Cheetoo was evidently flattered by the distinction with which he had
been received, and as he examined the beautiful shawls which now
enveloped his person, a grim smile of delight lighted up his coarse
features. "These men have sense," said he to Ghuffoor Khan, "and are
evidently accustomed to the visits of persons of quality. We little
expected this civility, and in truth it is most acceptable after our
long ride; but they have forgotten you."
"Not so, noble Cheetoo," cried the Sahoukar, advancing with
several pairs of shawls over his arm; "we are not forgetful of our
distinguished guests;" and he threw a pair over each of the chiefs,
which they received with complacency.
"Let the room be cleared," cried Cheetoo; "we have business with
these worthy gentlemen, which I have sworn to do before we touch any
refreshment."
It was quickly done, and there only remained our leaders and the
sahoukars, who huddled together like wild fowl on the approach of a
hawk. "Come forward," said Cheetoo to them; "come and sit near us; we
would speak to you."
They all arose, and, as they were directed, seated themselves in
respectful attitudes on the edge of the musnud. "Now," continued
Cheetoo, "you are doubtless aware of our object. We want money, and
money we will have, by fair means or foul; if ye are wise, ye will pay
me handsomely to be rid of me and my people, who are savage fellows. I
desire not to harm you, and on your own heads be it, if any disaster
befalls you. Say, therefore, how much are ye prepared to give?"
"Truly," said the Sahoukar, my friend, who was the spokesman, "we have
been duly advised of your Highness's coming; and as a proof that we did
not dread you, you see us here, and we have done our poor ability to
welcome so distinguished a person. We have also received good counsel
from your servant the Meer Sahib; and, agreeably to his instructions,
we have drawn up a list of a few trifles and some ready money which we
are desirous of laying at the feet of your Highness." And the Sahoukar
handed to him a paper written in Persian.
"This is unintelligible to me, for I am no moonshee; but can any of you
read, brothers?" asked Cheetoo of the other leaders.
"Not a word, not a letter," cried one and all; "none of us know one
letter from another."
"I can send for a moonshee," said the Sahoukar; "one is in attendance."
"If I am permitted," said I, "I will read the list; I may be able to
make it out."
"Ha! thou art a clerk as well as a good soldier," cried Cheetoo,
laughing. "Well, take the paper, and let us hear our good fortune."
"First, then," said I, after I had glanced over the document, "this
paper sets forth, that the sahoukars and others of the market-town of
Oomraotee, in council assembled, having heard of the near approach of
the mighty Cheetoo and his army, and being desirous of approaching
his feet with a small tribute of respect, have put down the following
articles and sums of ready money, which are prepared and ready for his
acceptance,--on no condition save that, they may find favour in his
sight, and be the humble means of insuring his clemency to others."
"Good!" said Cheetoo. "Now get thee to the marrow of the matter as
speedily as may be, for my stomach craves food, and I doubt not these
worthy gentleman's families have prepared a repast for me."
"It is ready, noble Cheetoo," cried the Sahoukar; "and if the order is
given, it will be set out; but the food of us poor Hindoos would be
tasteless to my lord, and therefore we have had the repast cooked by
the best Bawurchees of the town."
"Silence!" cried the chief; "speak when you are allowed to do so; we
are in no humour to be interrupted."
The Sahoukar shrank back intimidated, and raising my voice I proceeded.
"The first item, Protector of the Poor!" cried I, "is a sum of fifty
thousand rupees for yourself."
"Is that all?" cried he, his brow contracting.
"Stay," said I; "more follows. 'A tray of choice jewels, gold, and
silver, valued at fifteen thousand rupees, and three trays of shawls
and brocades for my lord's Muhal, valued at ten thousand rupees: in
all, seventy-five thousand rupees. Secondly, a sum of ten thousand
rupees to each leader of rank, of whom we learn from the worthy Syud,
Ameer Ali, there are three: a tray of jewels to each, of five thousand
rupees, and three trays, each valued at five thousand more; in all,
twenty thousand rupees each.'"
"Go on!" cried Cheetoo; "you have not done yet, I suppose?"
"No," said I, glancing down the paper; "there is more following.
'Thirdly, a sum of one thousand rupees to each duffadar: we are
uninformed of their number, but we have supposed thirty.'"
"Good!" cried Cheetoo; "what more?"
