He had plenty of companions.

One of the men, who made himself quite useful to us was an imbecile; he crossed himself, kissed our hands, nodded his head, and told us the most surprising things in regard to the subjects whom he brought before us.

In connection with each case he cried and carried on at a great rate, and finally insisted that he was going to bring me a raw egg as an offering of friendship, which he did.

One of his subjects was his cousin, who was both idiotic and a deaf-mute.

My impression was that there were several cases of deaf-mutism in the village.