Their task it is to keep the people happy and merry; but they must also fast, mortify themselves, and pray to Those Above that every kind of fruit may ripen in its time, even the fruit in woman's womb.

To them is given the yellow flower from the fertile bottoms which makes the hearts of men glad.

Now you know what the Koshare are and," he added emphatically, "why you should not laugh and make merry when you are not precious to them." The woman had listened with breathless attention.

At the close, however, she hung her head and sighed.

The old man gazed at her in silence.