These stalk along defiantly, carrying club or axe, and often present a disagreeable appearance.

One of them came suddenly by a side-path behind the Minister's wife, and followed, yelling out his cry of 'Hakk, hakk!' It was almost dark, and he did not see the great dogs, which had gone ahead.

His cry and continued close-following steps were disturbing, so I turned and asked him either to go on at once or keep farther back.

He frowned at what no doubt he considered my bad taste in objecting to his pleasing and superior presence, and hastened his pace a little to pass, but stopped suddenly on seeing the 'lion-dogs' belonging to the Janab-i-Khanum-i-Sifarat (the Lady Excellency of the Legation), and asked to be allowed to follow us, saying he would be perfectly quiet.

On reaching the Legation gate, and seeing his way clear, the dogs having entered, he left, saying gently, 'Goodnight; God be with you.' Formerly a lady could hardly walk about without some little fear of look or laugh calculated to annoy.