Among the Celestials : vol.1 / Page 213 (Color Image)

0213	Among the Celestials : vol.1

CHAP. VII.] PIOUS OLD LADIES. 175

Meanwhile, as I was looking round the tent,

my hostesses were examining my kit, and

showing the greatest interest in it. I had to

take off my boots and socks, and it so happened

that my socks had holes. This immediately

appealed to the feminine instinct ; they were

whisked away, and one of the old ladies pro-

ceeded carefully to mend them. Good old

soul, it quite reminded one of more homelike

times to be looked after in this way ! After

mending the socks, the lady devoutly said her

prayers, and was followed by the others one

after another, so that throughout the time I

was with them one or other of the old ladies

always appeared to be praying.

I n the evening all the cows, sheep and goats,

which had been left in the encampment, were

collected and milked, and one or two young

kids brought into the tent to be better looked

after. The milk was rich in cream, and

delicious to drink. But the Kirghiz drink

whey mostly, and they have a method of

rolling the nearly solidified curds into balls

about the size of a man's fist, and drying these

balls in the sun to keep for the winter or for

a journey. Balls of curds like these are not

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