CHAPTER XIV
_IN A STRANGE LAND_
I have now come to a period which was in many respects the strangestof my whole life, so that I often look back on it with wonder; andsitting here at the open window, framed in honeysuckle and sweetbriar,with the sounds of the farm in my ears and the prospect of thepeaceful broad in front of me, I ask myself if I be truly thatadventurous youth who once dwelt in captivity for many months in thecourt of an Indian prince, half victim and half plaything, one daycaressed and loaded with rich gifts, the next threatened with deathand torture.
Yet so it was. After the attempt whose miscarriage I have justrelated, the demeanour of the Nabob underwent a singular change. Herelented from his severity towards us, and in fact a few days after,riding past our place of imprisonment one morning, he stopped at thedoor and calling Mr. Holwell out to him, bade him and his twocompanions betake themselves where they would, since he desired neverto hear of them again.
However, in this dismissal he did not include me, choosing to put meon a different footing from the other prisoners he had taken at FortWilliam, and to hold me as a hostage--for so I am sure he consideredme--for the friendship of Colonel Clive. He offered me the choicebetween being kept in chains or giving him my parole not to leaveMoorshedabad without his consent. The Moors do not accept each other'sparole, but they trust that of a European, than which there can be nostronger proof of the dishonesty of their whole nation. I chose tocomply with the Nabob's condition, as I considered that I ought not toquit the place without having effected something for Marian. And bygiving my parole I trusted to obtain opportunities for communicatingwith her, as well as with my luckless cousin Gurney, whom I had notseen since the morning after our adventure.
Whether Surajah Dowlah suspected my designs, and took particularmeasures for baffling them, I cannot say. But during the time that nowfollowed, try as I would, I never succeeded in so much as hearing thesmallest news of either of the two persons whom I knew to be inMoorshedabad. So close is the secrecy maintained by Orientals thatthey might have both been carried off into the recesses of Tartary,and yet not been more utterly out of my reach than they were, abidingin the same city.
Neither was I able to gain any certain tidings of my fellowcountrymen. I only knew that the Nabob, intoxicated with the pride ofhis victory at Fort William, had neglected to take measures forpursuing the refugees and driving them from his country. So that theylay all together at Fulta, very miserably, wishing for succour toarrive from Madras, and passed the time, as I have since understood,in recriminations upon each other, for the misconduct and weaknesswhich had brought about the fall of Calcutta. What were the realfeelings of Surajah Dowlah towards myself I found it then, and find itstill, very difficult to estimate. On many occasions he behavedtowards me with the greatest kindness, and as though he had a realaffection for me. He would send for me sometimes, when he was sober,and question me about the various kingdoms of Europe, particularly theFrench, English, and Dutch, those being the three nations which hadfactories in his dominions. It was plain that he did not believe verymuch of what I told him, supposing no doubt that I exaggerated inorder to astonish him. I told him that the French were the mostpowerful military nation on the continent of Europe, but that we weretheir masters, having several times invaded and conquered theircountry. And I said that at sea the English had ever been reckoned thefirst of all nations, so much so that no foreign warship was allowedto pass through our seas without striking her topsails to any Britishvessel she might meet. When I spoke in this manner he would mock, andask whether I supposed that a Frenchman would confirm these accounts,to which I made answer that such was scarcely to be expected, theFrench being a vain people, and given to boasting of their greatness.
When the Nabob had exhausted his questions--and he seldom asked meabout any but military affairs--he would bestow on me a jewel, or arich dress, and dismiss me with every mark of kindness. But on thevery next day, perhaps, being sent for again, I found him in a drunkenrage, ready to curse my nation and myself, and threatening to have mytongue pulled out for having abused him with lies and inventions aboutmy miserable country. On these occasions I often heard him declarethat the whole of Europe did not contain ten thousand men, and that asfor King George, he was only fit to be a dewan or zamindar underhimself.
It did not take me long to discover that the Nabob was entirelygoverned by those about him. When he could be prevailed on to listento his uncle, Meer Jaffier, or to his aunt, the widow of AllaverdyKhan, his behaviour was rational enough; but more often he fell underthe influence of his detestable Gentoo favourite Lal Moon, and otherscoundrels of that stamp, when he became little more than a drunkensot. I felt during this period as though I was shut in the same cagewith a capricious tiger, who one moment purred and fawned on me andthe next showed his teeth with horrid snarls, nor was there ever aday on which I could feel secure that I should not be delivered to theexecutioner before the sun set.
