third no information since the spring-time. There remains in the house
the son of the eldest son. He is three years old. His name is Pir,
which in their language also means a holy man. He runs barefoot in
summer and wears only one garment. He eats all foods and specially
dates. In this country it is not allowed to give children pepper or
cardamoms. He has learned to speak our tongue and bears a wooden sword
which was made for him and a turban of our sort. When he is weary he
repairs to the centre of my bed which is forbidden to him by his
grandmother of whom he has no fear. He fears nothing. My Mother, he is
almost the same sort as my own. He sends his salutations to him. He
calls him "My brother who is in India." He also prays for him aloud
before an idol which he is taken to worship. On account of his fatness
he cannot yet kneel long, but falls over sideways. The idol is of
Bibbee Miriam [the Virgin Mary] whom they, in this country, believe to
watch over children. He has also a small idol of his own above his bed
which represents a certain saint called Pir. He rides upon the ass and
says he will become a trooper. I take delight in his presence and his
conversation.
The children in this country are learned from their very birth. They go
to the schools even when the shells fall near by. They know all the
countries in the world, and to read and write in their language and to
cast accounts. Even the girls of eight years can cast accounts and
those that are marriageable have complete knowledge of cookery,
accounts, and governments, and washing of clothes, agriculture and the
manufacture of garments and all other offices: otherwise they are
reckoned infirm-minded. Each girl is given a dowry to which she adds
with her own hands. No man molests any woman here on any occasion. They
come and go at their pleasure upon their business. There is one thing I
should like to see, Mother. I should like to see all the men of India
with all their wives brought to France in order to see the country and
profit by their experiences. Here are no quarrels or contentions, and
there is no dishonesty. All day long men do their work and the women do
theirs. Compared with these people the people of India do not work at
all, but all day long are occupied with evil thoughts and our women all
day long they do nothing but quarrel. Now I see this. The blame for
this state of affairs, Mother, lies upon the men of India, for if the
men were to educate the women they would give up quarrelling.
When a man goes out into the world his understanding is enlarged and he
becomes proficient in different kinds of work. All that is needed is to
show courage. At the present time, one's bravery or one's cowardice is
apparent. The opportunities for advancement come quickly. Such
opportunities will not occur again.
As for any marriage proposed [for me?] when I return, those things can
wait till I return. It is no gain to take into the house a child or a
sickly one who, through no fault of her own, dies in bringing forth. If
there be any talk between our house and any other family upon this
subject they should understand that I desire knowledge more than dowry.
There are schools where girls are educated by English ladies. I am not
of the sort to make a wedding outside my clan or country, but if I
fight to keep Mama Lumra out of the Punjab I will choose my wives out
of the Punjab. I desire nothing that is contrary to the Faith, Mother,
but what was ample yesterday does not cover even the palm of the hand
to-day. This is owing to the spread of enlightenment among all men
coming and going and observing matters which they had never before
known to exist.
In this country when one of them dies, the tomb is marked and named and
kept like a garden so that the others may go to mourn over her. Nor do
they believe a burial-ground to be inhabited by evil spirits or ghouls.
When I was upon a certain duty last month, I lay three nights in a
grave-yard. None troubled me, even though the dead had been removed
from their graves by the violence of shells bursting. One was a woman
of this country, newly dead, whom we reburied for the sake of the Pity
of Allah, and made the prayer. Tell the Pir Murshid this, and that I
performed _Tayamummum_ [the shorter purification with sand or dust]
afterwards. There was no time for the full purification.
Oh, my Mother, my Mother, I am your son, your son; and as I have said
at the beginning I will return to your arms from out of this country,
when God shall permit!
THE END
THE COUNTRY LIFE PRESS
GARDEN CITY, N.Y.