We reached Jubbulpoor without another adventure of any kind, and
rested there for two days. Peer Khan, Motee, and myself perambulated
the bazars during the whole time, but not a traveller could we meet
with, nor could we learn that any were expected; it was therefore of no
use to remain, and as we had still plenty of time before us, we could
travel as leisurely as we pleased: so on the third morning we again
proceeded. The country between Jubbulpoor and Nagpoor is a wild waste.
Villages are not met with for miles and miles, the road is stony and
uneven, and the jungle thick and dangerous for nearly the whole way.
On this account the tract has always been a favourite resort of Thugs,
and more affairs have come off in those few marches than perhaps in any
other part of the country frequented by us. We were all regretting that
we had not met with some bunij at Jubbulpoor, wherewith to beguile the
weariness of the road, when, at our second stage, soon after we had
arrived, Motee, who had gone to look out for work for us, returned with
the glad news that there was a palankeen at the door of a merchant's
shop, surrounded by bearers and a few soldiers, which looked very much
as if it belonged to a traveller.
"But he must be of rank," said Motee, "therefore I humbly suggest that
you, Meer Sahib, should undertake to see who he is, and to secure him,
if possible."
I followed his advice, and changing my travelling attire for a dress
which would ensure my civil reception, I armed myself, and, attended by
a Thug, who carried my hooka, I sauntered into the village. I soon saw
the palankeen and men about it; and in order to gain some intelligence
to guide me, I went to a Tumbolee's shop directly opposite to it, and
sitting down, entered into conversation with the vendor of tobacco and
pan.
"This a wild country you live in, my friend," said I.
"Yes, it is, indeed, as you say," he replied; "and were it not for you
travellers, a poor man would have little chance of filling his belly by
selling pan and tobacco, but, as it is, my trade thrives well."
"There do not seem to be many on the road," said I; "I have come from
Jubbulpoor without meeting a soul."
"Why, the roads are hardly much frequented yet," he rejoined, "but in a
month more there will be hundreds; and there," he continued, pointing
to the house over the way, "there is almost the only one I have seen
for some time."
"Who is it?" I asked, "and where has he come from? he was not with us."
"I know not," replied the Tumbolee, "nor do I care; whoever he is, he
has bought a quantity of my stuff, and it was the first silver which
crossed my hands this morning."
I saw there was nothing to be got out of this man, so I went to
a Bunnea, a little further off, and, after a few preparatory and
indifferent questions, asked him whether he knew aught of the
traveller; but he knew nothing either, except that a slave-girl had
bought some flour of him. "They say," said he "that it is a gentleman
of rank who is travelling privately, and does not wish to be known; at
any rate, Sahib, I know nothing about him; I suppose, however, he will
come out in a short time." This is very strange, thought I; here is a
gay palankeen, eight bearers and some soldiers with it, come into this
wretched place, and yet no one's curiosity is aroused; who can it be? I
will return to the Tumbolee, and sit awhile; I may see, though I cannot
hear anything of this mysterious person.
I sat down at the shop, and calling to my attendant for my hooka,
remained there smoking, in the hope that some one might appear from
behind the cloths which were stretched across the verandah; nor did I
stay long in vain--I saw them gently move once or twice, and thought I
could perceive the sparkle of a brilliant eye directed to me. I riveted
my gaze on the envious purdah, and after along interval it was quickly
opened, and afforded me a transient momentary view of a face radiant
with beauty; but it was as instantly closed again, and I was left in
vain conjecture as to the beautiful, but mysterious, person who had
thus partially discovered herself to me. It would not have suited my
purpose to have personally interrogated any of the bearers, who were
lying and sitting about the palankeen, as it would have rendered them
suspicious, and would have been impertinent: after all, it was only a
woman--what had I to do with women now? And had I not made an inward
resolution never to seek them as bunij--nay, even to avoid parties in
which there might be any? So I arose, and took my way to our camp,
firmly resolving that I would pursue my march the next morning; for,
thought I, she must be some lady of rank travelling to her lord, and
Alla forbid that I should raise a hand against one so defenceless and
unprotected; and I thought of my own lovely Azima, and shuddered at
the idea of her ever being placed within reach of other members of my
profession, who might not be so scrupulous as I was.
