m what they seem"

, but I feel as if I knew all

om the straight path is an unpardonable error, it behoves me to return speedily to my subject, and recount a few of the

f the circular road, which shut out the last view of my brother's house, my heart sank, and I became a prey to the most agonising fears. Every instant I expected a tiger to bound upon me from the jungle at the side of the road, a cobra to dart out its ugly head from the overhanging branch of a tree, or a body of da

nervous expectation, or left it behind without a sigh of relief, and yet I was forced by my overweening craving for adventure, to ride out at every opportunity to explore this dreary waste of jung

rkening into night. I was cycling along quickly, eager to reach home before being overtaken by the gathering darkness, when suddenly, on turning a corner of the road, I s

s mine did at that moment, and I must confess that my d

ith mother earth, and considered the situation. The python did not appear to have moved much, and had, app

afety, and it was growing so dark. In front, if I could but pass the python, I had but a quarter of a mile to ride and I should be in Remyo. I felt that

tion of one of the stories told me by the versatile policeman; a story of how he had behaved successfully under

y bell, shouting, and making as much noise and commotion as possible. Straight on I rode, almost desperate with fear,--and then suddenly I ceased to shout, I stayed my reckless pace, a

t almost exactly the same spot, but in the day time. I was riding along cheerfully, feeling partic

hey might be; whether wild beasts of the jungle or tame household pets, but their personal appearance rather suggested the former. I dismounted hastily, and considered the matter. I did n

particularly unpleasant. Their gait was rolling and pompous, but they occasionally relieved the monotony of their prog

n at the horns of the advancing animals, thought of my family and friends, and then, somehow, my bicycle seemed to turn

hey have frequently been known to pick up a dog with their horns, and break its bones over their backs. They can pick a mosquito off their backs with the tip of their horns, in fact they are quite skilled in the

ulfil a far higher mission. To them, and to them only, it is given to draw conte

ves the delights of the mud bath, and starts in pursuit of the white face, no matter who he may be. "Tell it not in Gath" but the water buffalo, being no respector of persons, has even been known to put to ignominious flight the "Indian Civilian" and the "

ter buffalos upon this earth. "How are the mighty fallen"! when the highest among t

here I had noticed a specially beautifully blossomed wild cherry tree. My intention was to rob the tree of it

round, I leant my bicycle against the tree trunk, and after much scrambling, and o

ut a dozen of the most extraordinary looking natives I had ever beheld. Their clothing was most scanty and they were covered from head to foot with elaborate "tattoo." They wore tremendously large Shan hats, their hair was long and matted, their teeth

and of dacoits, and to judge by their appear

ember, to go away, but they neither understood nor heeded. I tried to recollect my Burmese, but could only remember words referring to food, and thought it better not to put that idea into their heads; they might b

or false teeth, a glass eye, a wooden leg, or some other modern invention, with which people in books o

all night, so sadly and doubtfully I d

and stood with my eyes

stonishment that not I but my bicycle was the object of all this attention. I was

less wood cutters, and then mounting rode away, followed for some distance by an awe-struck and admiring crowd. My

myo itself bicycles were well known, but frequently on the roads I met strangers from neighbouring villages, and the astonishment and terror depicted on their faces when they

but we succeeded at last in arriving at our destination. We left our cycles in the compound of the "hpoongyi kyaung," and climbed a neighbouring hill to

entertainment. The Head of the village approached us humbly, and in a long speech explained that though he (evidently a travelled gentleman) had told his subordinates all about

d shrieking with laughter. I cannot explain the reason of it; I suppose they looked upon me as a sort of travelling acrobat, and their laughter was a sign of approbation of my tricks. But I was very angry. I had not gone out to Burmah to become the laughing stock of ignorant natives, so I said a hasty f

, but methinks at times thei