Tara: A Mahratta Tale Page 15

  CHAPTER XIII.

  As at the banian tree, when Lukshmun was guide, and the Lalla hadridden up the rising ground, the sun had shone out brightly witha broad gleam through its giant trunks and branches, and over thevillages and corn-fields beyond; so about the same time the light,glittering through the watery particles which filled the air, spreadover a rich landscape, as viewed from a height above the pretty villageof Itga, whence, by a rough stony path, a company of horsemen were nowproceeding to the village itself.

  There might have been twenty-five to thirty men, from the youth yetunbearded to the grizzled trooper, whose swarthy sunburnt face, andlarge whiskers and moustaches touched with grey, wiry frame, andeasy lounging seat on his saddle--as he balanced his heavy Mahrattaspear across his shoulders--showed the years of service he had done.There was no richness of costume among the party; on the contrary,the dresses were worn and weather-stained, and of a motley character.Some wore thickly quilted white or chintz doublets, strong enough toturn a sword-cut; or ordinary white cotton clothes, with back andbreast pieces of thick padded cloth, or light shirts of chain-mail,with a piece of the same, or twisted wire, folded into their turbans;and a few wore steel morions, with turbans tied round them, and steelgauntlets which reached to the elbows, inlaid with gold and silver indelicate arabesque patterns.

  The caparisons of their horses were as shabby as the dresses; but somehad once been handsome, with embroidered reins and cruppers, and gaymuslin martingals. All were now, however, soiled by the wet and mud ofthe day. It was clear that this party had ridden far, and the horses,though excellent and in high condition, were, from their droopingcrests and sluggish action, evidently weary. Four of the men had beenwounded in some skirmish, for it was with difficulty they sat theirhorses: and the bandages about them, covered with blood, showed thewounds to have been severe. But the sight of the village appeared tohave revived the party; the horses were neighing and tossing theirheads, and the men, shifting their places in the saddles, pointedeagerly to it, or, brandishing their spears, shouted one to another,cheering up the wounded men.

  Among these horsemen, as also over the valley below, the sun's gleamsshone brightly, casting long irregular shadows over the ground as theymoved, and, glinting from spear-head, morion, and steel armour as themen swayed in their saddles, lighted up faces of varied character, allnow joyous, but wearing an expression of habitual recklessness andlawless excitement.

  Below them, at less than half a mile's distance, was the villageitself. In the centre of it, or rather more to the right hand, wasa high square castle, with round bastions at the corners, havingloopholed parapets, which, where it had not been wetted by the rain,was of a warm grey, the colour of the mud or clay of which it had beenbuilt. It was in perfect repair, and the close smooth plastering of thewalls and parapets showed that the weather was not allowed to injure it.

  Inside the castle walls were the white terraced roofs of adwelling-house, and in the bastions in the east and north cornersseveral windows and other perforations in the curtain walls, whichshowed that rooms were connected with them; but it was clear, from theheight of the parapets above the ground, which might be sixty feet,that most of the inside must be a solid mass of earth, as indeed it wasas far as the courtyard, around which were the houses already noticed.On one high bastion, in which several small cannon were placed, was aflagstaff, and a large white flag, bordered with green, which floatedout lazily upon the evening breeze, showing the device--a figure cutout in red cloth and sewn upon the white--of the monkey god Hunooman,who might be supposed to be, as he was, the tutelary divinity of thecastle.

  To protect the gateway there was a double outwork with several narrowtraverses and large flanking bastions, but otherwise no additionaldefence to the castle walls, which were quite inaccessible. Aroundtheir foot, separated only by an open courtyard, surrounded by a lowwall with bastions at intervals, were the terraced houses of theplace, thickly placed together, and filling up the space between theouter wall of the village and the castle itself. There was no doubtthat the community living there was thriving, and better protected thanthose of the more open villages of the country. The houses, too, wereof a superior and more substantial character, and gave assurance ofhabitual safety and wealth.

