Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-12

valley. Our servants have all been greatly
excited over the flood and as the ayah
lives In the flooded part OF the city and her
family has had to take to boats, we have
let her go home for two nights to ascertain
their fate and help moor the dunga to a
solid spot! She is the third ayah we have
had since coming to this house. The first
was said to be honest. in spite Of her APP
pearance, which was evil enough to inspire
terror. She brought with her three chill
dren and three pie dogs-the native dog
and lot Of nasty-looking bundles, and
we gave her a go-down. neat little one
roomed house Of brick, with clay floor
and clay stove in 1t, for herself and her
family. She proved to be dirty. absolutely
without sense of truth, and always when
most wanted was cooking or washing for
her family. Considering that we gave her
II rupees month CD. very large wages
for Kashmir! we felt inclined to grumble
but We kept her on. though We rarely
saw her. until we began to miss sundry
small articles. Then, our eyes being OPEN
ed. we watched and discovered that she
rarely left the house without a large bun
die concealed under her chuddar. We
questioned the bearer cook but he as usual
showed no expression whatever and, shrug-
ging his shoulders. said: How can tell
Huzoor?' After a time we decided to make
sure as to her thieving prOponsities. and
had an examination made of her belong
ings. only to find concealed among them
one chattt or water jar (huge). two table
knives. one black dress fortunately ODD
one pair Of scissors. one turquoise ring and
sundry other small articles! After she
had left we were told by our bearer-cook
that her father was a thief and that she
and her husband had already been in jail
for thfeving. why did not you tell us
that beforeT we asked severely. why
should tell. Huzoor? What business is
that to me?" was the reply.
The Second Trial.
Our second ayah was said to be a Chris
tan. She had been taught to read and
to sew at a mission school and was named
Annie" AS we had found the children
of the first one a great nuisance. we de-
cided not to allow any more on the place.
and made our decision known to Annie in
english. but the morning after her arrival,
When we were inspecting the kitchen for
the day. we discovered that the small go
down was inhabited, and entering found
three children. dog and two older women
We demanded the meaning of this. and
Annie told us with an innocent air that
she did not know. did not understand En-
glishl Did the huzoors not want these
small babies? They were very quiet and
no noise might we hear" We finally COM
promised and allowed her to keep the chill
dren. aged. five. eight and tweleve, If the
women and dog were sent away at once OF
course. 1t was the same with Annie as
with wicked old Bahan, we could never
get minute of her time! When she was
d
sad tone, But, Huzoor. those little chill
dren had not their food" or, TT was Just
to give swallow of milk to those hungry
child-folk.' and later on 1t degenerated
into impertinence. and an answer was sent
that she was feeding the children and
could not come Considering that every
kashmir child from the age of six can cook
and take care Of the younger ones, we de-
cided that this should no longer be an
excuse, and told Annie so with sternness
but matters did not mend and one day
when we were discussing behind closed
doors the possible character of an ayah
who had been recommended to us Annie.
who had evidently been listening suddenly
came in and said. "Huzoor, that woman
Is but thief; many things has she stolen
and all the sahib-log (gentleman-folk) that
woman like not!i Reading her discourse
against listening to the conversation of the
Sahib-log, we told her that she might leave
us in day or two.
Stupid, but Honest.
The day she left we kept an eye on the
departing luggage. and unearthed a brood
of four puppies, with their mother, the
dog we had thought to Danish. and a pack
cided. If we must be the victim of thieves
we would prefer Hindoo thieves. so we con-
Guided to try Mundah. a Hindu, whose
father was in the rajahs guard and who
had a mother to look after her children.
Mundah is a passive, passionless being,
with an Egyptian cast of countenance and
such dense stupidity of character that she
is a continuous annoyance, but at the same