NOTEBOOK

Agra, Feb. 28. Mousa was drunk again last night; sec-
end time in two weeks. At midnight was sleeping like a
leg en the marble steps of the great portico with his head
en the bare flags.

Lectured; drove from there—two carriages full—to the
Taj Mahal, arriving at 11:30—clear sky and splendid full
moon. At that moment, to our surprise, an eclipse began
and in an hour was total—an attention not before offered
to a stranger since the Taj was built. Attempts were made
to furnish an eclipse for the Prince of Wales in 1876, and
in recent years to 20 other princes of that house, but
without success. However, Col. Lock, Political Agent, has
much more influence than any of his predecessors have
had.

At noon gave Mousa a note to carry to Smythe and
bring an answer and told him he could consider himself
discharged at 7 this evening. He laid his fingers against
his forehead as usual, made the usual inclination, gently
said—"\Vair good" (very good) just as he always does
when receiving an order, and that was all. Turned and
went about his errand. In his noiseless barefeet—it was
pathetic. Was it Indian fatalism which accepts without
murmur whatever the two million gods send, or had he
had this experience so often that it no longer affects him?

Mousa had apparently a bad attack of fever in Luck-
now before he got drunk. Livy was full of compassion and
gave him a teaspoonful of liquid hell-fire—quinine. Six
hours later he turned up and she offered him another dose.
He said gravely, "Scoose me—no sick no more/' She and
Clara beseeched, but he only said, "Scoose me," putting
his fingers to his forehead and making his humble bow.
If he has had any fever since he has concealed it.

March 19. Susy's birthday—24 years old. [Note—

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