om his native officer whose
white hairs are showing and who has no proper dye. He says he will
repay the cost and that no charges are made for the parcel. It must be
very strong henna-dye.

MOTHER [_laughing_]. It shall be. I will make it myself. A start it
gave me to hear _him_ ask for dyes! They are not due for another twenty
years.

FATHER [_fretfully_]. Read it. Read it all as it is written, word for
word. What else does he say?

SON. He speaks of the country of the French. Listen! He says: "This
country is full of precious objects, such as grain, ploughs, and
implements, and sheep which lie about the fields by day with none to
guard them. The French are a virtuous people and do not steal from each
other. If a man merely approaches towards anything there are eyes
watching him. To take one chicken is to loosen the tongues of fifty old
women. I was warned on joining that the testimony of one such would
outweigh the testimony of six honourable Pathans. It is true. Money and
valuables are, therefore, left openly in houses. None dare even to look
at them with a covetous eye. I have seen two hundred rupees' worth of
clothing hung up on a nail. None knew the owner, yet it remained till
her return."

MOTHER. That is the country for me! Dresses worth two hundred rupees
hanging on nails! Princesses all they must be.

SON [_continuing_]. Listen to these fresh marvels. He says: "We reside
in brick houses with painted walls of flowers and birds; we sit upon
chairs covered with silks. We sleep on high beds that cost a hundred
rupees each. There is glass in all the doors and windows; the abundance
of iron and brass, pottery, and copper kitchen-utensils is not to be
estimated. Every house is a palace of entertainment filled with clocks,
lamps, candlesticks, gildings, and images."

FATHER. What a country! What a country! How much will he be able to
bring back of it all?

SON. He says: "The inhabitants defend their possessions to the
uttermost--even down to the value of half a chicken or a sheep's
kidney. They do not keep their money in their houses, but send it away
on loan. Their rates of interest are very low. They talk among
themselves of loans and pledges and the gaining of money, just as we
do. We Indian troops are esteemed and honoured by all, by the children
specially. These children wear no jewelry. Therefore, there are no
murders committed for the sake of ornaments except by the enemy. These
children resemble smal