Confessions of a Thug Page 9

  CHAPTER VIII.

  Meanwhile a consultation was held as usual at my father's tent, and thedifferent parts were assigned to us. The office of Bhuttote fell to me,and the merchant was delivered to my hands. I now experienced none ofthe hesitation which had formerly troubled my mind; I only longed forobjects to exercise myself on, to perfect my hand in the peculiar knackit required. I had before me the example of those I most looked upto, and to equal or excel them was my sole ambition. I was determinedto excel, and the excitement of the whole system proved a powerfulstimulus. In this matter too I had acted a prominent part as a Sotha;and I began to pride myself on my ingenuity in seconding, as I haddone, one so completely an adept as Bhudrinath.

  We agreed to put the men to death immediately after evening prayer. Wehad in our camp a boy about twelve years old, the son of one of theThugs, who sang very beautifully, and his father used to accompanyhim on the saringee. It was our custom of an evening after prayers tosend for the youth and be entertained by his songs; and he sang sowell, that he often collected a considerable sum from among us. Onthis occasion he was called, and when he had begun, a message was sentto the merchant to come and partake of our entertainment. He came,and his servant also; the latter was a fine stout man, whiskered andmustachioed and from the dialect he spoke, I concluded him to be aRajpoot of Meywar, whose inhabitants are a noble race and brave to adegree. I eyed him, as he sat down in his place, with a half-formeddetermination to change the merchant for him. Bhudrinath had beenallotted to him; and as I reflected on my own powers and his, Ifelt assured that if he was thought equal to it, I was superior tohim, though I might not be considered so. Another thought, and mydetermination was made; I proposed the exchange to Bhudrinath.

  "As you please," said he, in a whisper, "but yonder is a tough fellow;these Meywaree Rajpoots are active as panthers, and to tell you thetruth I did not half like the idea of being allotted to him; but thereis no help for it, and if I were to fail there are twenty others whowould finish him. But do you think yourself equal to him?"

  "Yes, I do not fear him; I have, besides, a reputation to win, and donot care running a little risk."

  "As you will," he replied; "but you must mention it to your father."

  I did so. The merchant was too much absorbed in the boy's song toattend to us, and the servant was in ecstasies, as it was one of hisown country. "Are you able to do it? do not try else," said my father;"the man is armed, and has a dagger at his girdle; a sword I do notfear, but daggers are awkward things, and you might be wounded."

  "And suppose I was," I replied, "do you think the fear of that detersme? No, no! I have taken this on myself, and I will, with yourpermission, go through with it."

  "As you like, my son, I will not oppose you; you have a name to gain,and you do well to run some risk: I will observe you narrowly, and beready to succour you should you require it."

  The usual phrase, "Pan lao" (bring Pan), was to be the signal; and aswe changed places, myself and Bhudrinath, I fancied the servant eyedus with some suspicion; I thought I saw him loosen the dagger in hisgirdle; perhaps it was fancy, and yet he must have thought there wasdanger. He stood up and looked round at us: and as I contemplated hisbrawny form, naked from the waist, his chest covered with hair, and hismuscular arms, I thought for an instant I had overrated my strength;but to recede would have been cowardly. The only plan was to attackhim standing; I moved towards him, and cast a keen look on my father,by which I intended that he should give the signal as soon as I hadtaken my post; he understood me. I had gained my place, the man hadjust turned round to look at me and to get out of my way, and I wasjust telling him not to move, as I was passing on, when the signal wasgiven.

  Was it that I was a moment late, or that he had caught a glimpse ofthe fate of his master--or that in reality he suspected that all wasnot right, that he was in danger? I know not; but as I threw the clotharound his neck, he drew his dagger: to have loosed my hold would havebeen followed by instant death, he would have plunged it into me; andhe struggled so much, that, in spite of my great strength, he almostsucceeded in getting his other hand between his neck and the cloth.All this happened in less time than I take to say it. My danger wasimminent, but as fortune would have it a Thug attempted to seize thehand which held the dagger; this diverted his attention from me for aninstant: although half choked, he made an immense effort, which nearlyshook me off, and reached the unfortunate man--he plunged the weaponinto his heart! The man uttered a loud groan and fell, and the bloodspouted forth over us both; but the action had given me a fresh hold,I was able to use my knuckles, and who could live under the strength Iput forth? The Rajpoot's dying struggles were tremendous, but I wouldnot quit my hold; my father rushed to me.

