Page:The Slave Girl of Agra.djvu/54

 threaded their way through crowded streets and market-places, hundreds of men shouted his name and blessed him. Women sang songs of Krishna which had a double meaning, and screaming children pelted him with red powder till he was crimsoned from head to foot.

As he passed the market-place and turned into a narrow lane of questionable reputation, he was greeted by a sudden outburst of songs. Women, some in their middle age and some still in the bloom of their early youth, had decked themselves in gay sarees and banded themselves together to guard that lane, and were a match for all comers. Their appearance bore marks of the toil of the day, their unbound locks were dripping, their garments flamed with red powder, and their feet were in a pool of red water. Their light-brown faces were flushed, and their bosoms heaved under the wet clothes with the excitement of a licensed saturnalia.

Nobo Kumar passed quickly, but no mercy was shown to Gokul Das, who followed. As soon as the old man came in view a shower of red water was sent on him. He tried to turn back, and slipped and fell; and instantly there was a wild chorus of laughter.

A fresh shower was poured on the prostrate man, and for a time he sprawled helplessly on the ground amidst universal merriment. Servants came and picked up the aged counsellor, and the whole party beat a hasty retreat from the lane so valiantly guarded. A fresh burst of screams and laughter rose on the air, and a wild song was chanted, which can only be imperfectly rendered into English.