A few days after the return of the expedition against Covelong and
Chengalpatt, Charlie received a note from Governor Saunders,
requesting him to call upon him at eleven o'clock. Charlie, of course,
attended at Government House at the time named, and found Captain
Clive with Mr. Saunders.
"I have sent for you, Mr. Marryat, to ask you if you are ready to
undertake a delicate, and somewhat dangerous, mission. Captain Clive
tells me that he is convinced that you will be able to discharge the
duties satisfactorily. He has been giving me the highest report of
your conduct and courage, and he tells me that you speak the language
with some facility."
"I have been working hard, sir," Charlie said, "and have had a
moonshee for the last year; and as, except when on duty, I have spoken
nothing but the native language with him, I can now speak it almost as
fluently as I can English."
"So Captain Clive has been telling me," Mr. Saunders said; "and it is,
indeed, on that ground that I select you for the service. Your friend
Mr. Peters has equally distinguished himself in the field, Captain
Clive tells me, but he is greatly your inferior in his knowledge of
the vernacular."
This was indeed the case. Peters had but little natural aptitude for
foreign languages; and after working hard, for a time, with the
moonshee, he found that he was making so little progress, in
comparison with Charlie, that he lost heart; and although he had
continued his lessons with the moonshee, he had done so only to the
extent of an hour or so a day, whereas Charlie had devoted his whole
leisure time to the work.
"The facts of the case are these, Mr. Marryat. Owing to the failure,
of Muhammud Ali, to fulfil the ridiculously onerous terms extorted
from him, by some of his native allies, during the siege of
Trichinopoli, several of them are in a state of discontent, which is
likely soon to break out into open hostilities. The Rajahs of Mysore
and Tanjore are, I have learned, already in communication with
Pondicherry; and will, I believe, shortly acknowledge the son of
Chunda Sahib, whom Dupleix has declared ruler of the Carnatic. Murari
Reo has already openly joined the French. Their influence in the
Deccan is now so great that Bussy may be said to rule there.
"Now, there is a chief named Boorhau Reo, whose territory lies among
the hills, and extends from the plain nearly up to the plateau land of
the Deccan. His position, like that of many of the other small rajahs,
is precarious. In days like the present, when might makes right, and
every petty state tries to make profit out of the constant wars, at
the expense of its neighbour, the position of a chief, surrounded by
half a dozen others more powerful than himself, is by no means
pleasant. Boorhau Reo feels that he is in danger of being swallowed,
by the nizam or by the Mahrattas, and he earnestly desires to ally
himself with us; believing, as he says, that we are destined to be
masters here. I have assured him that, although gratified at his
expressions of friendship, we can enter into no alliance with him. The
position of his territory would enable him to be of great assistance
to us, in any war in which the whole force of the Deccan, controlled
as it is at present at Bussy, might be utilized against us in the
Carnatic. He would be able to harass convoys, cut communications, and
otherwise trouble the enemy's movements. But, although we see that his
aid would be very useful to us, in case of such a war; we do not see
how, on our part, we could give him any protection. We have now, with
the greatest difficulty, brought affairs to a successful conclusion in
the Carnatic; but Dupleix is active and energetic, and well supported
at home. Many of the chiefs lately our allies have, as I have just
said, declared against us, or are about to do so; and it is out of the
question, for us to think of supporting a chief so far removed from us
as Boorhau. I have, therefore, told him that we greatly desire his
friendship, but are at present powerless to protect him, should he be
attacked by his northern neighbours.
"He is particularly anxious to train his men after the European
fashion, as he sees that our Sepoys are a match for five times their
number of the untrained troops of the Indian princes.
"This brings me to the subject before us. I have written to him, to
say that I will send to him an English officer, capable of training
and leading his troops, and whose advice may be useful to him upon all
occasions; but that as, were it known that he had received a British
officer, and was employing him to train his troops, it would excite
the instant animosity of Bussy and of the Peishwar; I should send one
familiar with the language, and who may pass as a native. Captain
Clive has strongly recommended you for this difficult mission."
"I fear, sir, that I could hardly pass as a native. The moonshee is
constantly correcting mistakes which I make, in speaking."