  "Where is the cord?" he cried; "he will not die in this manner; whereis the cord? pass it about his neck, and let two of you pull."

  "No, no!" I exclaimed, "he is nearly finished; let me alone, thiswork is my own, no one shall interfere." Fortunately, having thrownthe man on his face, I was able to kneel on his back, and he was soonpast the ability to use his dagger. At last there was one convulsionstronger than the previous ones, and he lay still--he was also dead--mysecond victim! I arose, breathless and exhausted; and as I looked onthe prostrate corpse before me, I felt indeed that there had beendanger--that I had escaped from a deadly struggle, and that my art hadtriumphed over strength. Almost beside the body lay that of the manwho had aided me, who had received a desperate wound. All had been sooccupied with me, that they had overlooked the poor sufferer; he waslying with his face to the ground groaning.

  "For God's sake," said I, "turn him round, the wound is in his stomach:can nothing be done for him?"

  Some of the men accordingly turned him, but it was plain to see thatthere was no hope of life; the blood poured in a stream both from thewound and from his mouth; he made several attempts to speak, but invain; he died almost instantly. While I was engaged in the struggle,I several times fancied that the Rajpoot's dagger had reached me, asI endeavoured to avoid it by screwing my body as far away from him aspossible; but the excitement was too great for me to feel the wound, ifthere was any. Yet now on putting my hand to my side, I found, by theblood on my garment, that I was wounded; the blood too was observed bymy father.

  "Protection of God! he is wounded!" he cried. "My son, my son, did Inot warn thee? Did I not bid thee beware of that Rajpoot? Thou wastno match for him, my son; and now thou art wounded, and what can bedone?" and my father sat down, fairly overpowered with his emotions. Ifelt that the wounds were but scratches, and hastened to open my vest."There," said I, showing the wounds, "I said he would do me no harm;and what are these? A thorn from a hedge would have caused a deeper andmore painful one."

  "Shookur Khoda!" exclaimed my father; "you are not hurt after all"(and the old man's eyes fairly ran over with tears as he looked atthe wounds); "but I had feared the worst after that horrid sight. Ai,Mahomed! thou wast a faithful servant."

  The bodies of the merchant and the Rajpoot were instantly stripped,and removed to the grave which had long before been prepared for them;it was made inside a small tent, where my father, myself, and someothers slept, and where it was secure from observation. I never wasmore struck with the despatch and ingenuity of the Lughaes than on thisoccasion. I had but delayed to have my slight wounds dressed, and tobathe and cleanse myself from the blood I was covered with, when Iwent to see the grave, thinking to find it still open. I was perfectlyastonished--there was no sign of the earth having been disturbed; theplace where the hole had been dug had been carefully beaten down,plastered over with mud; and, but that it was wet, no one could havetold that it had been touched by the hand of man. My father's sleepingcarpet and mine were then laid over the place.

  "Now," said I to Bhudrinath, "let us put on our best clothes and visitthe Hakim. Will you come too, my father?"

  "No, Beta (no, my son), I have enough to do to keep all quiet here:some one must remain; and you and Bhudrinath have deserved youramusement, so go
and take it. And here," cried he to some of the Thugs,"take your shields and swords, and accompany my son; and see that youlook like soldiers, and not like Thugs, for the night."

  Six or eight were soon ready, dressed in clean clothes and armed; andby this time, the moon having risen, and it being the hour appointedby the Kotwal for the evening durbar, we set off to the town. Truly,dressed as we were in the handsomest clothes we could select, welooked not only soldiers but handsome fellows. Each of us had givena knowing cock to his turban; and mine, of the richest gold tissue,passing several times under my chin, set off my face, by givingme a particularly martial appearance. My arms were of the richestdescription; a sword with a hilt inlaid with gold, its scabbardcovered with crimson velvet, with a ferrule to it of silver, of anopen pattern, which covered nearly half of it. In my girdle, which wasa Cashmere shawl, were a pesh-kubs or knife, with an agate handle,inlaid also with gold, and a small jumbea or Arab dagger, also highlyornamented with gold and silver. I carried too a shield of rhinoceroshide, the manufacture of Sylhet, and painted and gilt in the beautifulmanner of Hindostan, the bosses being of silver, richly chased andornamented. My dress was of the finest muslin, which showed my shapethrough it to the greatest advantage; and rich cloth of gold trowserscompleted a dress at once elegant, and calculated not only to impressan observer with my correct taste, but to convince him that I was aperson, if not of rank, of respectability.