  Outside all, ran a high wall, also of mud, with large round bastions atintervals, loopholed and mounted with jinjalls, and other wall-pieces,with two large gates, each defended by an outer work and traverse, andheavy bastions on each side; and there were several smaller wickets orposterns, each with a parapet wall before, and a tower beside it. Thewhole formed a very strong position, impregnable against any attack bymarauding horse; and even in the event of a siege by a better organizedforce, it could have held out stoutly.

  The ground for some distance round Itga formed a clear naturalesplanade, over which it was impossible for anything to advance withoutbeing seen from the castle walls. This was now like a carpet of emeraldgreen, on which fell the broad shadows of the tall trees near thegates and a grove round a small Hindu temple, and several large herdsof cattle rested or browsed before entering the village walls for thenight. Beyond the open ground the irrigated fields and gardens of thevillage commenced; and the bright yellow green of the sugar-cane, inlarge patches, catching the sun's rays, glowed among the darker coloursof the grain crops and cotton, which spread up and down the valley asfar as could be seen, and on both sides of the stream flowing in thecentre.

  Above the village the valley appeared to contract gradually, and thestream to disappear behind a projecting bluff. Below, it opened outconsiderably; and could be seen for several miles, showing othervillages in the distance, with their ghurries, or castles, of the samecharacter as that of Itga, but smaller, rising above the trees; while,here and there, the white dome of a mosque, or steeple of Hindu temple,with portions of the stream, sparkled in the evening sun.

  A fair scene now when, over the rich crops and gardens, and spreadingover the tender distance, the bright evening light threw a mellowradiance, resting with brilliant effect upon the projections andbastions of the castle, upon the terraces of the houses, the heavygateways, the people passing to and fro, and the bright-coloured cattleupon the village green. A fair scene, truly, and in strong contrastwith the character of the place, which, to say the truth, was evilenough in some respects.

  The owner of this village, and of several adjoining villages, was thePahar Singh, whom, casually, we have already had occasion to mention.Nominally a frontier officer of the Beejapoor State, "Hazaree," orcommander of a thousand men, and holding the estate in maintenance ofa troop of horse and a number of foot soldiers, which, though somewhatless, passed for a thousand in the royal musters of Beejapoor,--PaharSingh had by no means followed his father's example of steady devotionto his duty, or confined his men to the purpose for which they wereintended. During his father's lifetime he had engaged with the mostdissolute and lawless of his father's retainers in border raids andforays without number, and had not unfrequently defied the troops ofthe State, bringing his father's good name into very questionablerepute.

  After the old man's death, wilder times ensued, when a bold stroke,here and there, decided a man's fortune; and proportionately as he waspowerful or otherwise locally, his influence, both at court and in theprovinces, extended. Pahar Singh had struck many such, with which,however, we have no concern. Following the example of the Beydur chiefof Sugger, he had imposed a system of black-mail all over the frontiernear his estate, which, if not regularly paid, was enforced roughlyenough; while, on his part, his clients were protected from violence byother parties. The system, in fact, extended to the capital itself, andmerchants and rich travellers paid Pahar Singh's dues as the best meansof escaping outrage if they had to travel across his marches.

  To others but his own people, Pahar Singh was a merciless savage, forthe most part; and even his own relations, and those who knew him best,could hardly account for the variation of temper which could watchtorture for the extortion of money--perhaps an agonized
death--at onemoment, and at the next listen to a tale of distress, or need, orsickness, and relieve it himself, or send it to his wife Rookminee,with a message which insured prompt attention from that kind lady.

  It is perhaps unnecessary to go far back into history for illustrationsof character like that of "the Hazaree." Such still exists among thenative states of India, and even among our own subjects, restrainedby the power of the paramount Government, if not by the spirit of thetimes--but still restrained--from lives as reckless and lawless, fromsavagery as deep and as unrelenting, as was that of Pahar Singh. Withsuch characters, evil passions have taken the form of sensuality inits varied phases, which, as mostly concerning the individual himself,blunts the exercise of all finer feelings, but does not occasion themisery to others which would be the result of unfettered and misguidedaction.

