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THE DKUMMER AGAIN 243
and similar figures stood face to face in grotesque
pairs, apparently struggling for something held between,
which a nearer view revealed as an article in
the wringing. On the sunny hillside, and on every
boulder and face of rock which caught the sun,
clothing was being laid out to dry. This work was
done by young girls, whose henna - stained hair
glinted in the sunlight like gold.
Even before I reached these busy women the penetrating
banjo notes of the little drums I had heard
in Injesu before came floating up the valley. They
came without ceasing, rising and falling, sometimes
almost dying away, sometimes heard as if near at
hand. Before reaching the village I could make out
the drummer himself. He was standing on the flat
roof of a bride's house, gorgeously dressed as before,
beating ruffles and flourishes with the same conscientious
industry he had displayed outside the barber's
shop. Now, as then, he faced the four quarters in
turn, stepping to the edge of each parapet to make
the news of his drums known. As I passed he
became a figure in blue and gold and scarlet raised
high against the sunset, and with the sound of his
drums to help made as perfect an Eastern glimpse
as imagination could desire.
On reaching the khan the best room was vacant,
to which I was taken as a traveller bringing profit.
But I had done no more than light my stove before
an araha drove into the yard ; and from it alighted
a Turkish officer in khaki and gold lace, besworded,
and also beslippered, who spoke to the Ma?i-keeper
rather longer than I thought necessary. I guessed
the subject of the conversation, as did Ighsan, who
came hurriedly to me.
" Make haste," he said in his most abrupt way,
and with that disappeared like one not wishing to
take sides in a dispute, nor did he show himself
again that evening. What he thought I might do,
I did, and that in excess ; I hastened to pollute the
room by frying bacon as the most promising method