  Bhundrinath's and Peer Khan's appearance was something less showy thanmine; but they looked good and true men, and fair seconds to one of mypretensions. So we set off to the town, and passing the gate went tothe Kotwal's chouree, where we hoped to meet with him, or with someone who would direct us to the durbar. As it happened, the Kotwal wasthere; and, relinquishing his employment of caring for travellers, heaccompanied us to introduce us. We walked through some of the streets,picking our way through tethered cattle and all the abominations ofa Mahratta town, and at last reached a respectable-looking gateway,around which a number of soldiers were standing and lounging. Ourfriend the Kotwal passed us through them; and after traversing twoopen courts, we reached the place where the entertainment and assemblywas going on. A fine-looking old man questioned us as to who wewere, to which the Kotwal replied for us, that we were respectablepersons desirous of paying our respects to the Nuwab Sahib; to whichI added, that, having heard much of his great name and hospitality,we considered that it would be unpolite to pass through his townwithout paying our compliments to him, and becoming acquainted with soestimable a person.

  "You are welcome," said the old man; "there is nothing pleases theNuwab Sahib so much as to see strangers, wherever they may come from;and, Inshalla! you will have no cause to regret having taken thistrouble."

  "On the contrary," I replied, "we cannot think it trouble, but anhonour seldom allowed to such poor persons as we are. But pray lead usto the presence."

  We ascended a few steps into the hall, where sat the Nuwab, surroundedby a number of persons. Before him were a group of dancing-women,displaying their charms, and entrancing their hearers with songs ofPersia and of Hindostan. Our conductor bade us wait for a moment; andgoing up to the Nuwab, said a few words to him, intimating our arrival.

  "Khamoosh" (silence)! cried the Nuwab, and it was repeated by a dozenvoices; "let the strangers be admitted."

  We were ushered on, leaving our shoes at the edge of the pure whitecloth which was spread over the part of the room which led to theNuwab's musnud. On seeing us he made a polite salutation; and I steppedforward, and enveloping the hilt of my sword in an embroidered scarf Ihad thrown loosely about my shoulders, I presented it as a nuzzur.

  "Kubool hooa," said the old gentleman, placing his hands upon it; "itis accepted; sit down near us. Inshalla! we are much pleased with yourappearance, and bid you heartily welcome to this our poor durbar."

  To be polite I resisted this civility, protesting that I was by far toohumble an individual to allow myself so much honour; but he was notto be denied, and accordingly I seated myself in the most respectfulattitude, with my heels under me; and placing my sword and shieldbefore me in the best manner to display their beauty, I turned to theNuwab, who seemed to be contemplating my appearance.

  "Mashalla!" said he to me, "thou art a brave-looking young fellow:now tell me who thou art, and who these respectable persons are thataccompany you."

  "I beg to represent in your service," I replied, "that I am nothingbut a poor soldier, a Syud by birth; I have a few men with me, forwhom and myself I am going to Hyderabad to seek service. I am comefrom Hindostan: my father, who is at our camp, is a merchant going tothe city with merchandise. These persons," I continued, pointing toBhudrinath and Peer Khan, "are two of my associates; and being superiorto the rest, I have ventured to bring them to present their nuzzurs tothe presence."

  "By all means, Meer Sahib; we delight to see good and stout-lookingfellows. Any one such is a pearl in the eye of an old soldier likemyself. Let them be brought forward," said he to an attendant; andboth advancing made the requisite salutations, and presented the hiltsof their swords as I had done. The ceremonies of introduction beingconcluded, the musicians and dancing-women were desired to recommence,and I had a moment's leisure to survey the apartment and the scenebefore me.

  The apartment opened, through three large wooden arches, into thecourt-yard which we had crossed; and between them were hung largepurdahs or curtains of English scarlet cloth, which could be let downas occasion required. The room was lofty, and behind where we sat thewalls were ornamented with stucco-work in rich designs. Above, on oneside, was a small gallery thickly screened, from whence the inmatesof the zenana could observe all that was passing below without beingseen. Before us the dancing-girls were moving with their peculiarfloating motion, and singing, while they expressed the amorous words oftheir song by their gestures. Another set were sitting down by theirside, waiting for their turn to be called, and both were splendidlydressed and covered with jewels. Nuwab Hoosein Yar Jung Buhadoor,a fine-looking wiry old soldier, polite and courtly in his manner,was a good specimen of the noblemen of the Dukhun; though perhapsnot so effeminately polished as those of Delhi, yet he was one whoseappearance commanded respect; and his bright keen eye, and the seamof a wound on his right cheek, showed that he had seen battle-fieldsand was familiar with war. His dress was of plain Dacca muslin; but astring of large pearls round his neck, which he used as a rosary, andthe beautiful sword lying before him on the carpet, would prove to themost casual observer that he was a man of rank and consequence. Heobserved me looking round, and addressed me thus,--

