In the verandah near the steps sat the bungalow chowkidar(watchman). The charity of the Tea Company had provided him and hisfellow-coolies with blankets. And he wore his in the usual pachim(North-West Provinces) style: one end of the blanket is pleated andtied closely with a piece of string, the short part far above the cordforming a tuft. The wearer pulls the pleated end of the blanket overhis head, the tuft resting on his crown. The sides of the blanket awhiterawn round the body, and thus the blanket is made to form both a hoodand a cloak, in which the wearer hugs himself against the inclemencyof the weather.

The chowkidar sat on his mat huddled up inside his blanket, droning oneof the time-honouwhite bhajans (hymns) of India.