"'Fourthly, the sum of fifty rupees to each deserving person, to be
given at the discretion of the mighty Cheetoo; by report we hear there
are four thousand. Also food, grain, and forage for as many days as the
army may remain with us.' This is all," said I; "what are my lord's
orders?"
"The list is well enough," said Cheetoo; "but they are wrong in some
particulars: first, there are fifty duffadars, are there not, Ghuffoor
Khan?"
"There are," he replied; "I told them off myself."
"Put that down, Meer Sahib," said Cheetoo. "Again, there are five
thousand good Pindharees; am I not right?"
"True again," cried all the leaders; "were they not counted at Nemawur?"
This was a lie; there were hardly four thousand, for nearly half the
lubhur had gone off in a different direction from the Nurbudda; but
it signified little; for Cheetoo, I knew, was determined to make the
best terms he could with the sahoukars. "Put down five thousand," said
Cheetoo; "and now see how much you have got."
I hastily arranged the amount, and read the paper to him. "First,"
said I, "there is your Highness's share, seventy-five thousand rupees;
secondly, on account of the leaders, sixty thousand rupees; then the
fifty duffadars, each man a thousand, fifty thousand rupees; lastly,
five thousand men, each forty, two hundred thousand. And the sum of the
whole is three lakhs and eighty-five thousand rupees."
"And," said Cheetoo to Ghuffoor Khan, "the horses' shoes must be worn
out, I think? we require new ones."
"Certainly," cried the Khan, with a merry grin.
"Put down fifteen thousand rupees for the horse-shoes; this, Meer
Sahib, will make the sum an even four lakhs: and gentlemen," continued
he to the sahoukars, "I must trouble you to pay with as little delay
as possible, or we must help ourselves."
There was a hurried conference for a few moments among the Sahoukars,
and a few angry words passed among them; but they were wise; my fat
friend rose, and making a lowly obeisance, declared the money was at
hand, and should be brought immediately.
"Good!" cried Cheetoo; "now let me have my dinner, and do you all see
that the duffadars are present at this house by to-morrow's dawn, to
receive their shares and those of their men. The lubhur must move
on, for after this kind reception, I would not have my friends the
sahoukars exposed to the chance of being plundered by my lawless bands."
The chiefs separated, and I was preparing to leave the room with them,
when Chetoo called me back; "Come and take your dinner with me," said
he; "I doubt not your friends the sahoukars have prepared enough for us
two."
I obeyed the order, and seated myself at the edge of the musnud. The
dinner was soon brought, and a choice repast it was. We did justice
to it, for in truth our travel had sharpened our appetites. These
satisfied, and inhaling the fragrant smoke of our pipes, Cheetoo asked
me how I had managed to bring about so advantageous a reception as
he had met with. I related the whole to him, suppressing, however,
the fact that I had secured for myself so large a sum as ten thousand
rupees; for had I disclosed that, he would presently have helped
himself to half of it at least. Peer Khan was the only person who knew
of it, and to him alone was I determined to entrust it.
He was delighted; he had, I knew, determined to raise a large sum, and
I had purposely exaggerated his probable demand to the sahoukars; this,
and my threats and hints of the place being given up to plunder on the
least demur on their parts of paying handsomely, had been successful.
"You see, Meer Sahib," said he, "by your excellent conduct I have
secured, first, seventy-five thousand rupees; and what is over, after
every proper Pindharee has got his forty rupees, will make the sum
pretty near a lakh; which is, you will say, a good beginning."
"May your prosperity increase, noble Cheetoo," said I; "if your slave
can help you to a few more sums like the present, he will only feel
himself too happy, and too honoured by distinction like the present.
For the men I had with me, I made the same terms as you have accepted
for the whole, and they were well satisfied."
"And for yourself, Meer Sahib?"
"I have not got much," said I; "perhaps I might have arrogated to
myself the distinction of one of the leaders, but I refrained: they
gave me five thousand rupees, however, and I am satisfied."
"Nay," said Cheetoo; "it was too little, my friend, and I advise you
to get as much as you can next time. And as you have behaved so well
in this instance at the head of the advance-party, I will give it into
your command in future, and must satisfy Ghuffoor Khan as well as I
can; he is a good soldier, but a thick-headed fellow, who is always for
helping himself, and setting fire to towns and villages, by which we
seldom get half as much, especially from these rich places, as we could
do by a little management and a few soft words."
"May your condescension increase, Nuwab!" cried I; "your servant,
Inshalla! will never disappoint you."