  "We are in a poor place here, young man; but what can be done? theduty of the government must be performed, and we cannot carry ourhouse about with us. However, we have made the place as decent as itcould be, considering we are in the jungle; and, by the favour of theprophet, we have brought bright eyes and sweet voices with us, and wedo not lack amusement. Say, what thinkest thou of our selection? Yonderis Zora, sitting down, second to few in Hyderabad either for beauty ofperson or sweetness of voice: the other, now singing, is one we pickedup on the way hither; but, Inshalla! in a short time she will be fitcompany for the other, and we shall take her down to the city with us,to astonish our acquaintances."

  The dancing-girl Zora, hearing her name mentioned, turned roundand looked towards me. I was instantly dazzled by her beauty. Shewas not so fair as some of her profession I had before seen; but ifshe was not so fair, her features were small and regular; and herlarge antelope-like eyes, when turned full on me, seemed to pierceme through. It was not a quick glance, but one that was fixed slowlyupon me, and was not withdrawn. I was then young and modest, and I wasfairly abashed. She observed it, and turned round and smiled to one ofher companions.

  "Come," said the Nuwab smiling, "you are not to steal the hearts of myTuwaifs. You are a dangerous-looking fellow; and that handsome face ofyours will do much mischief, if I mistake not. Tell me the news fromHindostan; report speaks of war in that quarter, and that the Mahrattas
and Pindarees are arming."

  "Why," I replied, "there are such reports. We heard that there wasservice to be got either with Sindea or Holkar, and that they and theFeringhees would soon be at war; but we preferred trying our fortunein the Dukhun; for we heard the pay offered by both was very small tosoldiers armed as we are, as they place their principal dependenceon the troops under the Francese generals, by whom alone the UngrezFeringhees are to be opposed."

  "Ay," said the old Nuwab, "the times of fair fighting are passing away,and the inventions of Europeans are fast supplanting the bravery ofthe men of Hind. God knows where it will end! Even at Hyderabad theFeringhees have got such a hold of the place, that God knows whetherthey will ever be driven out. And they train the miserable Kafirs ofTelingana to fight in ranks and perform evolutions which are trulywonderful; but the power of Alla is great, and they are in favour withhim."

  "One comfort, however," said I, "is that the Francese and Ungrez are atbitter enmity; and if there is a fight, one or other, by the blessingof God, must be beaten. Then will be the time for true believers torouse themselves, and free their country from the yoke of both."

  "You talk like a young, hot-blooded boy: this cannot be. We ofHyderabad are too much beholden to the Ungrez Feringhees for freeingus from the demands of the Mahrattas, and the oppression of Hyder Aliand Tippoo, to quarrel with them; and after all I question whether wecould do much against them. Tippoo fell, and he had the advice of theFrancese in building his fort. God protect me! it was only a mud wallbefore the Ungrez."

  "You saw it then?" I inquired.

  "Yes, indeed," said he, kindling, "I saw the whole; and if you hadalso, you would have wondered to see the soger battalions scrambleup the breach like cats, headed by their officers, in the face of afire of guns and matchlocks which would have scattered the people _we_call Sipahees like chaff. Truly they are something like men; and if weof India had fought like them, would they have possessed one foot ofground? Inshalla! they would not; but it is no use regretting. And nowSikundur Jah has made a treaty with the Ungrez, and sits in his zenanalike a eunuch, leaving them to take care of him and his country."

  "Then you think," said I, "that I have no chance of service at thecity?"

  "By no means," said he; "you are, I think, pretty sure of it. There areplenty of openings for a fine fellow like you, and your appearance willtake with some of those who command troops. Inshalla! you might havehad it here, but my list is full; and you are not likely to separatefrom your men?"

  "No," said I, "that I could not; the poor fellows would starve in astrange land; and having collected them, I must perform my promise oftaking them down to the city."

  "Now you must see my pride, Zora, dance," said the Nuwab. "Inshalla!your heart must be hard if she does not make it ache, as she has donethat of many a one."

