Of their kindness and hospitality I had already learned something by experience, and I hoped they would allow me to learn something of their mode of life, their customs, their songs, their history, and their religion, in all of which I assured them my distant countrymen took a lively interest.
This little after-dinner speech was perhaps not quite in accordance with Bashkir etiquette, but it made a favourable impression.

There was a decided murmur of approbation, and those who understood Russian translated my words to their less accomplished brethren.

A short consultation ensued, and then there was a general shout of "Abdullah! Abdullah!" which was taken up and repeated by those standing outside.
In a few minutes Abdullah appeared, with a big, half-picked bone in his hand, and the lower part of his face besmeared with grease.

He was a short, thin man, with a dark, sallow complexion, and a look of premature old age; but the suppressed smile that played about his mouth and a tremulous movement of his right eye-lid showed plainly that he had not yet forgotten the fun and frolic of youth.

His dress was of richer and more gaudy material, but at the same time more tawdry and tattered, than that of the others.