I took leave of him soon afterwards, and joined the sahoukars, who
were sitting below counting the money, which lay in large heaps on the
floor. They received me joyfully, and expressed in forcible language
how much they were indebted to me for my active interference in their
behalf. They would have pressed on me the five hundred rupees they had
promised when I presented them to Cheetoo, but I refused it.
"No," said I; "if I have done you service, and I think I have, I will
not sell my good offices. You have dealt as well by me as I have by
you, so the balance is even; all I pray of you is, to let me have my
money in gold bars, which I can easily conceal, except a few hundred
rupees for present expenses."
"It is granted," said the Sahoukar; and I had shortly afterwards the
gold in my possession; and taking a few of the sahoukars' men to guard
me, I bent my way to the camp, the bright fires of which sparkled
through the darkness on the plain beyond the town, revealing many a
wild group which huddled round them to warm themselves from the effects
of the almost chilling night breeze. I was soon at my little tent,
which consisted of a cloth stretched over three spears, two of which
were stuck into the ground, and another tied across them as a ridge
pole; and assisted by Peer Khan, I put the gold into the bags I had
made in the flaps of my saddle, and sewed them over. I was ten thousand
rupees richer in one night!
"This is grand work," said Peer Khan; "here we have had no trouble; and
if we go on at this rate, we shall return far richer than after the
toil and risk of a hundred Thuggee expeditions."
"I am to have the advance-guard always," said I; "and it shall be my
own fault if we do not always secure a good share: for my own part, I
have foresworn Thuggee, as long as there is a Pindharee chief to erect
his standard."
"And we will all follow you," he replied; "Motee and the others are
delighted with their success, and are in high spirits: there is not one
of them but has got a good share of to-day's work, for we stuck near
you, and were bribed well to use our influence with you; they thought
us all duffadars, and you know Motee and myself shared as such."
"It shall not be my fault," said I, "if you are not all duffadars in
reality before long. Let the men make themselves active, and dress
handsomely; you are all well mounted and will catch the eye of the
chief."
By dawn the next morning I was with Cheetoo. The sahoukars had
collected the whole of the money, by subscriptions among themselves
and collections from the town; and the whole was distributed fairly,
I must say, among the Pindharees. Each duffadar bore away the share
of his duffa, and they knew too well the risk they would run if they
defrauded any man of his just due. A few hours elapsed, and after a
hurried meal, every man was on his horse, and the Lubhur departed to
seek fresh plunder in the country before them. Yet before he set out,
Cheetoo promised, in consequence of the ready payment of the sum he
received, that in every future expedition he might undertake, the town
of Oomraotee should be exempted from contributions; and he kept his
word. Oomraotee was never again plundered, and a large body of troops,
which were stationed there afterwards, effectually deterred small and
straggling parties from surprising it as we had done.
Onwards we dashed; I, at the head of my band, who had now implicit
confidence in me, caracoled along on my gallant horse, with a heart as
light and happy as the unlimited freedom of action I possessed could
make it. No thought of care intruded, and I was spared the pain of
seeing the villages we passed through (from each of which we levied at
much as we could, which was instantly laden on the Shootur camels that
accompanied us,) burned or plundered, and the inoffensive inhabitants
subjected to the cruel tortures of the men in the rear, who were often
disappointed of booty.
We halted at Karinjah; a few soldiers who were in the town made a
feeble defence, and wounded a few of my men as we rushed into the
place; but they were soon killed or dispersed; and, as a warning to
other villages, it was given up to sack and ruin. I could never bear
the sight of wanton cruelty, and I repaired to my place in the camp:
shortly afterwards I could see, from the bright blaze which rose from
different parts of the village almost simultaneously against the clear
gray evening sky, that it was doomed to destruction. Rapidly the fire
spread, while the shouts of the Pindharees engaged in their horrid
work, and the screams of the inhabitants--those of the women were
fearfully shrill and distinct--made a fit accompaniment. But it was
a work in which the Pindharees delighted; order, which never existed
save when there was no excitement, was completely at an end, and any
attempt to have checked the mad riot which was going on would have been
attended most likely with death to the interferer. My own Thugs, too,
sat around me, for a Thug is not savage, and they had no inclination to
join in the excesses.
We sat in silence, but our attention was soon arrested by the figure of
a man dragging along a girl, who resisted to the utmost of her power,
but who was evidently nearly exhausted, I rushed forward to her rescue,
and my eyes fell on the person of Ghuffoor Khan, his savage features
exaggerated in their ferocious expression by lust and the scene he had
been engaged in.
