by pillars.
We sit outside, under the roof, whenever we can. During the heat of the
day we must stay indoors.

8. The garden round the house is very large. There are many tall palm
trees in it. Some of the other trees bear most beautiful blossoms of
crimson, yellow, and blue. All along the front of the house are many
flowerpots, in which roses and other English flowers are growing.

9. A few days ago little Hugh came to me and asked if he might show me
what he called "the compound." I said "Yes." So he took my hand and led
me away.

10. First he showed me the gardener. He is a short, dark man, and he
squats down to do his work. He is a very good gardener, and he is proud
of his flowers. Every morning he comes to the house with a flower for
Hugh's father and mother and uncle.

[Illustration: {Gardener at work}]

11. Next, Hugh took me to see the well. It is behind the house. The
mouth of the well is on the top of a mound. To reach it you must walk up
a sloping road. Above the mouth of the well there is a wheel.

12. A rope runs over this wheel. At one end of the rope there is a large
leather bag. The other end of the rope is fastened to the necks of a
pair of bullocks.

[Illustration: The Village Well.

(From the picture by W. Simpson, R.I.)]

* * * * *

13. IN THE GARDEN.

1. The bullocks walk backwards up the sloping road. This lowers the
leather bag into the well, where it is filled with water. Then the
bullocks walk down the sloping road. This pulls the bag up to the mouth
of the well.

2. A man empties the water out of the bag into a tank by the side of the
well. The water runs out of this tank into the garden, where it spreads
out into many little streams. It is this water which makes the trees,
the plants, and the grass grow so well in the garden.

[Illustration: {Oxen drawing water from a well}]

3. If the garden were not watered in this way, it would soon be brown
and bare. For many months at a time no rain falls in India. Then dust a
foot deep lies on the roads, and the ground cracks with the heat.

4. When the dry season is over the rain begins to fall. It comes down in
torrents for days together. In some places more rain falls in a single
day than we have in a whole year.

5. During the "rains" the rivers become full to the brim, and the whole
land is fresh and green. Sometimes the "rains" do not come at all. Then
the crops wither away, and the people star