But, Sahib, the resolves of men--what are they?--passing thoughts,
which fain would excite the mind to good, only to be driven away by the
wild and overpowering influences of passion. Despite of my resolve,
my mind was unquiet, and a thousand times fancy brought to my view
the look she had cast on me, and whispered that it was one of love. I
could not shake it off, and sought in the conversation of my associates
wherewith to drive her from my thoughts; but it was in vain--that
passionate glance was before me, and the beauteous eyes which threw it
seemed to ask for another, a nearer and more loving.
In this state I passed the day, now determining that I would resist the
temptation which was gnawing at my heart, and now almost on the point
of once more proceeding to the village and seeking out the unknown
object of my disquietude; and I was irresolute, when towards evening I
saw a slave-girl making towards the camp, and I went to meet her, but
not with the intention of speaking to her, should she prove to be only
a village girl. We met, and I passed her; but I saw instantly that she
was in search of some one, for she turned round hesitatingly and spoke
to me. "Forgive my boldness, Sahib," said she, "but I am in search of
some one, and your appearance tells me that it must be you."
"Speak," said I; "if I can aid you in anything, command me."
"I know not," she replied, "whether you are he or not; but tell me, did
you sit at the Tumbolee's shop this morning for some time, smoking a
hooka?"
"I did, my pretty maiden," said I; "and what of that? there is nothing
so unusual in it as to attract attention."
"Ah, no!" said the girl archly; "but one saw you who wishes to see you
again; and if you will now follow me, I will guide you."
"And who may this person be?" I asked; "and what can be his or her
business with a traveller?"
"Your first question I may not answer," said the girl; "and as to the
second, I am ignorant; but, by your soul, follow me, for the matter is
urgent; and I have most express commands to bring you if I possibly
can."
"I follow you," said I; "lead on."
"Then keep behind me at some distance," she said; "and when you see me
enter the house, step boldly in after me, as if you were the master."
I followed her. But ah! Sahib, observe the power of destiny. I might
have sat in my tent, and denied myself to the girl, who, something told
me, had come to seek me when I first saw her approach. I might, when I
did advance to meet her, have passed on indifferently; and, even when
she spoke to me, I might have denied that I was the person she was sent
after, or I might have refused to accompany her; but destiny impelled
me on, nay, it led me by the nose after a slave-girl, to plunge into an
adventure I fain would have avoided, and which my heart told me must
end miserably. Sahib, there is no opposing Fate; by the meanest ends
it works out the greatest deeds, and we are its slaves, body and soul,
blindly to do as its will works! I say not Thugs only, but the whole
human race. Is it not so?
It appears to me, Ameer Ali, said I, that poor Destiny has the blame
whenever your own wicked hearts fixed themselves on any object and you
followed their suggestions.
Nay, but I would have avoided this, cried the Thug; and have I not told
you so? Alla knows I would not have entered into this matter; but what
could I do? what were my weak resolves compared with his will! and yet
you will not believe me. Sahib, I do not tell a lie.
I dare say not, said I; but the beautiful eyes were too much for you;
so go on with your story.
The Thug laughed. They were indeed, said he, and accursed be the hour
in which I saw them. But I will proceed.
The slave preceded me; at some distance I followed her through the
village and its bazars, and saw her enter the house before which I had
sat in the morning. I too entered it, leaving my slippers at the door,
and with the confident air of a man who goes into his own house. I had
just passed the threshold, when the slave stopped me.
"Wait a moment," said she; "I go to announce you;" and she pulled aside
the temporary screen and went in.
In a few moments she returned, and bade me follow her. I obeyed her,
and in the next instant was in the presence of the unknown, who was
hidden from my sight by an envious sheet, which covered the whole of
her person, and her face was turned away from me towards the wall.
"Lady," said I, "your slave is come; and aught that he can do for one
so lovely he will perform to the utmost of his power. Speak! your
commands are on my head and eyes."
"Byto," she said in a low, timid voice. "I have somewhat to ask thee."