  The party we have mentioned had descended the small pass from thetableland above, and had pressed merrily on to the village gate, wherethey were met by friends, and welcomed by many a rough but kindgreeting, and by a discharge of wall-pieces from the bastions, andshots from the castle, answered by the matchlocks of the party. Havingentered the deep arched gateway, they were now emerging irregularlyfrom its shadow into the main street, down which the sun streamedbrightly. The terraced houses were covered with women and childrenwaving cloths, or whatever they could catch up. The shopkeepers, forthe most part, descended from their seats and exchanged respectfulgreetings with the leader; and as the small troop passed up towardsthe open space below the castle, still firing shots, it was plain thatevery one had forgotten the fatigue of the march in his safe return.

  The horsemen remained mounted after the halt, and several stoutserving-men took the heavy bags of money which each in successionloosed from his saddle-bow, and carried them into the castle. Thisdone, the leader dismounted, and the chief "Karkoon," or scribe,delivered a short but pleasant message from the chief, and dismissedthe rest; and the men, wheeling round, discharged an irregular volleyfrom their matchlocks, and, passing back round the foot of the outerbastion of the court, separated, each to his own house.

  "He will not delay you long," said Amrut Rao, the Hazaree's chiefKarkoon, or scribe, to the leader; "but you are not to go, he says,without seeing him."

  "What temper is he in?" asked the person addressed.

  "Not good--but no fear for you. He is angry at Gopal Singh's absence,that is all; so be careful, Maun Singh, and do not cross him to-day.Come, he has looked for you these many hours."

  Maun Singh, an active, intelligent man, with a bright soldierlybearing, was a cousin of the chief, and a valuable and trusty leader ofpartisan expeditions. This foray had been remarkable for its success. Aconvoy of treasure, belonging to the neighbouring kingdom of Golconda,had been attacked on its way to the capital, its escort defeated, andthe money for the most part secured and brought in. The largest portionof the force was returning by a different road; this, consisting ofpicked men and horses, had pressed on home with the booty.

  Maun Singh entered the gate with his companions, and ascended aninclined plane leading to a court above, which, the outer one of theinterior of the castle, was that to which men were alone allowedaccess. On two sides were open verandahs, consisting of double rows ofwooden arches, supported upon carved pillars, the floor of the innerone being raised a little above that of the outer. On the east side, alarge chamber of some pretension, ended in an oriel window, fitted withdelicately carved shutters, which admitted light and air. This chamberwas three arches in depth, and the wood-work of the pillars was carvedin bold designs of flowers and leaves, the ends of the beams beingfancifully cut into dragons' heads, the lines of which were carriedgracefully into the general patterns of flowers and leaves. This wasthe chamber, or hall, of audience.

  On the fourth side of the court was a stable, and a door which ledto servants' rooms and offices, and there were folding-doors in theverandahs on both sides communicating with women's apartments, andstairs leading to the roofs of the buildings which formed the parapetsfor defence of the castle.

  As he entered the court, Maun Singh greeted, and was saluted in turnby, those around; and a party of scribes, engaged in accounts at theentrance of the hall, rose at his approach. Passing these, he went onto his relative, who was sitting reclined against a large pillow in arecess of the window, and who half rose as he returned his salutation,but not courteously.

  Pahar Singh was always remarkable--no one could look on him unmoved.He had a strong-featured hard face, prominent aquiline nose, deep-setblack eyes, not so large, as penetrating in character, and covered bybushy eyelashes. The eyes were restless and unsettled in character,and, by this, and the general expression of his countenance, he wasnicknamed the falcon. None of the hair on his face was shaved, and thewhole was tied up in a knot and wound round his head in a thick heavymass, while the thin grey and sandy-coloured beard and moustaches,divided in the centre, were usually passed over each ear, but could, ifhe pleased, be worn flowing down to the waist. The forehead was highand covered with deep wrinkles, and upon it the veins from the root ofthe nose stood out roughly and with a knotted appearance, apparentlythe result of habitual excitement. The mouth had hard cruel lines aboutit, and the sinewy throat tended to increase the rugged character ofthe whole countenance.

