, they had a few light
mountain guns, carried on the backs of mules, engines of warfare which
their enemies did not suspect them of possessing.

Their costume also was equally a mixture of the ancient and modern.
Some were dressed in skins, with their hair long, and the upper part of
their bodies painted in many colours. These were some of the wild
tribes from a distance, who had never been subdued. Others wore a sort
of armour of leather or cotton, thickly padded, with shields of hides,
and a profusion of feather ornaments; while most of those who carried
firearms, and were from the more civilised districts, were clothed in
garments of various coloured cottons, or had retained the ordinary dress
of the present day. It must be understood that I learned most of these
particulars afterwards, for they were still too far off for me to
observe either their arms or dress.

On they came with the most terrific shouts, such as I did not think them
capable of uttering. It appeared as if they were giving vent to their
feelings of hatred and revenge, pent up for centuries. My father stood
for an instant watching the two advancing forces, and considering what
course to pursue to preserve his family from the dangers of the conflict
which it was evident would soon be raging around us.

"Into the house, David," he exclaimed; "Ithulpo's advice must be
followed. We will keep both parties out as long as we can."

We were quickly inside the gates, and lost not a moment in calling the
servants together, and in bolting and barring all the doors, and in
putting up shutters to the windows. We found Ithulpo in the house. He
said he had been ordered by his chief to remain with as till we were in
safety. My mother, whom he had warned of what was about to occur,
though alarmed for the safety of her children, did not lose her presence
of mind, but went round encouraging the servants to remain firm and obey
their orders. Ithulpo hurried here and there, directing and aiding the
other men in preparing for a defence should the house be attacked.

In a few minutes all the arrangements which with the means at our
disposal we could hope to make, were concluded; and I had time to look
out from a loophole in the side of the roof, to see how near the two
parties had approached. I first turned my eyes to the eastward towards
the mountains, where, to my surprise, I found that the Indians, instead
of rushing on at once to meet their enemies, had