I obeyed, and seated myself at a respectful distance from her on the
carpet. "You will think me bold and shameless, I fear, stranger," said
she, "for thus admitting you to my presence, nay even to my chamber;
but, alas! I am a widow, and need the protection you are able perhaps
to afford me. Which way do you travel?"
"Towards Nagpoor," I replied; "I purpose leaving this miserable place
early to-morrow, and I have come from Jubbulpoor."
"From whence I have also come," she said, "and I am going too to
Nagpoor. Ah, my destiny is good which has sent me one who will protect
the lonely and friendless widow!"
"It is strange, lady," said I, "that we did not meet before, having
come the same road."
"No," she replied, "it is not, since I was behind you. I heard you were
before me, and I travelled fast to overtake you. We have now met, and
as I must proceed the remainder of my journey alone, I implore you to
allow me for the stage to join your party, with which, as I hear it is
a large one, I shall be safe, and free from anxiety."
"Your wish is granted, lady," I said; "and any protection against the
dangers of the way which your poor slave can afford shall be cheerfully
given. I will send a man early to awaken you, and promise that I will
not leave the village without you."
She salamed to me gracefully, and in doing so the sheet, as if by
accident, partly fell from her face, and disclosed again to my
enraptured view the features I had beheld from a distance. Sahib,
the shock was overpowering, and every nerve in my body tingled; only
that a sense of decency restrained me, I had risen and thrown myself
at her feet; but while a blush, as though of shame, mantled over her
countenance, and she hastily withdrew the glance she had for an instant
fixed on me, she replaced the sheet and again turned to the wall,
bending her head towards the ground. I thought it had been purely
accidental, and the action at the time convinced me that she was really
what she represented herself to be; and fearing that my longer presence
would not be agreeable or decent, I asked her if she had any further
commands and for permission to depart.
"No," said she, "I have no further favour to beg, save to know the name
of him to whom I am indebted for this act of kindness."
"My name is Ameer Ali," said I; "a poor syud of Hindostan."
"Your fluent speech assured me you were of that noble race; I could not
be mistaken,--'tis seldom one hears it. Fazil! bring the pan and utr."
She did so, and after taking the complimentary gift of dismissal, and
anointing my breast and beard with the fragrant utr, I rose and made my
obeisance. She saluted me in return, and again bade me not forget my
promise. I assured her that she might depend upon me, and departed.
She must be what she says, thought I; the very act of presenting pan
and utr to me proves her rank; no common person, no courtesan would
have thought of it. I shall only have to bear a little jeering from
Motee and Peer Khan, which I will resist and laugh away; and this poor
widow will reach Nagpoor in safety, without knowing that she has been
in the hands of murderers. But I said nothing that night to any of
them. In reply to their numerous questions as to the fortune I had met
with in the village, and whether I had discovered the unknown, I only
laughed, and said I believed it was some dancing-girl, for I knew the
mention of one would turn their minds from the thoughts of bunij, as it
is forbidden to kill those persons by the laws of our profession; and
with my supposition they appeared satisfied. Great, however, was their
surprise when in the morning, after having delayed our departure longer
than usual, I joined the party of the lady outside the village and
they understood that we were to travel in company. I was overpowered
by jokes and witticisms from Peer Khan and Motee, who declared I was
a sly dog thus to secure the lady all to myself; and after protesting
vehemently that I cared not about her, which only made them laugh the
more, I became half angry.
"Look you, my friends," said I, "this is a matter which has been in a
manner forced upon me. Who the lady is I know not. She has begged of
me to allow her to accompany us, as she supposes us to be travellers,
and I have permitted it; and whether she be old or young, ugly or
beautiful, I am alike ignorant. We may hereafter find out her history;
but, whoever she be, she has my promise of safe escort, and she is not
bunij. You remember my resolution, and you will see I can keep it."
"Nay," said Motee, "be not angry; if a friend is not privileged to
crack a joke now and then, who, in Bhugwan's name, is? And as for us,
we are your servants, and bound to obey you by our oath; so you may
have as many women in your train as you please, and not one shall be
bunij."