Through all these changes of demeanour I adhered to the firm conduct Ihad at first taken up, and by never permitting the tyrant to see thatI feared him, succeeded time after time in damping his frenzy. At thesame time I acquired the friendship and esteem of some of the mostconsiderable persons of his Court, particularly Roy Dullub, the dewanalready mentioned, and the famous Meer Jaffier. My hold on thefriendship of this distinguished Moor was strengthened by an incidentwhich I am about to relate.
As soon as the rainy season was over, which lasted till the month ofOctober, Surajah Dowlah marched out with his army into the country ofPurneah, for the purpose of attacking his cousin, who was Phouzdar ofthat territory. The young Nabob bore a great hatred to this relationof his, and had frequently announced his intention of destroying himas soon as the weather should permit of his moving against him. At thehead of the army, as usual, was the general, Meer Jaffier, and at myearnest request I was allowed to accompany him as one of his train.
We arrived at length, after a tedious march, at the foot of somehills, on the slope of which the Phouzdar's army lay encamped. Our ownforce was much more numerous, but the Phouzdar's position being avery strong one the Meer judged it not prudent to make an attack tillhe had had an opportunity of thoroughly examining the ground. Withthis view he chose out a small party, of whom I was one, and departedsecretly from the camp at sunset, to explore the enemy'sneighbourhood.
The distance between the two armies was not very great; as near as Icould judge it was about three miles. But we had no guide to directus, and lost our way in the darkness, getting entangled first in thewood, and afterwards among a network of small, deep streams, too broadto jump, and dangerous to wade on account of the steepness of theirbanks and the slippery boulders with which their beds were strewn. Solong did it take us to extricate ourselves out of these difficultiesthat when the sun rose we found ourselves close to the Phouzdar'scamp, and within full view of his army. We turned to retreat, but atthe same time a loud halloo was raised behind us, and a troop ofhorsemen, with waving ensigns and steel accoutrements shining in thesun, dashed out from the enemy's ranks and rode down upon us.
Meer Jaffier at once gave the order to face round, and form into asolid body to receive their onset. As they approached there was atall young man in a high turban that blazed with diamonds, mounted ona noble white horse, who spurred swiftly in front, and rode straightfor where our commander was posted, with me beside him. The Meer, whodid not want courage, perceiving that this young man sought him out,instantly galloped forward to meet him, and cast his javelin. Thejavelin passed by the young man's ear; he pulled up his horse, andthrew his own in return with such good aim that he struck MeerJaffier on the shoulder, who reeled and fell off his horse on to theground. The other instantly rode up and leaped off his white horse todespatch his enemy, but I was on the spot just in time, and withoutdismounting, succeeded in striking the young man on the neck with myscymetar with such force that he fell down dead.
No sooner did they see him fall than the whole troop of the enemy'shorse turn
ed round and went off, casting away their banners as theyrode. Meer Jaffier, who had merely been stunned for the moment, cameto himself directly afterwards, and on looking at the dead man's facerecognised him to be no other than the Phouzdar of Purneah himself. Wewere informed afterwards that he had mistaken us for the Nabob's ownbodyguard, and had come out to attack the Nabob himself.
This lucky accident put an end to the campaign, the whole country atonce submitting to Surajah Dowlah. The ungrateful young tyrant choseto resent my action, declaring that it was his design to have put hiscousin to death with his own hand, but Meer Jaffier expressed himselfvery handsomely about the service I had rendered him, and presentedme with the white horse which the Phouzdar had ridden.
As soon as we were returned to Moorshedabad Surajah Dowlah marked hissense of resentment against me by withdrawing my liberty on parole,and ordering me into close confinement again. I thus learnt howdangerous is the path of those who would advance themselves at courtswhere everything depends on the personal favour of the monarch, andnot, as in our own happy country, where the power is distributed amongthe Houses of Parliament and great Ministers, so that no man hath itin his power unduly to depress another. However, I had not lain in mynew prison very long before I had reason to rejoice at the Nabob'scaprice, which had restored to me the right of plotting my escape fromhim. For one evening, when it began to be dusk, the door of my cellwas suddenly opened, and the gaolers ushered in a person closelyveiled and disguised, who, as soon as we were left alone, removed thewrappings from his face and showed himself to be none other than theMeer Jaffier in person.
