CHAPTER V
UJJAYANI
The sea was like molten silver. The burning sun blazed pitilesslydown on the little vessel, which was motionless. The northerly breezereckoned upon by Monas had failed him. They had been becalmed for days,and the water was running short. All day the boys were stretched outunder a rough awning of palm leaves, panting for breath. The sky waslike a dome of burnished steel. One night Porlor watched the northernhorizon, and saw a bank of clouds rising, which he pointed out to theold pilot and to his brother. Soon cat's-paws were seen along thesurface of the sea. Monas said there would be a breeze in the morning.But their water would not last them, unless they replenished at somewell on the Arabian coast; yet this was a very perilous proceeding,for the eastern side of the Red Sea was infested by savage robbers.There was, however, no alternative, and as soon as the breeze filledhis sails, Monas steered for a port called Jidda, 320 miles south ofMyos Hormos. They came to off a grove of palm trees, which denoted thepresence of wells, on a bright moonlight night. A short distance tothe south there were a few scattered huts. When dawn broke they couldsee that the wells were in possession of armed men. Monas feared toland, but the boys declared they would die fighting rather than dieof thirst. Well armed, and accompanied by half a dozen of the crew,Coelred and Porlor took the boat, landed, and boldly advanced towardsthe wells. They were met half-way by a solitary Arab, who stood inthe path uttering the word "Bismillah." He was a powerful young man,about five years older than Coelred, in a long camel's-hair cloth,with the hood secured round his head by a green band. His complexionwas bronzed, nose aquiline, lips rather thick, and he had piercingblack eyes. He held a long spear in his right hand. Coelred said inGreek that they must have water. The young Arab replied in the samelanguage that the wells were in his possession. He said that he wasMuhammad, the son of Abdallah, servant of Abu Taleb, one of the chiefsof the Koraish of Mekka. He was commanding an expedition against therobbers who attacked the caravans of Mekka, and had defeated them anddriven them from the wells of Jidda. They should have water if theypaid for it--let the master of the ship come to him. Coelred sent theboat back for old Monas, and the English lads stood facing the Arabyouth, all leaning on their spears. Few more words passed between them.The Arab gazed at the young Englishmen with unconcealed admiration,and the lads scanned the features of the strange being before themwith feelings of curiosity and interest which they could not haveexplained. Monas was very agreeably surprised to find a law-maintainingforce at the wells, instead of the cut-throats he expected. It wassoon arranged that the vessel should be watered and replenished withsome provisions, in exchange for six bales of cloth. This occupiedthe rest of the day. Young Muhammad and the English lads rested underthe shade. The Arab's knowledge of Greek merely enabled him to strikebargains, and he could not converse, so that the time was passed, forthe most part, in friendly silence. The undefinable feeling of interestwhich took possession of the boys when they first encountered thisextraordinary man was increased as they sat near him. The expressionof his countenance changed frequently, but was always remarkable. Hiseyes were bright and eager while he bargained with Monas; they had asoft and gentle look when they rested on the truthful faces of hiscompanions; then again they once or twice flashed a look of fierceanger, apparently without cause. But what the boys noticed with mostinterest was that far-away, abstracted look which came into the Arab'seyes as he rested under the trees, as if he saw things invisible toall besides himself; and when this strange look came it lasted long.They had seen something like it in the Princess Alca, and once ortwice in old Monas. But there was something in the Arab's look whichwas peculiar to himself: it was as if madness mingled in his strangeabstraction; and when he shook it off, it was with a glance of fury.The boys were quite absorbed by their companion, and when Monas calledthem away the sun was already on the horizon. They took leave of eachother with solemn courtesy, and an hour afterwards the vessel was underweigh and sailing down the Red Sea with a fresh northerly breeze. Theboys talked long over their encounter with this strange being, andnever forgot it. The makers of England and the false prophet had thiswonderful meeting before the serious work of their lives was begun.It taught the English boys to recognise a man with deep convictions,and to distinguish between real fanaticism and fraud. It elevated thefanciful conceptions of the Arab, and when he dreamt of angels he sawthe faces of Coelred and of Porlor.
Coelred and Porlor on their Way to the Wells]
The breeze continued, the air was cooler, and Monas said that theywould soon reach their next stopping-place, the emporium of Ocelis.By this time he knew the whole history of his young companions. Theyhad never thought for a moment of turning back after the death of theGothic Prince, but were quite resolved to complete their adventurebefore returning to Antioch; and the old man, without any tie of hisown, had become warmly attached to them. He would give them the use ofhis knowledge and experience, see them safe again on their way home,and then follow his master Cosmas into monastic seclusion.
