One of the Ooryas half apologized for his rudeness overnight , saying that he had never known his mistress of so bland a temper , and he ascribed it to the presence of the strange priest . Personally , he believed in Brahmins , though , like all natives , he was acutely aware of their cunning and their greed . Still , when Brahmins but irritated with begging demands the mother of his master 's wife , and when she sent them away so angry that they cursed the whole retinue -LRB- which was the real reason of the second off-side bullock going lame , and of the pole breaking the night before -RRB- , he was prepared to accept any priest of any other denomination in or out of India . To this Kim assented with wise nods , and bade the Oorya observe that the lama took no money , and that the cost of his and Kim 's food would be repaid a hundred times in the good luck that would attend the caravan henceforward . He also told stories of Lahore city , and sang a song or two which made the escort laugh . As a town-mouse well acquainted with the latest songs by the most fashionable composers -- they are women for the most part -- Kim had a distinct advantage over men from a little fruit-village behind Saharunpore , but he let that advantage be inferred . At noon they turned aside to eat , and the meal was good , plentiful , and well-served on plates of clean leaves , in decency , out of drift of the dust . They gave the scraps to certain beggars , that all requirements might be fulfilled , and sat down to a long , luxurious smoke . The old lady had retreated behind her curtains , but mixed most freely in the talk , her servants arguing with and contradicting her as servants do throughout the East . She compared the cool and the pines of the Kangra and Kulu hills with the dust and the mangoes of the South ; she told a tale of some old local Gods at the edge of her husband 's territory ; she roundly abused the tobacco which she was then smoking , reviled all Brahmins , and speculated without reserve on the coming of many grandsons . Chapter 5 Here come I to my own again Fed , forgiven , and known again Claimed by bone of my bone again , And sib to flesh of my flesh ! The fatted calf is dressed for me , But the husks have greater zest for me ... I think my pigs will be best for me , So I 'm off to the styes afresh . The Prodigal Son . Once more the lazy , string-tied , shuffling procession got under way , and she slept till they reached the next halting-stage . It was a very short march , and time lacked an hour to sundown , so Kim cast about for means of amusement . ` But why not sit and rest ? ' said one of the escort . ` Only the devils and the English walk to and fro without reason . ' ` Never make friends with the Devil , a Monkey , or a Boy . No man knows what they will do next , ' said his fellow .
Kim turned a scornful back -- he did not want to hear the old story how the XXXXX played with the boys and repented of it and walked idly across country .
Devil English India Ooryas Saharunpore Son before bullock halting-stage styes