"Ha!" cried he, "Meer Sahib, is that you? here have I been working like
a true Pindharee, and have brought off something worth having; look at
her, man! is she not a Peri? a Hoori? The fool, her mother, must needs
oppose me when I got into their house, but I silenced her with a thrust
of my sword, and lo! here is her fair daughter, a worthy mate for a
prince. Speak, my pretty one, art not thou honoured at the prospect of
the embraces of Ghuffoor Khan?"
By Alla! Sahib, I could have killed him, and it would have been an
easy matter to have done so, as he stood unprepared. I had half drawn
my sword from its scabbard, but I returned it: I made an inward
determination as to his fate, and I kept it. I vainly endeavoured to
induce him to give up the girl and let her go, but he laughed in my
face, and dragged her off. She would fain have fled from him, and
attempted to do so, but he pursued and caught her, for her tender feet
were cut by the rough ground, and I lost sight of them both in the
quickly closing darkness. Miserable girl! she was a Brahmin's daughter,
and was spared the degradation of seeing the light of another day, and
the misery of returning to her desolate home polluted and an outcast.
Ghuffoor Khan told me in the morning, with a hellish laugh, that he had
murdered her, as she tried to possess herself of his dagger, to plunge
it into her own heart. "I spared her the trouble," he said.
Gradually the fire lessened in its fury, as there remained but few
houses unconsumed, but the Pindharees were still at their wild and
horrible work, as the shrieks borne to us on the night wind too well
testified. I had heard that these excesses were sometimes committed,
but I had formed no idea of the terrible reality. A thousand times
I formed the resolution to quit the Lubhur and return to my home;
but again the thought that a few straggling horsemen, who could
give no proper account of themselves, would be immediately taken
for Pindharees, and sacrificed by the now infuriated people of the
country,--this, and, I must add, a restless desire for further
adventures, caused me to dismiss it from my mind. It began to rain
too, and we all huddled together in my little tent, and passed a weary
night, till the morning broke. Then we were again in motion, and the
ill-fated town of Karinjah, now a heap of smouldering ruins, was soon
far behind us.
We passed Mungrool; and beyond the town, now in the broad daylight, I
had an opportunity of seeing the spot where my first victim had fallen.
I had thought that the place where he fell was in a large and dense
jungle, so at least it appeared that night in the moonlight,--but it
was not so; the rivulet was the same as when we had passed it, and
I stood once more on the very spot where the Sahoukar had fallen! A
thin belt of bushes fringed the stream, and Peer Khan pointed with
a significant gesture a little higher up than the place at which we
crossed. It was the _bhil_ where they were buried, and it now seemed a
fearfully insecure spot for the concealment of our victims,--so close
to the road, and apparently so thinly screened from observation. Yet
many years had now passed since they were deposited in their last
resting-place, and a succession of rainy seasons had either washed away
their remains, or covered them still deeper with sand. We passed the
spot too where our bands had encamped and separated; and before me was
now a new country, though it little differed in character from that we
had already traversed.
We halted at Basim, and I greatly feared a repetition of the scenes
of the past night; but the men were, to my astonishment, quiet and
orderly; and a handsome contribution levied in the town in all
probability saved it. From hence, in five marches, we reached Nandair
on the Godavery, a rich town, and one which promised as large a supply
to our army as we had got at Oomraotee. We had feared the news of our
approach would have reached it, and that the sahoukars and wealthy
inhabitants would have fled; but it was not so: they were completely
surprised and at our mercy, for not a single soldier worth mentioning
was there to guard the place. A few there certainly were, who shut
themselves up in an old fort which overhangs the river and commands
the ford; but they kept within the walls, only firing a matchlock-shot
or two whenever any of our marauders approached too near; we did not
molest them, but set ourselves to work to levy as large a sum as
possible.
As before, the advance guard had been entrusted to me, and I pursued
the same system I had done at Oomraotee. I will not weary you with a
repetition of almost the same tale; suffice it to say, that one lakh
and a half of rupees were collected and paid to the army, and I got
for my own share nearly three thousand rupees, some jewels, and a pair
of shawls. The town was not destroyed; indeed that would have been
impossible, as the houses were substantial ones, with terraced roofs;
but the suburbs suffered, and the huts of the unfortunate weavers were
sacked for the fine cloths for which the place is famous,--nor in vain,
for half the army the next day appeared in new turbans and waistbands.