"My son," he said to me, regarding me with a look of some concern,"there has this day arrived at the palace a messenger from Monichund,who brings tidings that Sabat Jung, with a great armament of ships andmen, has arrived in the mouth of the Hooghley, breathing vengeanceagainst our lord Surajah Dowlah. And this news has so infuriated himagainst the whole English nation that, unless you can contrive to getaway from Moorshedabad to-night you are like to forfeit your life onthe morrow."
Now whether this distinguished Moor was moved to this action bygratitude for my former service to him, or whether, as some of myfriends think, he was already aiming at the treaty into which heafterwards entered with the English, and therefore wished to show hisgood will to us; yet of this I am sure, that he preserved my life onthis night, an action for which I must always hold him in gratefulremembrance. Under his directions I collected together my property,consisting chiefly of the gems which the Nabob had given me, and whichI secreted on my person. He then brought me out of the prison, pastthe gaolers, whom he had bribed and dismissed, and took me by a backway to his own house. Here I found the beautiful white horse he hadgiven me, which was named Ali, ready saddled and bridled for ajourney. I had for some months been accustomed to wear the Moorishdress, so that I wanted nothing in the shape of disguise, save anotherapplication of my cousin Rupert's paint, which was not to be had.
"Mount," said the Meer, "and I will myself ride with you as far as thegate of the city and see you safely on your way."
Accordingly he had his own horse made ready, a small, powerful, blackmare, like a jennet, and on this led the way through the streets ofthe city, now nearly empty, to the southern gate. As we rode alongtogether he gave me advice as to how I should proceed.
"You may now pass well enough among the Mahometans," he said, "for youhave learned a good deal of our manners, and if you had been willingto forsake your degrading idolatry, and embrace the true worship ofAllah, you might have attained to a high position among us. But nowyou are to pass through the country parts of Bengal, in which thereare few or no Moors, but only Gentoos, of whom I would have youbeware. For the secret hatred of these people for us, their rulers andgovernors, is very great, so that though you should pass among themfor a Moor, you would fare little better than if they knew you to be aChristian and a foreigner. Above all, beware of their Bramins, afaithless, perjured race, given over to all kinds of vile, heathenpractices, such as you have no notion of. Let a Bramin once raise hisfinger against you among these people and you are lost, for by meansof their manifold sorceries they have reduced the whole Gentoopopulation to be their slaves."
He gave me some directions as to the road I was to travel, telling meI should have to make a circuit so as not to pass through Calcutta,which lay directly in the way to Fulta. The whole distance heestimated as a little more than two hundred miles, and he advised meto ride only at night, and conceal myself in the jungle during theday. I asked him what I should do to procure food.
"That will require some address," he answered, "but you must avoidentering a village. You will have to keep your eyes open as you ridealong, and when you come to some hut standing by itself with no othersnear, enter boldly and demand provisions for yourself and your horse.Beware of offering any money in payment, or they will suspect you tobe a fugitive and fall upon you; but if you hold yourself towards themwith pride and sternness, giving them only curses and blows, they willrespect and grovel before you, for such is the nature of theBengalese."
As soon as we were arrived at the gate of the town Meer Jaffier bademe farewell.
"When you come before Sabat Jung you may salute him privately fromme," he said at parting. "Tell him that my nephew's violence towardsthe English is far from commanding the approval of the elder and moreprudent among us, and that we earnestly desire to see your factoriesrestored and trade once more flourishing."
In these last expressions I knew him to be sincere. For since thedestruction of the English factories there had been a great fallingoff in the revenues of Bengal, so much so that even the Nabob himselfwas now inclined to repent of his action.
I thanked and saluted my protector, and giving the rein to my willingsteed, galloped forth into the night. And now it would be easy for meto make a long story of those four days and nights which I spent intravelling through the unknown parts of Bengal, riding along darkforest paths with nothing to guide me but the stars, under mightytrees whose boughs arched overhead like caverns and grew downwardsinto the earth again, past sleeping Indian villages, where the dogsbayed behind prickly fences, swimming dark rivers on whose surface thereflections of strange idol temples rose and fell, and creepingthrough thick jungles where my ears were stunned by the screams oftrooping jackals, and where my heart would sometimes come into mymouth as I saw the brown grass bend and shake with the passage of somegreat beast, and caught a glimpse of dark red stripes moving behindthe reeds, and heard the heavy padding of its paws. But only onceduring this journey did I come into real danger, and that through aneglect of the wise advice given to me by my good friend at starting.