Many a long conversation was held between the boys and their agedfriend during the long starlight nights, when the little vessel madeher way over the smooth sea to Ocelis. One night they talked of theyoung Arab and his look of abstraction. "It is the look," said Monas,"which betokens fitness for a life of seclusion, of devotion to prayer,and thoughts of eternity. The monks often have it, and the generationin which I live is one much given to a monkish life. It is only in sucha life that we can find rest, safety from hell fire, and that religioustruth without which there is no safety. In Egypt alone there are nowsix hundred monasteries, all maintaining the truth against the errorsof Rome." "And what is the truth?" asked Porlor. "The truth is," saidMonas, "that Christ existed _of_ two natures, and whosoever deniesit shall for ever be accursed. The Synod of Chalcedon, when Marcianwas emperor, declared that Christ existed _in_ two natures, and thiswicked heresy is still held by the priests of Rome, and sends manysouls to hell. Dangers and pitfalls of false doctrine surround us,and the only safety from them is in monastic seclusion. Young and oldshould fly to the desert." "That will I never do," cried Coelred. "Mylife shall be active and earnest. I devote it to brave deeds and tothe service of my countrymen." Old Monas shook his head, but he couldnot help admiring, and even approving, the very different directionto which the hopes and aspirations of his young friends were turned.They understood his words, but their minds were not trained to receivesuch subtleties. "Does Muhammad hold the truth," asked Porlor, "or ishe, like us, ignorant of the true nature of the Son of God? We areignorant because what you say is beyond our comprehension. How is itwith that Arab warrior with the changing eyes?" "The Arab," said Monas,"is a very young man, and he is a heathen. But he has been in Christiancities with merchants of his tribe, and knows something of the truth.I talked with him in the shade while you slept." "We were not asleep,"protested the boys. "Fast asleep," repeated Monas, "while I sounded thedepths of the young Arab's mind. He is no ordinary man. He will eitherreceive the truth and convert Arabia into a land of saints, or he willbe the mightiest heresiarch with which the world has ever been cursed,spreading desolation and moral death over what once was Christendom.But not in my time," drowsily continued the old man. Coelred rose totake the helm, and Porlor followed Monas to the land of dreams.
It was not often that Monas kept the boys awake with such seriousdiscourse. He generally related the stirring events in his voyageswith Cosmas, taught them the rules of steering by the stars, and toldof the famous book written in the time of the Emperor Nero, and calledthe _Periplus of the Erythraean Sea_, from which Cosmas gleaned muchof the information which enabled him to make his voyages successfully.The northerly wind soon brought them to the emporium of Ocelis, nearthe strait of Dere, which opens upon the Erythraean Sea. Here theyagain took in water and provisions, proceeding along the Arabian coastto Kane, a port of considerable trade, where some of the merchandisewas exchanged for frankincense and aloes. Sailing onwards to the east,they reached Syagros, whence, in accordance with
the directions laiddown by his master, Monas proceeded to make his bold voyage across thetrackless ocean to distant India. The south-west wind, called Hippalusfrom the pilot who first attempted the passage by it, carried thelittle vessel across the sea until, in a few days, the coast of Guzeratwas sighted, the mouth of the great river Narbada was entered, andMonas piloted her past islands and shoals, and anchored her off the_ghat_ of the busy port of Barugaza.
Founded by the sage Bhriga, the town of Barugaza was one of the oldestseaports of Western India, and was then one of the chief seats oftrade. Its exports were cotton, a kind of fine calico called _baftas_,bdellium, and flowers of the mahina tree. Barugaza is on an artificialhill 60 feet high overlooking the river, the only rising ground formany miles around; for a flat alluvial plain of fertile black soilstretches away for fifty miles to the foot of the mountains, coveredwith crops of cotton and rice. Here and there a clump of mango andother fruit trees denoted the position of a village, and on an islandin the Narbada there was a banyan-tree with 350 large and 3000 smallstems, enclosing a space 700 yards in circumference.
There was much to astonish, much to interest, the English lads onfirst landing at the _ghat_ of Barugaza. They had seen an elephantat Alexandria, but everything else was strange to them; especiallythe dresses of the people, the merchants in their snow-white robesand red turbans, and the crowds of coolies with nothing but a _dhuti_round their waists, carrying heavy loads, and taking cargoes on boardthe boats. Kesava was the name of the merchant who always acted asagent for Monas when he brought a cargo to Barugaza; and this was thefifth time he had made the voyage, without counting those in which heaccompanied Cosmas. Before they were contaminated by intercourse withEuropeans, the merchants of India were celebrated for their probity andfair dealing; and Kesava was a good specimen of his class. Propertycould be entrusted to his care with perfect confidence, and he tookcharge of the vessel and the crew, while Monas and the boys were toconvey their merchandise up country to Ujjayani, one of the sevensacred cities of the Hindus, the famous capital of Malwa.
