` Never , ' said the voice , ` have I seen such a child ! Born in an auspicious hour , and -- but for that colic which , alas ! turning into black cholers , may carry him off like a pigeon -- destined to many years , he is enviable . ' ` Hai mai ! ' said the old lady . ` To praise children is inauspicious , or I could listen to this talk . But the back of the house is unguarded , and even in this soft air men think themselves to be men , and women we know ... The child 's father is away too , and I must be chowkedar -LSB- watchman -RSB- in my old age . Up ! Up ! Take up the palanquin . Let the hakim and the young priest settle between them whether charms or medicine most avail . Ho ! worthless people , fetch tobacco for the guests , and -- round the homestead go I ! ' The palanquin reeled off , followed by straggling torches and a horde of dogs . Twenty villages knew the Sahiba -- her failings , her tongue , and her large charity . Twenty villages cheated her after immemorial custom , but no man would have stolen or robbed within her jurisdiction for any gift under heaven . None the less , she made great parade of her formal inspections , the riot of which could be heard half-way to Mussoorie . Kim relaxed , as one augur must when he meets another . The hakim , still squatting , slid over his hookah with a friendly foot , and Kim pulled at the good weed . The hangers-on expected grave professional debate , and perhaps a little free doctoring .
` To discuss medicine before the ignorant is of one piece with teaching the peacock to sing , ' said the XXXXX .
Hai Ho Mussoorie cholers colic hakim hookah hour tobacco years