand a word of Hindustani, was of great use. However, I took for granted his house was burnt, which happens to all our servants constantly, and they expect us to pay for a new house; so I told the jemadar to tell him to stand up, as I never would give anything to anybody who went on begging in that crouching way, and to ask what had happened; and, after a great deal more whining and sobbing, the jemadar began interpreting: ‘By your favour, the man say, he be your Lady Sahib’s housemaid—what we call mater—and the Lord Sahib’s mater have got a red turban, and this man say he got none.’ So I said I would ask Major Byrne about it, but I had no objection to give him money privately for a turban if there was any difficulty. ‘Oh! but Major Byrne have given him white turban, only no red cloth in it, and he so sorry.’ I am sure if he had lost all his relations he could not have cried more, and the misfortune is that Major Byrne is quite obdurate about it, and says he is not to have this rag of his ambition; so, to
