quiescence.  This idea is, doubtless, in the first instance, a reflection of their own character; but, in whatever way it originated, it tends to sanctify in their eyes a state of repose.  When removed from this world of care, their highest hope is to become a part of the great Quiescent.  It will naturally appear to them the best preparation for the repose of a future life to cultivate repose in this.”  Therefore, if your kitmudgar, nodding behind your chair, permits his astonished fly-flapper to become a part of the great Quiescent, or if your punka-wallah, having subsided into a comatose beatitude, suddenly invites his compliant machine to repose in himself, in a dream of absolute stagnation, with the thermometer at 120 deg. outside the refrigerator, you must not say, “Damn that boy,—­he’s asleep again!”—­but patiently survey and intelligently admire the spiritual processes by which an exalted sentient force prepares itself for the repose of a future life.  But our reckless Karlee took no thought for the everlasting rest into which his soul should enter “when removed from this world of care,” according to the ingenious psychological system of the amiable Kerr Sahib; for when he had anything to do, he kept on doing it until it was done, and when he caught the punka-wallah reposing in a dream of absolute quiescence, he bumped his head against the wall, and called him a sooa, and a banchut, and a junglee-wallah.[23]

Though possessed of a lively imagination and all his race’s sympathy with what is vast, though he saw nothing extravagant in the Hindoo chronology, nor aught that was monstrous in Hindoo mythology, Karlee yet served to illustrate the arguments of those who contend that Hindoos need not necessarily be all boasters, servile liars, and flatterers.  He was not forever saying, “Master very wise man; master all time do good; master all time ispeak right.”  He never told me that my words were pearls and diamonds that I dropped munificently from my mouth.  He never called me “your highness,” or said I was his father and mother, and the lord of the world; and if I said at noonday, “It is night,” he did not exclaim, “Behold the moon and stars!” He never tried to prove to me that the earth revolved on its axis once in twenty-four hours by my favor.  “What! dost thou think him a Christian that he would go about to deceive thee?” No, he was as proudly truthful as a Rajpoot, as frank and manly as a Goorkah, and as honest as an up-country Durwan.

Good by, my best of bhearers.  To the new baby a good name, and to the faithful ayah enviable enlargement of liver! Khoda rukho ki beebi-ka kulle-jee bhee itui burri hoga![24]—­I owe thee for a day of hospitable edifications; and when thou comest to my country, thou shalt find thy Heathen at Home.

FOOTNOTES: 

[3] A long, round, narrow bolster, stuffed with very light materials (often with paper), and not for the head, but embraced in the arms, so as to help the sleeper to a cool and comfortable posture.