A small conical cap of green silk was perched rakishly on the top of his head, from which fell, below the shoulders, a tumbled mass of thick, coarse, black hair.

The head-man was unarmed, but his followers, five in number, fairly bristled with daggers and pistols.

Like all natives, Chengiz was at first shy and reserved.

It was only when I had prevailed upon him to take a cigar that my visitor became more at his ease.

Having lit his cheroot, he took a long pull and passed it on to one of his followers, who repeated the performance.