India 2001 books

Next morning no carriage came, so off to the Prefect. He promised one
"odmah," which being translated is "at once," but means really within
"eight or nine hours." We waited. Nine a.m. passed. Ten a.m. went by. A
small boy sneaked up and tried to sell some contraband tobacco; but Jan
had just bought "State." An angry Turkish gentleman came and said that
his horses had been requisitioned to take us to Andrievitza, and that we
weren't going to get them till one o'clock, because he was using them.
We returned to the Prefect, not to complain--oh no--but to ask him to
telegraph to Andrievitza that we were coming. He was naturally surprised
to see us again, and explanations followed. A very humbled and much
better tempered Turk came to the cafe to say that the horses would be
with us "odmah."
A drizzle had been falling all the morning; at last the carriage came.
Our driver was a wretched half-starved, high-cheeked Moslem in rags,
whose trousers were only made draught proof by his sitting on the holes.


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