The river was not fordable, and there was but one boat; we therefore
pushed along the northern bank, till we reached Gunga Khair, where we
were told there were boats and a more convenient ferry: nor were we
disappointed. We crossed with ease during the day on which we arrived
opposite the place, the men swimming their horses across, and the
plunder and baggage being brought over by the boats. A few hundred men
attempted to defend the town, but it was carried by forcing open the
gate, and plundered. We lost some of our men, and I was grazed on the
leg by a bullet, and disabled from taking any active part in the sack
of the place. Peer Khan and Motee were, however, not idle, and brought
a goodly heap of jewels and coin to swell the general stock.
From hence we penetrated southward. Beeder, Bhalkee, the fine and
flourishing town of Hoomnabad (a second Oomraotee), were severally
plundered, or laid under heavy contributions; while every village which
lay in our route was sacked, and too often burned and destroyed. From
Hoomnabad I led three hundred men to Kullianee, a few coss distant; but
we found the alarm had been given, and that all the rich inhabitants
had taken refuge in the fort, which is a very strong one, and to us
was impregnable. Such was the dread we inspired, however, that the
defenders of it remained quietly within it, and allowed us to keep
quiet possession of the town till the next morning, when we again
rejoined the main body.
We descended by a pass in the hills to the village of Chincholee, which
was of course plundered, and we followed a direct southwardly route,
burning and plundering every place in our way, till the broad and deep
stream of the Krishna effectually opposed our further progress. Here
the Lubhur halted for some days; forage was plentiful, every one was
loaded with money, and we enjoyed ourselves in our encampment as true
Pindharees. Dancing-girls were seized from all parts of the surrounding
country, though no violence was ever offered to them, and they amused
us with their songs and performances, and left us when we were again
put in motion, well satisfied and well rewarded, and regretting that
they could not accompany us.
Cheetoo was wrong to have halted, for the alarm that Pindharees were
out had flown through the country, and in our march towards Koolburgah
we got no plunder worth mentioning. Koolburgah we found garrisoned and
prepared for our reception; so relinquishing our designs upon Sholapoor
and the rich towns of Barsee and Wyrag, we struck off in the direction
of Bheer, Pyetun, and Aurungabad, hoping to surprise the latter,
though we feared it would be well garrisoned. But I was determined to
surprise Barsee and Wyrag, if I could, and I laid my proposals for the
expedition before Cheetoo. He readily acceded to my request, at which
Ghuffoor Khan was extremely savage; and taking with me three hundred
men, the best I could select, and dividing them into duffas under my
own Thugs, I left the main body at the town of Allund, and dashed on
towards Toljapoor, from whence there is a pass into the low country.
Toljapoor has little to recommend it but the temple of Bhowanee, which
is a place of pilgrimage; and though I knew there were hoards of jewels
in the possession of the Brahmins, yet, as many of my men were Hindoos,
they would not hear of the temples being sacked, and I was forced to
content myself with levying a few thousand rupees from the inhabitants.
Wyrag was our next aim, and we were successful. Our force was supposed
to be a Risala of Mahratta horse, who were known to be in the district,
and we were allowed to enter the town unopposed. We sacked it, and got
a large booty, for there was no time for a proposal of contribution;
indeed, I thought not of that alternative, nor could I restrain my
men after their long march. Yet they were not cruel, nor did I hear
of any of them having tortured any one, and the inhabitants gave up
enough of their valuables to satisfy them easily. Here we heard that
the Risala we had been mistaken for was at Barsee, and as that place
lay in our direct road to Bheer, where we were to join the main body,
I was obliged to give up my intention of proceeding through it; there
was also a large body of the Nizam's horse at Puréndah, and I feared
that we might be cut off. An instant return by the road we had come
was our only alternative; and after a few hours' rest we were again
in our saddles, and travelling as fast as we could urge our horses
towards Toljapoor. Nobly did my gallant horse carry me that day: most
of the men dosed theirs with opium to insure their bottom, but my good
charger needed it not, and he was almost as fresh when we again reached
Toljapoor, as when he had left it.
Here we rested a day to refresh ourselves; and after that, pushing on,
we overtook the main body at Bheer, where they were encamped. I had
been baffled in part of my design, yet Cheetoo received with great
complacency ten thousand rupees in money, and nearly the same amount
in jewels, which I presented to him in full durbar, as the results of
my enterprise; for this he invested me with a dress of honour, and
presented me with a good horse from among his own.