Page:The further side of silence (IA furthersideofsil00clifiala).pdf/423

 rapids until fitting offerings have been made by us to the spirits which have in them their abiding place. Strangers who, being smitten by madness, nake free of this river thrust their heads into a noose whence it is not easy to draw back.

"The great fall, which is full twelve fathoms in height, is named the Fall of the Kine-cleft Bank, for it is a narrow pass such as giant kine might make at the spot where they were wont to go down to water. The next fall is named the Fall of Dew, for by reason of its spray the rocks and trees around it are perpetually drenched as it were by dew; and the last of all is the Fish Trap, for from out of its grip not even a fisli can escape.

"Ah, Túan, it is not well thus to tempt the Spirits of the Sempam, for they are very vengeful, and if they had killed you a great shame would have been put upon our people. Our Spirits are orang mêrd- hêka free folk-who care not at all for rája or overlord, and have no respect even for while men, Tuan, before whom the rajus themselves must give way, if all that men tell us be true. And this, too, Tuan, the Sempam hath taught you in hunger and in travail, it will bear no chains!"

And the old fellow chuckled, well pleased by his jest and proud of the prowess of his native stream. Fresh from my view of the falls and still aching from the rough handling which I had received at the hands of the river, my thought echoed the old man's vaunt. The wild freedom of the Sempam was what impressed me-the freedom of some savage creature,