  In age he appeared past forty. Naked to the waist, his figure waswiry, and showed great power, particularly in his arms. Pahar Singh'sstrength was proverbial in the country; and the large exercising clubs,standing in a corner, which he used several times during the day, couldbe wielded by none but himself.

  "I received your letter, Maun Singh," he said, before that person wasseated. "Why did you delay? Why did you let that boy leave you? ByGunga, if the boy dies, or comes to hurt, your life shall answer forit."

  "Pahar Singh," replied the other, who always addressed his cousin byname if he were angry, and who had less fear of him than any one else,"I have done good work. There are more than twenty thousand rupeesyonder, and I have only lost one man."

  "True, true, brother," cried the chief, waving his hand; "there is noblame for that, only for the boy. What took him to Kullianee?"

  "I sent him to Poorungeer, the banker, with the bills, to see if anywere negotiable. There he heard of something; and when all was quiet atMuntalla, he departed at night without my knowledge. He only left wordthat he had gone after some good business, and was not to be followed."

  "Wrong, Maun Singh. Thou wert wrong not to watch him--not to send menafter him. If he dies, O Maun Singh, O brother, it were better thouwert never born!" and the chief smote his pillow angrily with hisclenched fist.

  "His fate is not in my hand, Pahar Singh," retorted the other; "and----"

  "Do you answer me? do you answer me?" cried the chief, savagelygrasping the pillow, the veins of his forehead swelling and hisnostrils dilating as he spoke.

  Amrut Rao knew the sign, and interposed. "Is this money to be counted?"he said, pointing to the bags; "if so, give me the key of the treasury,and let the Jemadar go home. He is tired, and you will like to see thecoin. It shall be counted before you."

  "Good! Go, Maun Singh. I shall be quieter when you return," repliedthe chief. "Ah, yes! we were once the same, brother. We could not bestopped either," he said more gently, "if we had anything to do."

  "The hunchbacks are with him, and they are all on foot, brother,"returned Maun Singh: "fear not; but if thou art restless, give me somefresh men and a fresh horse, and we will ride round the villages."

  "No; go home--go home. No; let him hunt his own game," returned thechief.

  "But about the money? Deo Rao wants to get home now, for he isstarving," interposed the Karkoon.

  "Let him go then!" exclaimed the chief tartly.

  "No, he can't go till it is counted," retorted Amrut Rao.

  "It need not be counted."

  "It must be counted, Maharaj! If there is a rupee wrong we shall neverhear the last of it. The bags have never been opened--who knows what isin them?"

 
; "It may be gold, Amrut Rao. Come, who knows? yes, who knows? Come,"exclaimed Pahar Singh excitedly.

  Few could take the liberties in speech with the chief that werepermitted to Amrut Rao, and even he was not always successful; but nowthe Suraffs, or money-changers, sent for had arrived, and Pahar Singhwatched the opening of every bag with an almost childish curiosity.All anxiety for his nephew had departed before the sight of money.Yet Gopal Singh was the life and stay of the house; precious as PaharSingh's heir, and more so as the husband of his daughter, who was asyet a child.

  "Good coin, good coin!" cried the chief exultingly, as the contents ofthe bags passed through the experienced hands of the examiners withoutone being rejected. "Good coin! O Amrut Rao, I vow all the lightweights to feed Brahmuns. Dost thou hear?"

  "I am afraid their bellies will be empty enough," returned the Karkoon,laughing. "No, Maharaj! do better: send five hundred to Vyas Shastreeto offer at the shrine of Sri Mata if Gopal Singh returns safeto-night. You cannot disappoint her and be secure."

  "Well spoken! well spoken! Yes, put the money aside; yes, put all thelight-weight coin and make it up; thou shalt have it--if--he comes.Holy Gunga! what is that?" he exclaimed, suddenly, as a separate bagrolled out of one then being emptied. "Gold, by all the gods! Give itme; I will count it myself."