Monas set out on his journey a few days after his arrival at Barugaza.He and the boys travelled in open palkis, their bales of goods wereslung on bamboos which were borne on the shoulders of coolies, and theywere guarded by a well-equipped body of fighting men. They travelled upstream, along the right bank of the Narbada, for 180 miles, to a smalltown called Mandlesar, where the river is still 500 yards in width.Thence the route turned northwards across the Vindhya Hills for adistance of seventy miles to Ujjayani. Coelred and Porlor walked acrossthe hills, travelling from midnight until sunrise, and on the third dayfrom leaving Mandlesar they entered the far-famed capital of Malwa.Along this road the English lads observed that long lines of trees wereplanted to afford shade to travellers from the scorching rays of thesun, while at intervals there were fountains by the road-side to enablethem to quench their thirst. Porlor, especially, was deeply impressedwith the excellence of a government which took such thought for thecomfort of its people.
The city of Ujjayani was built on the right bank of the river Sipra,with _ghats_ leading down to the water. It was very extensive, andcontained many grand edifices, besides the famous temple of Siva andthe palace of the Raja. There were, however, more trees than houses.Every dwelling had its shady garden stocked with flowering shrubs, andround the city there was a broad belt of fruit trees, and avenues ofthe sacred _vata_ or peepul trees, frequented by the Hanuman monkeys.Within this belt of foliage were the great tanks with bathing _ghats_shaded by clumps of tall trees, above which rose the spreading fans ofthe palmyra palm and the graceful areca; while _palasa_ and _tulasi_shrubs, with their gorgeous flowers, concealed the bathers.
The golden age of Hindu literature was the period when Vikramadityaruled at Ujjayani about B.C. 57, and when the "Nava-ratna" or nine gemsof literature flourished there. His dynasty still ruled over Malwa,and in 592 Jayachandra was the Raja. The place was full of traditionsof the hero king, and of his divine poet Kalidasa, whose immortalworks had the freshness and reality at Ujjayani which such poems canonly really possess at the place where they were composed. The brightriver Sipra, the flowering groves, the pretty girls descending the_ghats_ with lotas on their heads, the cranes in the paddy swamps--allnature reminded the votaries of Kalidasa that he dwelt at the courtof Ujjayani when he wrote _Sakuntala_, the _Seasons_, and the _CloudMessenger_. Peace reigned in Malwa, but there were threatening cloudson the northern horizon. Gollas, King of the White Huns, had overrunNorthern India, and terror repeated marvellous stories of the prowessof his army, which included 2000 elephants. It was said that, when hebesieged a town, his soldiers drank all the water in the ditch, andthen marched dry-shod to beat down the walls. It was to this conquerorthat Athanagild had contemplated the offer of his sword; but Coelredand Porlor had no such intention. Ujjayani was to be the remotest pointof their wanderings, whence they were to return homewards.
Monas was busily engaged in exchanging the merchandise for bales ofsmall bulk, containing fine calico and muslin, valuable gums, spices,precious stones, and specie. Among his acquaintance there was an oldGuru named Govinda, who had travelled far and spoke Greek. He was a manof profound learning though of Sudra caste, and was passing the eveningof his days at Ujjayani, occupied in speculative studies. Govinda hadtaken a great fancy for the English lads, whose bright intelligence andsimple truthfulness first attracted his regard. After their bath in oneof the great tanks, they often passed hours conversing with the Guru,asking him questions, and listening to his wonderful discourse. He wasgenerally in the verandah of a small garden-house near a large tank,which was surrounded by flowering shrubs, and shaded by a large _vata_tree. Here the Guru sat, an old man with a very benevolent expressionand high intellectual forehead, clothed in snow-white robes, often witha bundle of reeds forming a book, and a _kalam_ in his hand. Coelredand Porlor reclined on a step at his side, listening eagerly to whathe told them. The boys were in perfect health, being well cared for byMonas as regards clothing and protection from the sun and from chills,and living on a diet of rice and pulses duly seasoned, on fruits, andmilk. They were thus able to enjoy to the full all the wonders of theirsojourn at Ujjayani.
