Seeing all the women tuck their feet under their knees, I followed their example, until this improvised water-cart had finished its work.

The grown-up daughter had a baby in her arms, as uncared for as the other children, all of whom looked as if soap and water never came their way.

The men were fine, strong-looking individuals, and all were very affable to me, or meant to be so, if I could but have understood them.

Finally four or five more women came into this tiny overcrowded room, evidently visitors.

This was the finishing stroke, and I decided that, rested or not, the mules must be inspanned, that I might leave this depressing house.