Ileftthemstillporingoverthemapsandmakingnotesonthebackofthe“Contrack。”“BesuretocomedowntotheSeraito-morrow。”
weretheirpartingwords。
TheKumharsenSeraiisthegreatfoursquaresinkofhumanitywherethestringsofcamelsandhorsesfromtheNorthloadandunloadAllthenationalitiesofCentralAsiamaybefoundthere，andmostofthefolkofIndiaproperBalkhandBokharatheremeetBengalandBombay，andtrytodraweye-teethYoucanbuyponies，turquoises，Persianpussy-cats，saddle-bags，fat-tailedsheep，andmuskintheKumharsenSerai，andgetmanystrangethingsfornothingIntheafternoonIwentdowntoseewhethermyfriendsintendedtokeeptheirwordorwerelyingtheredrunk。
Apriestattiredinfragmentsofribbonsandragsstalkeduptome，gravelytwistingachild’spaperwhirligigBehindhimwashisservantbendingundertheloadofacrateofmudtoysThetwowereloadinguptwocamels，andtheinhabitantsoftheSeraiwatchedthemwithshrieksoflaughter。
“Thepriestismad。”saidahorse-dealertome“HeisgoinguptoKabultoselltoystotheAmirHewilleitherberaisedtohonourorhavehisheadcutoffHecameinherethismorningandhasbeenbehavingmadlyeversince。”