The day was but too short for all the impressions to
be garnered, the heat was tempered, clouds blew up, a
coolness spread itself over everything, the sun began to
think of its bed-going, and with sad thoughts of the
many, many morrows that must pass ere ever Martand
could be seen again by me, T, too, began to think of
moving, but I allowed soifte time to pass in irresolution.
Again I attempted to' leave, and reached a tiny pond
near which a vast crop of iris was growing. Impossible
to depart without one more view, so I returned to
have a last look at the great arch, over forty feet, by
which the “ nave” and cellar are reached. A woman
in grey puttoo frock was there. “ Why have you
returned?” she queried; “why have you been sitting
here? Why do the Sahibs like this place? One was
here as late as yesterday making the pictures with the
| big eye ’ (a camera) after the manner of Sahibs. I
understand not why you come; it is but a poor ruin, old,
and the walls are all falling apart, When I visit the
big temples I go to the great ‘ Manda ’ in the city,
built by the Maharajah Sahib. A fine place that; it
glistens in the sun like precious jewels. That is a
handsome place; no mere pile of broken stones.”
The woman grunted with exasperation at the folly
of folk in general, and the peculiarities of the Sahib log
in particular. Leaving such abstract questions, we
found we understood each other better when we argued
the question of the correct fee to be paid to her boy
for carrying my small impedimenta to the boat five miles
away. Women have naturally concrete minds, and they
agree best when steering clear of the discussion of all
but homely, matter-of-fact affairs.
Tearing myself away at last from the great sun
shrine I continued my way to the doonga, passing
idyllic houses with beautiful iris crowns; endless
wooden shrines, decorated with mauve albums or scarlet
tulips; and at last, very weary, very footsore, happy,
hungry, wholly satisfied, reached my boat, where a great
pile of correspondence awaited me, and, most pleasing
of all—at best we are but creatures of our appetites—
a savoury meal, very welcome after my long fast,
unbroken since six o’clock tea save by some water and
watercress. But refreshed and rested, my thoughts
went back sadly to my lonely temple of the hillside. I
had said good-bye to a friend whom I should probably
never see again, save in the dull lines of fading memory.