The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-08
ON THE GREAT HIGHWAY.
When 'kim" ard the Lama Start Upon
Their travels.
From Kipling's kim"

From Kipling's kim"
''They met a troop OF l~ong-haired. strong
scented Sansis with basket Of lizards and
other unclean food on their backs, the lean
dogs shifting at their heels. These people
kept their own side Of the road, moving at
a quick, furtive jog-trot. and all other
castles gave them ample room; for the SAN
81 is a deep pollution. Behind them. walk
ing wide and stifly across the strong
shadows, the memory OF his leg-irons still
on him, STROBE one newly released from
Jail, his full stomach and shiny kin TO
prove that the government fed its prison
ers better than most honest men could feed
themselves. Kim knew that walk we'll ana
made shrin jest of ~ as they passed. Ihen
an Akali. a wild-eyed, wlld-haired Sikh
devotee in the blue-checkcd clothes OF his
faith, with polished steel quOits gllstening
on the cone of his tall blue. turban, stalkcd
past, returning from a visit 10 one OF the
independent Sikh states, where nc had been
singing the ancient glOries Of the khalsa
to cOllege-trained prlnceings in tOp-bOots
and white-cOrd breeches. Kim was careIul
not to initiate that man, for the Akalls
temper is short and his arm quick Here
and there they met or Were oFertaken by
the gayly dressed crowds Of whole villages
turning out to some local fair: the women,
with their babes on their hips, walking be-
hind the men, the older boys prancing on
sticks Of sugar cane, dragging rude brass
mOltlS OF LOCOMOTIVES SUN AS AlAEa EtAA ~
a halfpenny. or flashing the sun into the
eyes Of their betters from cheap toy mir
rOrs. one could see at "A glance what cach
had bought; and If there were any doubt
il needed only To watch the wives compar-
ing. brown arm against brown arm, the
newly purchased duh glass bracelets thar
come from the Northwest. The morry-mak-
ers stepped slowly. calling one to tho 9TH
er, and stopping 10 haggle with Swectmeat
sellers, or TO make "A prayer before one of
the waysidc Shrines-sOmetimcs Hindu.
sometimes Mussulman-which the low
caste of both Crceds shared with beautiful
impartiality. \ solid line of blue rising and
falling like the back Of a caterpillar l
haste. would swing mp through the culver
ing dust and trOt fast TO "A chorus oi dull
cackllng. That was "a song OF ~chanEdfs-
the women who have taken al the cui-
bankments of all the northern railways
under their charge nat-lOoted. DIX
bosOmed, str~Ong-limbcd blu~e-petucoatcd
clan of earth-carrlers, hurrylne hoIth On
news of a job, and wasting no time Dy the
road. They belong 10 a caste whose mon
do not count. and they walked Win
squared elbows. swinging hips ana heads
on high, as suits women who carry heavy
weights. y little later a marriage pr"ce--
sion would strike into the Grand Trunk
with music and shoutings, and a smell Of
marigold and jasmine stronger even than
the reek of the dust. one could see The
brides dhooly, a blur Of red and tinscl.
staggering through the haze. while tne
bridegrOOm's bcwreathed pony turned aside
TO snatch a mouthful from "A passing fOd-
der-cart. Then Kim would join the kentish
fires Of good wishes and broad jokes, wish
ing the couple a hundred sons and no
daughters, as the saying Is sun more In
teresting and more To be shouted over
was when "A s%trOlling iuggler with some
half-trained monkeys. or "a painting. feeble
bear. or a woman who tied goats horns
TO her feet. and with these danced on a
slack rope. set the horses 10 shying and
the women 20 shrilL. l~ong-draWn quaNers OF