"That may be so," Mr. Saunders said; "but there are a score of
dialects in Southern India, and you could be passed upon nineteen of
the twenty peoples who speak them, as belonging to one of the other."
"If you think, sir, that I shall do," Charlie said; "I shall be glad
to undertake the mission."
"Very well, Mr. Marryat, that is understood, then. You will receive
full instructions in writing, and will understand that your duty is
not only to drill the troops of this chief; but to give him such
advice as may suit his and our interests; to strengthen his good
feeling towards us; and to form, as far as possible, a compact little
force which might, at a critical moment, be of immense utility. You
will, of course, master the geography of the country, of which we are
all but absolutely ignorant; find out about the passes, the mountain
paths, the defensible positions. All these things may someday be of
the highest importance.
"You will have a few days to make your arrangements, and settle as to
the character you will adopt. This you had better do, in consultation
with someone who thoroughly understands the country. It is intended
that you shall go down to Trichinopoli, with the next convoy; and from
there make your way to the stronghold of Boorhau."
"Shall I take any followers with me?"
"Yes," Mr. Saunders said. "As you will go in the character of a
military adventurer, who has served among our Sepoys long enough to
learn European drill, you had better take two, three, or four men, as
you like, with you as retainers. You might pick out two or three
trusty men, from the Sepoys you command."
Charlie left Government House in high spirits. It was certainly an
honor, to have been selected for such a post. It was quite possible
that it would be a dangerous one. It was sure to be altogether
different from the ordinary life of a subaltern in the Company's army.
Peters was very sorry when he heard from Charlie that they were, at
last, to be separated. It was now nearly two years since they had
first met on board the Lizzie Anderson; and, since that time, they had
been constantly together, and were greatly attached to each other.
Charlie, perhaps, had taken the lead. The fact of his having a stock
of firearms, and being able to lend them to Peters, had given him,
perhaps, the first slight and almost imperceptible advantage. His feat
of jumping overboard, to rescue Tim Kelly, had been another step in
advance; and, although Charlie would have denied it himself, there was
no doubt that he generally took the lead, and that his friend was
accustomed to lean upon him, and to look to him always for the
initiative. It was, therefore, a severe blow to Peters, to find that
Charlie was about to be sent on detached service.
As for Tim Kelly, he was uproarious in his grief, when he heard that
he was to be separated from his master.
"Shure, Mr. Charlie, ye'll never have the heart to lave a poor boy,
that sarved ye be night and day for eighteen months. Tim Kelly would
gladly give his life for ye, and ye wouldn't go and lave him behind
ye, and go all alone among these black thaves of the world."
"But it is impossible that I can take you, Tim," Charlie said. "You
know, yourself, that you cannot speak ten words of the language. How
then could you possibly pass undetected, whatever disguise you put
on?"
"But I'd never open my mouth at all, at all, yer honor, barring for
mate and drink."
"It's all very well for you to say so, Tim," Charlie answered; "but I
do not think that anything, short of a miracle, would silence your
tongue. But leave us now, Tim, and I will talk the matter over with
Mr. Peters. I should be glad enough to have you with me, if we could
arrange it."
The moonshee was taken into their counsels, and was asked his opinion
as to the disguise which Charlie could adopt, with least risk of
detection. The moonshee replied that he might pass as a Bheel. These
hill tribes speak a dialect quite distinct from that of the people
around them, and the moonshee said that, if properly attired, Charlie
would be able to pass anywhere for one of these people; provided,
always, that he did not meet with another of the same race.
"You might assert," he said, "that your father had taken service with
some rajah on the plain, and that you had there learned to speak the
language. In this way, you would avoid having to answer any difficult
questions regarding your native place; but as to that, you can get up
something of the geography before you leave."
"There are several Bheels among our Sepoys," Charlie said. "I can pick
out three or four of them, who would be just the men for me to take. I
believe they are generally very faithful, and attached to their
officers."
When Tim again entered the room, he inquired anxiously if his master
hit upon any disguise which would suit him.
"What do you say, Mr. Moonshine?" Tim said.
The moonshee shook his head. Between these two a perpetual feud had
existed, ever since the native had arrived at Arcot, to take his place
as a member of Charlie's establishment. In obedience to Charlie's
stringent orders, Tim never was openly rude to him; but he never lost
an opportunity of making remarks, of a disparaging nature, as to the
value of Charlie's studies.