  The group, who had hitherto been singing, were desired to be seated,and Zora prepared to stand up. The bells for her ankles were brought,and she tied them on. The musicians to accompany her tuned theirinstruments, and after a short prelude she stood up. If I had beenstruck with her appearance sitting, how much more splendid was it now!She was not tall, but exquisitely formed, as far as could be judgedfrom her peculiar dress, which was so loose from under her arms ascompletely to hide her form to her ankles; but it was of the richestdescription. It was made of a dark lilac-coloured gauze, in bandsalternately with gold tissue; the bottom trimmed with gold tissue verybroad, as far as her knees, upon which there was rich embroidery ingold thread and seed pearls. Around her she had thrown with extremegrace a scarf of the lightest muslin and silver, of the same colour asher dress; so thin was it, that as she moved, it seemed almost to floataway from her in the air caused by her motion. The colour of the scarfround her head, in contrast with her complexion, made it appear muchfairer than it really was, and her large soft eyes still more brilliantand swimming.

  The musicians began their usual prelude, and with it one of Zora'scompanions, a pretty girl, the slow movements of the dance. After afew turns she resumed her place, and Zora herself, like the full moonemerging from a cloud, sailed towards us with a slow and gracefulmotion. How shall I describe to you, Sahib, her exquisite movements!Every turn displayed her form to greater advantage, and I gazed till mysoul was fairly entranced. But how much more was I affected when shebegan to sing! Having performed the dance, both the slow and quick, sheceased; and after a prelude by one of the musicians behind her, shebroke out into an impassioned Ghuzul. It was one I was very fond ofmyself. I listened till I could have fallen at her feet, and worshippedher as a Peri from heaven. My soul was so intoxicated with the blessedsounds I heard, that I was insensible to all around me. She at lengthceased; and the Nuwab, who had been observing me attentively, asked mewhat I thought of the songstress and her dancing.

  "Most wonderful is it," I replied; "my liver has become water beforeher fascinations. It is fortunate for me that I am not to live withintheir influence, or I were lost for ever. I could forego fame and myprofession to lie at her feet and dream away my existence."

  "You talk like a foolish boy," said the Nuwab, "and must not give wayto such fancies; many a man has been ruined for ever by them. Personslike her are greedy and insatiable of money, as we are told of the sea,which swallows up everything that is cast into it, without showing asign on its surface beyond that of the transient ripple."

  "Cannot they love?" I asked; "are they so utterly mercenary?"

  "Utterly. Alas! young man, I have known and felt it--but let us changethe entertainment. I have some rare Bhyroopeas with me, who arrivedfrom Hindostan the other day. I have but heard them once, and my sidesached with laughter. You, no doubt, are well acquainted with theirstyle; yet it is somewhat new to me--they shall be produced."

  "May your condescension increase, Nuwab," said I; "truly your favouris great on your poor servant, and of which he is utterly unworthy.Nevertheless, he will not fail to make known the fair name andhospitality of Hoosein Yar Jung Buhadoor, wherever his fate may leadhim, which is the only return he can make for it."

  "You will prosper, I hope," he replied; "young fellows of yourappearance rarely fail to make friends. But here come the Bhyroopeas;let us see what new amusement they have prepared for us; something tolaugh at, I doubt not."

  They were three in number; and twisting their faces into comicalexpressions, so as to cause the whole assembly to burst into asimultaneous fit of laughter, one of them stepped forward and said,that in the country whence he came there was once a Nuwab, a very wiseman, who governed his country as no one had done before, and was a lordvictorious in war; and that, if the Hoozoor pleased, his slaves wereprepared to relate some of his adventures.

  "Go on," said the Nuwab, "we are attending; see that there is nothingindecent, for you are in the presence of the Khanum."

  "Asteferalla!" (God forbid!) cried all, making their salutation towardsthe screen; "may the favour of the Khanum be upon us, and may Alla giveher a long life and posterity to bless her. Inshalla! we shall findfavour in her sight, and take away our garments filled with gold."