So we pursued our road. Several times I could not resist riding up to
the palankeen and making my noble horse curvet and prance beside it.
The doors were at first closely shut, but one was gradually opened, and
the same sparkling eyes threw me many a smiling and approving look,
though the face was still hidden.
Alas! Sahib, those eyes did me great mischief--I could not withstand
them. About noon, when we had rested from our fatigue, and my men were
dispersed in various directions, scarcely any of them remaining in
the camp, the slave-girl again came for me, and I followed her to her
mistress. We sat a long time in silence, and the lady was muffled up
as I had before seen her. Despite of all my conflicting feelings, I
own, Sahib, that in her presence my home was forgotten, and my burning
desire was fixed upon the veiled being before me, of whose countenance
I was even still ignorant.
She spake at last, but it was to the slave. "Go," said she, "and wait
without, far out of hearing; I have that to say to this gentleman which
must not enter even your ears, my Fazil."
She departed, and I was alone with the other, and again there was a
long, and to me a painful, silence. "Meer Sahib," she said, at length,
"what will you think of me? what will you think of one who thus exposes
herself to the gaze of a man and a stranger? But it matters not now: it
has been done, and it is idle to think on the past. I am the widow of a
nuwab, whose estate is near Agra; he died a short time ago at Nagpoor,
on his way from Hyderabad, whither he had gone to see his brother, and
I was left friendless, but not destitute. He had abundance of wealth
with him, and I was thus enabled to live at Nagpoor, after sending news
of his death to my estate, in comfort and affluence. The messengers I
sent at length returned, and brought me the welcome news that there
was no one to dispute my right to my husband's property; and that my
own family, which is as noble and as powerful as his was, had taken
possession of the estate and held it on my account; and they wrote to
me to return as quickly as I could, and among the respectable men of
the land choose a new husband, by whom I might have children to inherit
the estate. I immediately set off on my return--ah! Ameer Ali, how can
I tell the rest! my tongue from shame cleaves to the roof of my mouth,
and my lips refuse utterance to the words which are at my heart."
"Speak, lady," said I; "by your soul, speak! I burn with impatience,
and you have excited my curiosity now too powerfully for it to rest
unsatisfied."
"Then I must speak," she said, "though I die of shame in the effort.
I heard at the last village that you had arrived; I say you, because
my faithful slave, who finds out everything, came, shortly after your
arrival, and told me that she had seen the most beautiful cavalier
her thoughts had ever pictured to her. She recounted your noble air,
the beauty of your person, the grace with which you managed your
fiery steed, and above all the sweet and amiable expression of your
countenance. The account inflamed me. I had married an old man, who
was jealous of my person, and who never allowed me to see any one but
my poor slave; but I had heard of manly beauty, and I longed for the
time when his death should free me from this hated thraldom. Long I
deliberated between the uncontrollable desire which possessed me and a
sense of shame and womanly dignity; and perhaps the latter might have
conquered, but you came and sat opposite to the hovel in which I was
resting; my slave told me you were there, and I looked. Alla! Alla!
once my eyes had fixed themselves on you, I could not withdraw them;
and, as the hole through which I gazed did not afford me a full view
of your person, I partially opened the curtain and feasted my soul
with your appearance. You went away, and I fell back on my carpet in
despair. My slave at last restored me to consciousness, but I raved
about you; and fearful that my senses would leave me, she went and
brought you. When you entered, how I longed to throw myself at your
feet! But shame prevailed, and, after a commonplace conversation,
though my soul was on fire and my liver had turned into water, I
suffered you to depart. I told my people that I must return to Nagpoor,
as I had forgotten to redeem some jewels I had left in pledge, which
were valuable; and they believed me. Ameer Ali!" cried she, suddenly
throwing off her veil and casting herself at my feet, while she buried
her head in my lap; "Ameer Ali! this is my tale of shame--I love you!
Alla only knows how my soul burns for you! I will be your slave for
ever; whither you go, thither will I follow; whoever you are, and
whatever you are, I am yours, and yours only; but I shall die without
you. Alas! why did you come to me?"