I was a month 's journey from my own people and the river that I knew . That was very marvellous ! '' `` What food on the way ? '' said the Jackal , who kept his soul in his little stomach , and was not a bit impressed by the Mugger 's land travels . `` That which I could find -- COUSIN , '' said the Mugger slowly , dragging each word . Now you do not call a man a cousin in India unless you think you can establish some kind of blood-relationship , and as it is only in old fairy-tales that the Mugger ever marries a jackal , the Jackal knew for what reason he had been suddenly lifted into the Mugger 's family circle . If they had been alone he would not have cared , but the Adjutant 's eyes twinkled with mirth at the ugly jest . `` Assuredly , Father , I might have known , '' said the Jackal . A mugger does not care to be called a father of jackals , and the Mugger of Mugger-Ghaut said as much -- and a great deal more which there is no use in repeating here . `` The Protector of the Poor has claimed kinship . How can I remember the precise degree ? Moreover , we eat the same food . He has said it , '' was the Jackal 's reply . That made matters rather worse , for what the Jackal hinted at was that the Mugger must have eaten his food on that land-march fresh and fresh every day , instead of keeping it by him till it was in a fit and proper condition , as every self-respecting mugger and most wild beasts do when they can . Indeed , one of the worst terms of contempt along the River-bed is `` eater of fresh meat . '' It is nearly as bad as calling a man a cannibal . `` That food was eaten thirty seasons ago , '' said the Adjutant quietly . `` If we talk for thirty seasons more it will never come back . Tell us , now , what happened when the good waters were reached after thy most wonderful land journey . If we listened to the howling of every jackal the business of the town would stop , as the saying is . ''
The XXXXX must have been grateful for the interruption , because he went on , with a rush : `` By the Right and Left of Gunga !
Adjutant Father India Mugger Mugger-Ghaut Protector day eater jackal month