The moonshee, on his part, generally ignored Tim's existence
altogether; addressing him, when obliged to do so, with a ceremonious
civility which annoyed Tim more than open abuse would have done.
"I think," he said gravely, in reply to Tim's demand; "that the very
worshipful one would have most chance of escaping detection if he went
in rags, throwing dust on his hair, and passing for one afflicted."
"And what does he mean by afflicted, Mr. Charles?" the Irishman said
wrathfully, as the two young officers laughed.
"He means one who is a born fool, Tim."
Tim looked furiously at the moonshee.
"It would," the latter said sententiously, "be the character which the
worshipful one would support with the greatest ease."
"The black thief is making fun of me," Tim muttered; "but I'll be aven
with him one of these days, or my name isn't Tim Kelly.
"I was thinking, yer honor, that I might represent one deaf and dumb."
"But you're always talking, Tim, and when you're not talking to
others, you talk to yourself. It's quite impossible you could go as a
dumb man; but you might go, as the moonshee suggests, as a half-witted
sort of chap; with just sense enough to groom a horse and look after
him, but with not enough to understand what's said to you, or to
answer any questions."
"I could do that asy enough, Mr. Charles."
"And you have to keep from quarrelling, Tim. I hear you quarrelling,
on an average, ten times a day; and as, in such a character as we're
talking about, you would, of course, be exposed to all sorts of
slights and unpleasantnesses, you would be in continual hot water."
"Now, yer honor," Tim said reproachfully, "you're too hard on me,
entirely. I like a bit of a row as well as any many, but it's all for
divarsion; and I could go on, for a year, without quarrelling with a
soul. Just try me, Mr. Charles. Just try me for a month, and if, at
the end of that time, you find me in your way; or that I don't keep my
character, then send me back agin to the regiment."
It was arranged that the moonshee should remain with Peters, who,
seeing that Charlie owed his appointment, to a post which promised
excitement and adventure, to his skill in the native languages, was
determined that he would again set to, in earnest, and try and master
its intricacies. The moonshee went down to the bazaar, and purchased
the clothes which would be necessary for the disguises; and Charlie
found, in his company, four Sepoys who willingly agreed to accompany
him, in the character of his retainers, upon his expedition. As to
their costume, there was no difficulty. When off duty, the Sepoys in
the Company's service were accustomed to dress in their native attire.
Consequently, it needed only the addition of a tulwar, or short curved
sword; a shield, thrown over one shoulder; a long matchlock; and two
or three pistols and daggers, stuck into a girdle, to complete their
equipment.
Charlie himself was dressed gaily, in the garb of a military officer
in the service of an Indian rajah. He was to ride, and a horse,
saddle, and gay housings were procured. He had, at last, given in to
Tim's entreaties; and that worthy was dressed as a syce, or horse
keeper.
Both Charlie and Tim had had those portions of their skin exposed to
the air darkened, and both would pass muster, at a casual inspection.
Charlie, in thus concealing his nationality, desired only to hide the
fact that he was an officer in the Company's service. He believed that
it would be impossible for him to continue to pass as a Bheel. This,
however, would be of no consequence, after a time. Many of the native
princes had Europeans in their service. Runaway sailors, deserters
from the English, French, and Dutch armed forces in their possessions
on the seacoast, adventurers influenced either by a love of a life of
excitement, or whom a desire to escape the consequences of folly or
crime committed at home had driven to a roving life--such men might be
found in many of the native courts.
Once settled, then, in the service of the rajah, Charlie intended to
make but little farther pretence, or secrecy, as to his nationality.
Outwardly, he would still conform to the language and appearance of
the character he had chosen; but he would allow it to be supposed that
he was an Englishman, a deserter from the Company's service, and that
his comrades were Sepoys in a similar position. His employment, then,
at the court of the rajah, would have an effect the exact reverse of
that which it would have done, had he appeared in his proper
character.
Deserters were, of all men, the most opposed to their countrymen, to
whom they had proved traitors. In battle they could be relied upon to
fight desperately, for they fought with ropes round their necks.
