d they made a combined effort and hustled me out here into
the oil business, and here I am in my element."

"I can't say you look particularly oily," observed his companion.

"Perhaps not, but I dare say to lots of young fellows I seem a dry old
stick--anyhow, I _was_ a stick in 'the Profession.'"

Occasionally Roscoe invited Shafto to accompany him of an evening, and
introduced him to strange and wonderful sights--wrestling,
cock-fighting, puppet _pwes_, or plays in the Burmese character. These
were acted by little figures wonderfully manipulated by strings behind
the scenes; the holder of the string also supplied any amount of
dialogue (not always of the most decorous description), and also all
the latest and coarsest jokes from the bazaar. To the Europeans these
entertainments offered scanty amusement, but to natives they proved
enthralling. An audience would sit spell-bound and motionless for a
whole night, soothed and cheered by the strains of the Burmese
band--that unique and original collection of sounds and instruments.

"In former days," explained Roscoe, as he and his companion sat staring
at the bedizened actors and shrill little figures on a long, low stage,
"these plays took place in the open air, on a _midan_; all the world
was welcome, and as there was no charge, naturally all the world was
present! They were usually given by some rich Burman, or widow, in
honour of some offering or anniversary. An uncle of mine was quartered
here years ago, and I remember him saying that he suffered sorely from
these _pwes_; one play lasted for three consecutive days and
nights--the Burmese brought their bedding. The great _midan_ outside
his bungalow was a seething mass of people; whose families were
encamped--the place resembled a huge fair. Some were bartering,
gambling, or eating horrible-looking refreshment, and altogether
thoroughly enjoying themselves; rows and rows squatted motionless on
the ground in front of the stage; of course, sleep, with such a
fiendish commotion, was out of the question, and so my uncle was
obliged to get up and wander about among the masses until daybreak; he
said he never could make head or tail of the play, but one of his
brother officers loved it; he engaged an interpreter and squatted for
hours in front of the stage, enjoying what he considered 'a priceless
treat.'"

Shafto, like Roscoe's uncle, failed to appreciate _pwes_, which were
now held within stated bounds; he pref