For though Meer Jaffier had so strictly warned me against the Indians,and particularly the Bramins, yet on the third night after my flight,beginning to feel somewhat confident by having got so far in safety,nothing would do but I must thrust my head into the lion's den, bywhich I mean venture into one of their temples, at the very time theywere busy about a great religious ceremony. I had been on my way sincesundown, and had made very good progress, so that I supposed myself tohave got over the greater part of my journey, when towards the middleof the night I came unexpectedly upon a great building, standing byitself on the edge of a stream, which building I at once knew to be atemple of the Gentoo religion.
Having passed several places of the same kind already I should nothave taken much notice of this one, perhaps, if my attention had notbeen attracted by a peculiar drumming noise which seemed to proceedfrom the inside, and sounded very strange and awful in the darkness. Irode up as near as I dared, and then stopped, listening. The drumminggrew louder and louder, and I presently began to distinguish a purposein it. The sounds rose and fell in a certain regular order, veryunlike the melody of our musical instruments, but yet very impressiveto the ear. I found myself affected by a feeling of suspense as Ilistened, which quickly passed into one of fear, and at the same timeI noticed that my horse had begun to shiver and sweat violently. Theonly effect of this
was to fill me with a burning curiosity to knowwhat this music was for. I tethered poor Ali to a tree, and though heseemed to be greatly distressed at being left alone, plunged into theundergrowth that surrounded the sides of the temple.
The whole place appeared to be in darkness. I groped my way at last tothe foot of a flight of steps leading up to the front, and findingnobody on guard climbed up softly on all fours, only staying now andthen to breathe deeply, and to try and still the excessive beating ofmy heart. The drums continued to sound, the notes becoming harsher andmore distinct as I approached. At the top of the steps I found myselfbefore a little stone doorway, through which a very faint duskyglimmer emerged. I passed in, treading on tiptoe, and came along anarrow stone passage, down which the sound of the drumming made adismal echo. At the further end of the passage the way was closed by athick curtain made of a substance that felt like stiff leather, andwas, I believe, the hide of an elephant. I pushed this back far enoughto let me through, and passed straight into the midst of the place.
As I did so the beating of the tom-toms broke on my ears with suchvehemence that I was well-nigh stunned, and a waving dance of torchesand cressets bewildered my eyes. I stood on the edge of a range ofsteps looking down upon an amphitheatre crowded with men. On the otherside, over against me, rose a hideous idol, as high as the roof, withmany heads, each grinning horribly, whilst from its body thereprotruded a monstrous array of clutching arms and hands, with otherdisfigurements too loathsome to be set down. The persons underneath mewere all leaping and whirling round, with many gestures of homage tothe idol, and they uttered cries and screams which were drowned by thenoise of the drums.
In the midst of their frenzy I saw a man dart out stark naked,prostrate himself for a moment at the idol's feet, and then inflict aterrible gash on himself with a knife which he had in his hand.Instantly the yellings and drummings were redoubled, the mass ofworshippers whirled themselves round more furiously than ever, andthen another and another man leaped forward and cut himself, each onemore savagely than his fellow. Though I have never known what it is tobe faint or sick in battle at the sight of wounds, nor even in ahospital, the spectacle of these ghastly mutilations offered up bythese Indians in their madness to the idol turned me cold. I stoodthere watching them, and saw the stones of the temple all bloody likea shambles, and the dark faces of the worshippers distorted likemaniacs, amid the smoke and flare of the torches, and a din like thatof the pit; and remembering the different worship in which I had beenbrought up, and the pious services conducted by good Mr. Walpole, Ithanked the Almighty who had granted me the blessed privilege of beingborn in a Christian land.
And with this prayer in my heart I was turning to go when all at onceI was aware that I had been spied; the noise of the tom-toms and thescreaming dropped as if by magic, the torches were extinguished asthough a wind had suddenly passed through the place, and as I turnedand fled I heard the pattering of innumerable naked feet behind me onthe stones.