Therefore, while the appearance of an English officer, as instructor
of the forces of the rajah, would have drawn upon himself the instant
hostility of all opposed to the British; the circulation of a report
that his troops were being disciplined by some English and native
deserters, from the Company's forces, would excite no suspicion
whatever.
To avoid attracting attention, Charlie Marryat and his party set out
before daylight from Madras. Their appearance, indeed, would have
attracted no attention, when they once had passed beyond the
boundaries of the portion of the town occupied by the whites. In the
native quarter, the appearance of a small zemindar, or landowner,
attended by four or five armed followers on foot, was of such common
occurrence as to attract no attention whatever; and, indeed, numbers
of these come in to take service in the Sepoy regiments, the
profession of arms being always considered honorable, in India.
For a fortnight they travelled, by easy stages, without question or
suspicion being excited that they were not what they seemed. They were
now among the hills, and soon arrived at Ambur, the seat of the rajah.
The town was a small one, and above it rose the fortress, which stood
on a rock rising sheer from the bottom of the valley, and standing
boldly out from the hillside. The communication was effected by a
shoulder which, starting from a point halfway up the rock, joined the
hill behind it. Along this shoulder were walls and gateways. An enemy
attacking these would be exposed to the fire from the summit of the
rock. From the point where the shoulder joined the rock, a zigzag road
had been cut, with enormous labour, in the face of the rock, to the
summit.
"It is a strong place," Charlie said to Tim Kelly, who was walking by
his horse's head; "and should be able to hold out against anything but
starvation. That is to say, if properly defended."
"It's a powerful place, surely," Tim said; "and would puzzle the ould
boy himself to take. Even Captain Clive, who is afeard of nothing,
would be bothered by it."
As they rode up the valley, two horsemen were seen spurring towards
them, from the town. They drew rein before Charlie; and one, bowing,
said:
"My master, the rajah, sends his greeting to you, and begs to know if
you are the illustrious soldier, Nadir Ali, for whom his heart has
been longing."
"Will you tell your lord that Nadir Ali is here," Charlie said, "and
that he longs to see the face of the rajah."
One of the horsemen at once rode off, and the other took his place by
the side of Charlie; and, having introduced himself as captain of the
rajah's bodyguard, rode with him through the town.
Had Charlie appeared in his character as English officer, the rajah
and all his troops would have turned out to do honor to his arrival.
As it was, a portion of the garrison, only, appeared at the gate and
lined the walls. Through these the little party passed, and up the
sharp zigzags, which were so steep that, had it not been that his
dignity prevented him from dismounting, Charlie would gladly have got
off and proceeded on foot; for it was as much as the animal could do,
to struggle up the steep incline.
At each turn there was a gateway, with little flanking towers; on
which jingalls, or small wall pieces, commanded the road.
"Faith, then, it's no fool that built this place. I shouldn't like to
have to attack it, wid all the soldiers of the King's army, let alone
those of the Company."
"It is tremendously strong, Tim, but it is astonishing what brave men
can do."
In the after wars which England waged, in India, the truth of what
Charlie said was over and over again proved. Numerous fortresses,
supposed by the natives to be absolutely impregnable, and far
exceeding in strength that just described, have been carried by
assault, by the dash and daring of English troops.
They gained, at last, the top of the rock. It was uneven in surface,
some portions being considerably more elevated than others. Roughly,
its extent was about a hundred yards, either way. The lower level was
covered with buildings, occupied by the garrison, and storehouses. On
the upper level, some forty feet higher, stood the palace of the
rajah. It communicated with the courtyard, below, by a broad flight of
steps. These led to an arched gateway, with a wall and battlements;
forming an interior line of defence, should an assailant gain a
footing in the lower portion of the stronghold.
Alighting from his horse at the foot of the steps, Charlie, followed
by his five retainers, mounted to the gateway. Here another guard of
honor was drawn up. Passing through these, they entered a shady
courtyard, on one side of which was a stone pavilion. The flat ceiling
was supported by massive columns, closely covered with intricate
sculpture. The roof was arabesqued with deeply cut patterns, picked
out in bright colours. A fountain played in the middle.