The Guru had told them many tales of Hindu gods and heroes. Onemorning the boys came from their bath with a quantity of crimsonwater-lilies, and a handful of the golden-coloured champaka flower,sacred to Krishna. This led Govinda to tell them the story of the_avatur_, calling Krishna the Son of God. They, in their turn, relatedthe legend of Balder, and, after reflecting a while, the Guru said thatBalder and Krishna were one, and that both were Christ. Rememberingthe conversation with Monas, Porlor asked whether this Son of God withseveral names, whom they all worshipped, existed _of_ two natures or_in_ two natures. "Both," replied the Guru, and this bold solutionappeared at once to sweep away the motives for religious disputes whichsounded so incomprehensible to the boys. "Both, for whether of or intwo natures, the incarnation of a deity embraces and contains, and infact is, all that can be expressed by prepositions, and much more."
Then, descending from such sublime speculations, he said that hewould relate to his young friends the sequel of the story of thePandavas, those princes favoured by Krishna, including their search forheaven after a long life of adventures and vicissitudes. The Pandavasfound that all the rewards of this life were vanity, and that they mustseek for higher and better things. "We must all do likewise sooner orlater, and meanwhile we may reflect on the story of the Pandavas,"he went on. "There were five princes--Yudisthira, Arjuna, Bhima, andthe two sons of Madri. They set out with their wife Draupadi andtheir dog Suparaka." "That is the name of our dear old dog at home!"exclaimed Coelred. "True," said the Guru, "for Suparaka is Yama." Hecontinued--"The princes, with their beautiful wife and faithful dog,set out for the mighty Himalaya Mountains, to find the heaven of thegods on Mount Meru." "Is not Asgard the abode of the gods?" interruptedCoelred. "Asgard is Meru," explained the long-suffering Guru; "but fewcan reach it, trusting in their own strength
. Sins and moral defectsprove fatal to the pilgrims. They toiled on over scorching plains andsnowy mountains, tired and foot-sore. Draupadi was the first to fall."Porlor asked why she should be the first. "Her love for Arjuna was toogreat," explained the Guru. "Next fell one of the sons of Madri, forhe thought that none was equal to himself; and the other son of Madrifollowed, for he had the same fault. Then Arjuna fell, because he couldnot fulfil his boast that he would destroy all his enemies in one day.Bhima fell, because he cursed his opponents before he encountered themin fight. Yudisthira and the dog Suparaka alone reached the gate ofheaven. The Prince was invited by the gods to enter, but he refusedunless Draupadi and his brothers were also received. He was assuredthat they were already there. But he still refused, unless the faithfuldog Suparaka could bear him company. The gods remonstrated, butYudisthira was firm. 'Never, come weal or come woe, will I abandon thatfaithful dog.' He prevailed, but when he entered he found that Draupadiand his brothers were not in heaven. They cried to him for help fromhell. Yudisthira triumphed in the crowning trial. He resolved to sharethe fate of his dear ones in hell, rather than enjoy heaven withoutthem. This was the supreme test applied by the gods. They then showedhim that it was all _maya_ or illusion, and the brothers, Draupadi, andthe dog dwell in heaven with the gods, in full content of heart forever."
Coelred and Porlor talked much over this story of Yudisthira when theyreturned that evening to their home with Monas. They loved the Panduprince for standing by the good dog Suparaka, and they swore that theywould imitate the steadfast loyalty of Yudisthira.
Thus the days passed on, while Monas completed his business, and theGuru related many strange tales to the English lads. One day, as theysat with him, a dark mass of cloud rose from the southern horizon, andmoved rapidly northwards across the sky towards the Himalayan snows.Old Govinda pointed to it, and said that it reminded him of Kalidasa'spoem of the _Cloud Messenger_. "Tell us about it," said both the boys;and he related how Yaksha was banished for some fault by the godKuvera, and was sent to pass the years of his exile at Ramagiri, nearNagpore, and to the south of Ujjayani, and of the Vindhyan Hills. Oneday he saw a cloud, the herald of the rainy season, passing to thenorth, just as the cloud we now see floats in the same direction. Heprayed to the cloud to take a message for him, after discharging someof its moisture.
With pinions swifter by the 'minisht store, Soon over Vindhyan mountains thou wilt soar, And Reva's rippling stream, whose waters glide Beneath their feet, without their rush and roar, In many a rock-bound channel, summer dried, Like lines of paint that deck an elephant's huge side.
