. A ride to India across Persia and Baluchistan. as fromMalak, inviting me to a Zigri, a kind of religiousdance, taking place just outside the village. Aftersome reflection, I decided to go. It might, ofcourse, mean treachery, but the probability wasthat the chief, afraid of being reported to theIndian Government for his insolence and insub-ordination, wished to atone for his conduct beforeI left. Under the messengers guidance, and attendedby Gerome and a guard of five men with loadedrifles, I set out. Both the Russian and myselfcarried and prominently displayed a brace ofrevolvers. A walk of
. A ride to India across Persia and Baluchistan. as fromMalak, inviting me to a Zigri, a kind of religiousdance, taking place just outside the village. Aftersome reflection, I decided to go. It might, ofcourse, mean treachery, but the probability wasthat the chief, afraid of being reported to theIndian Government for his insolence and insub-ordination, wished to atone for his conduct beforeI left. Under the messengers guidance, and attendedby Gerome and a guard of five men with loadedrifles, I set out. Both the Russian and myselfcarried and prominently displayed a brace ofrevolvers. A walk of ten minutes brought us toa cleared space by the river. In the centreblazed a huge bonfire, round which, in a semi-circle, were squatted some two or three hundrednatives, watching the twistings and contortionsof half a dozen grotesque creatures with paintedfaces, and long, streaming hair, who, as they turnedslowly round and round, varied the performancewith leaps and bounds, alternately groaning,wailing, and screaming at the top of their BAL UCHISTAN— G WARJAK. 2 7 7 A horn, a lute, and half a dozen tom-tomsaccompanied the dance. Some distance away,and surrounded by his grim-looking guard, satMalak, who, though he did not rise to receiveme, beckoned me to his side with more polite-ness than usual. It was a weird, strange repulsive, half-naked figures leaping roundthe fire, the silent, awestruck crowd of Baluchis,the wild barbaric music, and pillar of flameflashing on the dark, sullen face of Malakand his followers, was not a little impressive,especially as I was in a state of pleasinguncertainty as to the object of my hostssudden change of manner, and whether thismiorht not be a little dramatic introduction toan attack upon our party. This was, however,evidently not my sulky friends intention, for, asI rose to go, he actually stood up and took myhand. At Gajjar, he said, you will be ableto get all you want, but take my advice, and getaway from here early to-
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