On the farther side the floor, which was of marble, was raised; and
two steps led to a wide recess, with windows of lattice stonework,
giving a view over the town and valley below. In this recess were
piles of cushions and carpets, and here reclined the rajah, a spare
and active-looking man, of some forty years old. He rose, as Charlie
approached, the soldiers and Sepoys remaining beyond the limits of the
pavilion.
"Welcome, brave Nadir Ali," he said courteously; "my heart is glad,
indeed, at the presence of one whose wisdom is said to be far beyond
his years, and who has learned the arts of war of the infidels from
beyond the seas."
Then, inviting Charlie to take a seat on the divan with him, he
questioned him as to his journey, and the events which were taking
place in the plains; until the attendants, having handed round
refreshments, retired at his signal.
"I am glad to see you, Sahib," he said, when they were alone; "though,
in truth, I looked for one older than yourself. The great English
governor of Madras tells me, however, in a letter which I received
four days since, that you are skilled in war; that you fought by the
side of that great Captain Clive at Arcot, Arni, Kavaripak, and at
Trichinopoli; and that the great warrior, himself, chose you to come
to me. Therefore, I doubt neither your valour nor your prudence, and
put myself in your hands, wholly.
"The governor has already told you, doubtless, of the position in
which I am placed here."
"Governor Saunders explained the whole position to me," Charlie said.
"You are, at present, menaced on all sides by powerful neighbours. You
believe that the fortunes of the English are on the increase; and as
you think the time may come, ere long, when they will turn the French
out of the Deccan, and become masters there, as they have already
become masters in the Carnatic, you wish to fight by their side, and
share their fortunes. In the meantime, you desire to be able to defend
yourself against your neighbours; for, at present, the English are too
far away to assist you.
"To enable you to do this, I have been sent to drill and discipline
your troops, like our Sepoys; and to give you such advice as may be
best, for the general defence of your country. I have brought with me
five soldiers; four Bheels, and one of my countrymen. The latter will
be of little use in drilling your troops, for he is ignorant of the
language, and has come as my personal attendant. The other four will
assist me in my work.
"Your followers here will, no doubt, discover in a very short time
that I am an Englishman. Let it be understood that I am a deserter,
that I have been attracted to your court by the promise of high pay,
and that I have assumed the character of a Bheel, lest my being here
might put you on bad terms with the English."
Charlie then asked the rajah as to the strength of his military force.
"In time of peace," the rajah said, "I keep three hundred men under
arms. In case of taking the field, three thousand. To defend Ambur
against an attack of an enemy, I could muster ten thousand men."
"You could not call out three thousand men, without attracting the
attention of your neighbours?" Charlie asked.
"No," the rajah said; "that would bring my neighbours upon me, at
once."
"I suppose, however, you might assemble another five hundred men,
without attracting attention."
"Oh, yes," the rajah said; "eight hundred men are not a force which
could attract any great attention."
"Then I should propose that we begin with eight hundred," Charlie
said. "For a month, however, I will confine myself to the troops you
at present have. We must, in the first place, train some officers. If
you will pick out those to whom you intend to give commands, and
subcommands; I will choose from the men, after drilling them for a few
days, forty of the most intelligent as what we call noncommissioned
officers.
"For the first month, we will work hard in teaching these officers and
sub-officers their duties. Then, when the whole eight hundred
assemble, we can divide them into four parties. There will be one of
my drill instructors to each party, ten under officers, and four or
five of the officers whom you will appoint. Six weeks' hard work
should make these eight hundred men fairly acquainted with drill. The
English Sepoys have often gone out to fight, with less. At the end of
the six weeks, let the five hundred men you have called out, in
addition to your bodyguard of three hundred, return to their homes;
and replace them by an equal number of fresh levies, and so proceed
until you have your three thousand fighting men, thoroughly trained.
In nine months, all will have had their six weeks of exercise, and
could take their places in the ranks again, at a day's notice.
"Two hundred of your men I will train in artillery; although I do not
belong to that branch of the service, I learned the duties at Arcot."
The rajah agreed, heartily, to Charlie's proposals; well pleased at
the thought that he should, before the end of a year, be possessed of
a trained force, which would enable him to hold his own against his
powerful neighbours, until an opportunity might occur when, in
alliance with the English, he should be able to turn the tables upon
them, and to aggrandize himself at their expense.