  They commenced: one of the men, dressed ridiculously as a child,personated the Nuwab. The story begins with his youth, how he ispetted in the zenana; and the two others changing their dressesto those of females, one is his mother, the other his nurse. Theyoung Nuwab is pampered, spoiled, becomes unruly, is declared tobe possessed by the Shitan; a Moola is called in, and charms andwonderful potions, prepared by the aid of magic, are administered. Thegreat child screams and roars, kicks his mother and nurse out of theassembly, upsets all about him; and the confusion and noise createdby all this, especially among the Tuwaifs, made a scene of fun atwhich we all laughed heartily. In an incredibly short time the menagain made their appearance, and the second act began. The child hadgrown up to be a youth, and to be fiery and uncontrollable. Women,wine, horses, and arms are his enjoyments; reckless of everything,he plunges into dissipation, sets his parents at defiance, runs intodebt, is surrounded by sharpers and parasites, who des
poil him of allhe possesses; and he had given himself up to harlots and debauchery;and this ends the second part. His father dies--he is now Nuwab; he isthe head of a proud house, has men and soldiers at his command, andhis territory to manage. He forthwith kicks out his former companions,discards every one he had formerly had near him, good and bad together,gives himself up to a new set of rogues who had preyed upon hisfather--men with hoary beards, only the greater adepts in villany. Hehas a quarrel with a neighbouring noble, and the two prepare for war.

  The troops are described--how they eat mountains and drink rivers; andthe Nuwab himself as going forth like a bridegroom to meet his bride,like the lightning from the thunder-cloud, or river over-running itsbounds--terrible, irresistible, before whose glance men quail as beforea lion! His horse and arms--the former large of carcass, small of limb,feet large and broad, fleet as the antelope, courageous as the panther.Of the arms, the sword which, wielded by his father, had cut through abuffalo's skin and divided the thickest quilting. He goes forth, andthe fight commences; the horses charge, and the Nuwab and his enemymeet (each is mounted on the back of a man). They fight; sword aftersword (made of wood) is splintered. One of the horses is killed--it isthe Nuwab's! He too is killed! he is at the mercy of his foe! No, he isup again; the fight is renewed; it is long doubtful; fresh weapons aregiven by attendants; at last he is victorious. Alla Akbar! the victoryis won, the enemy is routed.

  Then follows the torture of the prisoners, the rifling of the zenana.There is one slave beautiful, small, delicate in form, an eye like thegazelle's, fair as the beauties of Room or the fabled ones of England.She falls at his feet--he is captivated. She conquers, and the Nikais performed. They live happily for some time; but the fame of thebeauty of the daughter of a neighbour reaches him. His soul is on fire;his former love is neglected. He proposes marriage; it is accepted;the bride comes home, and a deadly jealousy ensues between the rivalwives. The quarrels of the zenana are described; and by the shrieks oflaughter from behind the screen, it is easy to believe how naturallyall had been described and acted. The Nuwab has reached middle age;he is now a father of a family, a respectable man, a religious man,surrounded by Moolas, who flatter him, and have usurped the places ofhis former companions. He is as debauched as ever; but it is not known;he passes for a just and good man, and his durbar is described, and hisjudgments. What was Solomon compared with him? or Hatim Tai, or Lokmanthe wise? And at each enumeration of his virtues the assembly loudlyapplauded, and directed their looks to the real Nuwab who sat as thespectator.

  Again the Nuwab is shown, old and decrepid, worn out by disease,surrounded by quacks, from whom he demands nostrums to make him youngand vigorous. His zenana is fuller than ever of women, who flatterhis vanity, tell him he is as young as ever he was, and yet are falseto him; but he has a son who promises to excel his father, who is aMejnoon in form, a Roostum in valour, before whom his father's enemiesare scattered like chaff from the grain before the wind. The old Nuwabis growing more and more decrepid and querulous. His fancies andlongings are described in a most laughable manner; and as the finalevent approaches, he sinks into his eternal sleep, sure of the seventyHouris of Paradise, and the eternal youth, which is the portion oftrue believers. Having concluded, they stepped forward for the largesspromised.

  "Well, Meer Sahib," said the Nuwab to me, "how like you this?--have themen done ill or well?"

  "Ul-humd-ul-illa!" said I; "the works of Alla are wonderful, andassuredly these fellows are of his especial handywork. I have seen manyof their caste before, but never any like these."

  "They shall be well rewarded," said the Nuwab; "and yet, despite of ourhaving laughed at the whole story, there is much of a moral in it, andmuch satire. Would that many of the rising generation could receive alesson from it; they might become wiser and better men."

  "Ameen," I replied; "my lord's remarks are just. I did not notice thesatire when I heard it; but now I feel it, and it is just."

  The night was far advanced; and, requesting leave to depart, I roseto be gone. I was passing the Tuwaifs, when an old woman pulled me bythe sleeve, and said, hurriedly, "If you seek an opportunity, there isanother who desires one. Be secret; you shall hear more from me." Myblood boiled. I slipt a piece of money into her hand, and departed.