The cloud passed on to this bright imperial city of Ujjayani, thepride of all the earth. It rested on flower-sweet terraces where womensit at open casements, while the air of the morning
Plays wooingly around the loosened hair And fevered cheek-- Then, as it blows o'er Sipra fresh and strong, Bids all her swans upon the banks prepare To hail the sunrise.
"The cloud hurries onward on its journey," said Porlor, "but whitherwas Yaksha's message sent?" "It was sent," said the Guru, "to Alaka.""To Alca!" exclaimed both the boys, as they sprang to their feetin astonishment. Then, seeing the question in Govinda's eyes, theyexplained that Alca was the beautiful Princess of Deira. "We love hermore than anything in the world. She knows everything. She loves allliving things. She can disclose all the hidden mysteries of nature. Sheis our joy, our hope. Oh that the cloud would take a message to herfrom us! Shall we pray to it? Answer us, good Govinda."
The Guru looked at the eager faces of the boys. He then pondered fora long time. At last he said--"The Alaka of our religion is believedto be the abode or the heaven of the Gandharva on Mount Meru. TheGandharva is the being who knows and reveals the secrets of nature anddivine truth, and prepares the holy soma juice for the gods." He againpaused to think. "Your northern Princess Alca is the same as our Alaka,the abode of the Gandharva of wisdom and truth, the depository of thesecrets of nature. You do well to love her. Pray then to the cloudand it will take your message." The boys knelt down, praying long andfervently to the cloud to take their message. It was that they werewell, that they had never forgotten her words, that they would returnto her. The Guru assured them that they had not prayed in vain. Theyhad never felt so happy since they parted from the Princess at Aldby.
Not many days afterwards they bade farewell to the Guru, whohad become warmly attached to them; for Monas had completed hisarrangements, the bales were ready, and they started on their returnjourney to Barugaza. The boys had offered their old friend a gold ringas a keepsake, which he declined. But when he saw them for the lasttime he gave them a small parcel as an offering for their Princess. "Itcontains," he said, "a very precious gum called bdellium, translucentand fragrant. It is a trifle by which to remember me." "We shall neverforget you, dear Guru," exclaimed Coelred; and Porlor declared that"Bdellium" should be their watchword and the watchword of their friendsfor evermore. Soon Ujjayani and the Guru, Barugaza and its busy _ghat_,were but memories. The north-east wind was taking their little vesselhomewards again across the Erythraean Sea.
One night, as old Monas sat aft by the steering oar, with Coelred andPorlor near him, he asked the boys what they had been told by the Guru.Porlor was full of his praises, and repeated the stories of Krishna andof the Pandus; but something held the brothers back from mentioning theCloud Messenger to the aged pilot. They declared that the Guru was thewisest, the most learned, and the most religious man in the world, andthat he was beloved by God. "The strange and incomprehensible questionsover which others quarrel for days and years, the Guru sees through andsettles with a word. He is generous, and says that all men, more orless, are in the right way." Monas shook his head. "My friend Govinda,"he said, "is learned and good. It grieves me to the heart that he willassuredly be burnt in hell fire for ever and ever. Yet that must behis fate, for he is unsound on all points of doctrine." It was on thetip of Coelred's tongue to say he would go where the Guru went; but hechecked himself, for the boys loved old Monas, and made it a point notto anger or annoy him. "Beware," he continued, "how you allow plausiblefalsehoods to sink into your hearts. You are very young and will besurrounded by dangers. May the Lord watch over you!"
On another night Monas explained their position to his young friends."Thanks to Prince Athanagild," he said, "you are very rich. Yourproperty consists of small bales easily carried but of great value, andof gold coins and gems. The crew will be amply recompensed by a presentof the vessel and a generous distribution of money. We will land atBerenike, to which port the voyage is much shorter than to Myos Hormos.There camels can be procured, and the journey to the Nile will occupythree days. I will accompany you to Alexandria and see you embarked forAntioch. For myself I need nothing. I go to the cell of my old master,who must now be dead, where I shall end my days happily, in prayer andin the contemplation of the true nature of the incarnate Word. Yourdestiny is very different. I am on the verge of the grave. You areentering upon life. You are brave and true. May the blessing of God bewith you!"
It was very grateful to the old pilot to receive the warm thanks ofhis young friends, knowing how true and genuine they were; and thevoyage passed pleasantly. The plans of Monas were admirably arranged.The crew was satisfied, the journey across the desert and the voyagedown the Nile were performed without accident, and when Coelred andPorlor left Alexandria in the vessel that was to convey them to theport of Antioch, the last thing they saw was the white cloth with whichold Monas waved his farewell from the Pharos.