Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-25

He was taking aim deliberately we
looked at him. and when we inquired his
object We were told that he was shooting
at the monkeys: that they were very trou-
blesome and carried off anything they could
find: that mans business was to stand
on the ladder and shoot at them all day
stones from his sling: We were greatly
amused and just at that moment. the ma
tive being diverted from his work by sight
of us, a, large, gray monkey came down
nfmbly from the top of the tree, where he
had evidently been looking. and began to
swing a hammock. hung to the lower
branches. On looking closely we found
that there was another monkey in the
hammock. and we watched with interest as
the native loaded his sling and let ire.
The big monkey turned on him and chat
tered violently. while from out of the ham,
mock popped female with a tiny baby
monkey clasped to her bosom. She scam
pered away to the tree top. and when she
was safely out of sight her gallant hus-
band followed.
Not Very Good Shots.
fear the natives are not as good shots
as they might be. We longed for good
deal more money than we had to spend
when we were shown the beautiful unset
rubies. sapphires and emeralds, the tnlaid
jade ornaments and the large emeralds In
laid with small diamonds and pearls; but
we succeeded in tearing ourselves away.
possessed still of a few rupees, and made
tour of the carpet shops, brass-work
places and all the other interesting small
warehouses.
We had to drive across the river on a
pOntoon bridge in order to get to the beau
tiful little tomb of Itimadu Daulah. built
by Shah Jehan for the father and brother
of his beloved wife, whose own tomb. the
great Tai, testifies to his devotion for her.
The 1timadu Daulah is the most exquisite
little tomb possible to imagine-a square
building of white marble. all carved into
lacework, with an octagonal tower at each
corner. the whole inlaid from top to bottom
with agate, onyx, Jasper and carnelian In
dainty designs of sprays of flowers and
vines, and lying in lovely garden full of
trees and shrubs. Small, brilliantly green
parrots showed wildly against the white
as they rested on the lodges of the en-
trance arches or the ratings of the bal
cony.
The "Meesuck Chamber"
We were shown a small chamber in one
of the towers, and told by the native
guides that that was the "Meesuck cham
ber," where the meesuck was played every
night in days gone by. AS we drove home
we passed a dreadful-looking fakir or re-
ligious beggar, smeared from head to foot
with ashes. his face painted and his nasty
oily hair hanging in long strings on his
shoulders. He was chanting a weird song
as we went by. and we. of course, had to
drop some small coins into his brass beg
ging bowl. Horrible, CHASTITY creatures they
are, quite frightful to behold The sun was
setting. and the devout Mussulmans, kneel-
ing, with their faces toward Mecca, were
absorbed in prayer. The evening chill was
descending upon the hot earth, so we once
more sought our bungalow, and. having
been warmly welcomed by the rock pigeon
ordered a small fire of charcoal and some
hot tea. and sat down to read our letters
and talk over past and coming events.
MARGARET STERLING.