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+} +.catlink:hover +{ +background-color: #FFFFDC; +} +.exlink:hover +{ +background-color: #FFDCDC; +} +body +{ +background: #FFFFFF; +font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; +} +body, a.hidden +{ +color: black; +} +.titlePage +{ +color: #001FA4; +font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; +} +h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6, .pseudoh1, .pseudoh2, .pseudoh3, .pseudoh4 +{ +color: #001FA4; +font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; +} +p.byline +{ +font-style: italic; +margin-bottom: 2em; +} +.figureHead, .noteref, .pseudonoteref, span.leftnote, p.legend, .versenum, .stage +{ +color: #001FA4; +} +.rightnote, .pagenum, .linenum, .pagenum a +{ +color: #AAAAAA; +} +a.hidden:hover, a.noteref:hover +{ +color: red; +} +p.dropcap:first-letter +{ +color: #001FA4; +font-weight: bold; +} +sub, sup +{ +line-height: 0; +} +.pagenum, .linenum +{ +speak: none; +} +.xd20e93 +{ +text-align:center; +} +</style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10928 ***</div> + +<div class="front"> +<div class="titlePage"> +<div class="docTitle"> +<div class="mainTitle">Bengal Dacoits and Tigers</div> +</div> +<div class="byline">by<br> +<span class="docAuthor">Maharanee Sunity Devee, C.I.</span><span class= +"docAuthor"><br> +of Cooch Behar</span></div> +<div class="docImprint">Calcutta:<br> +Thacker, Spink & Co.<br> +<span class="docDate">1916</span></div> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e91" href="#xd20e91" name= +"xd20e91">3</a>]</span></p> +<div class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<p class="xd20e93">Printed by N. Mukherjee, B.A., at the Art Press, 1, +Wellington Square, Calcutta <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e95" +href="#xd20e95" name="xd20e95">i</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div id="toc" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>Contents</h2> +<p><i>Dacoit Stories</i></p> +<ul> +<li><a href="#ch01">The Jhee’s Discovery</a></li> +<li><a href="#ch02">Trapped by a Cobra</a></li> +<li><a href="#ch03">Saved by a Bear</a></li> +<li><a href="#ch04">Raghu Dacoit</a></li> +<li><a href="#ch05">Girl as Kali-Ma</a></li> +<li><a href="#ch06">The Deputy Magistrate</a></li> +<li><a href="#ch07">All for Nothing</a></li> +<li><a href="#ch08">A Punjabee Dacoit</a></li> +<li><a href="#ch09">A Child’s Experience</a></li> +<li><a href="#ch10">Two Chinese Dacoits</a></li> +<li><a href="#ch11">An Unfaithful Servant</a></li> +</ul> +<p><i>Tiger Stories</i></p> +<ul> +<li><a href="#ch12">The Bearer’s Fate</a></li> +<li><a href="#ch13">Through the Roof</a></li> +<li><a href="#ch14">Earning the Reward</a><span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd20e152" href="#xd20e152" name="xd20e152">ii</a>]</span></li> +<li><a href="#ch15">A Burmese Monster</a></li> +<li><a href="#ch16">The Palki and the Tiger</a></li> +<li><a href="#ch17">An Assam Adventure</a></li> +<li><a href="#ch18">A Thrilling Story</a></li> +<li><a href="#ch19">A Cachar Tiger</a></li> +<li><a href="#ch20">A Maharajah’s Adventures</a></li> +</ul> +</div> +</div> +<div class="body"> +<div class="div0"> +<h2>Dacoit Stories</h2> +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e177" href="#xd20e177" name= +"xd20e177">1</a>]</span> +<div id="ch01" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>The Jhee’s Discovery</h2> +<p>It was the month of <i>Jaishta</i> (May-June) in Bengal, and the +earth languished under the scorching rays of the sun and sent up a +voiceless prayer to the Rain God to come soon and refresh the fields +and jungles with the welcome <i>“barsat”</i> (rainy +season).</p> +<p>Yet, in spite of the intense heat, a young and delicately nurtured +Bengali lady was travelling. She was on her way to pay a visit to her +parents-in-law, for after marriage the bride returns to her +childhood’s home and remains there, paying visits from time to +time to her husband’s home until the day comes when she goes to +live there.</p> +<p>It is a Bengali custom that ladies, especially young ladies, must +always wear their jewellery, even when travelling. Arms, wrists, neck +and ankles, bare of jewels, are a sign of widowhood or dire poverty. +Out young heroine was accordingly adorned with jewels and she was also +richly attired. Was she not the daughter of a wealthy man and going to +visit her mother-in-law? So her mother had lovingly dressed her in an +exquisite gold-embroidered <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e193" +href="#xd20e193" name="xd20e193">2</a>]</span>Benares silk <i>saree</i> +of finest texture and superb workmanship, and the jewellery, which +adorned her graceful arms, neck and ankles, was in keeping with the +richness of her costume.</p> +<p>Twelve bearers took turns in carrying the covered palanquin or +<i>palki</i> in which she travelled. They had been in her +father’s service for many years and were known, to be +trustworthy. A faithful <i>jhee</i> (maid) accompanied her, sometimes +walking beside the <i>palki</i> and at other times sitting within, to +fan her young mistress and help to enliven the weary journey with tales +of former travels. Two men-servants, whom in Bengal we call +<i>durwans</i> and who are permitted to bear arms in defence of their +masters’ goods, completed the party. One of them walked on either +side of the <i>palanquin</i> and each carried a naked sword in his +hand. These two men were tried and trusted retainers of the young +lady’s father, and were prepared to defend their master’s +daughter even at the cost of their lives.</p> +<p>The route lay through a lonely country district with stretches of +rice-fields scattered between, and villages nestling here and there +among groves of trees. At. one of these villages the party halted +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e217" href="#xd20e217" name= +"xd20e217">3</a>]</span>awhile for rest and refreshment, and then on +again in the fierce heat of a close Indian day.</p> +<p>Thus many miles had been passed; and the evening shades were +beginning to cool the wearisome day, when the travellers drew near to a +group of trees not far from a small tank (artificial lake). The +<i>palki</i>-bearers sighted this ideal resting-place and asked the +<i>jhee</i> to inform their young mistress of it, and beseech that they +might stop there and refresh themselves with a draught of water, after +which they would be able to travel still faster,</p> +<p>A gracious consent was readily given by the fair one within the +<i>palanquin</i>. She had found the heat almost beyond endurance, and +pitied the bearers who had the weight of her <i>palki</i> and herself +added to their sufferings.</p> +<p>The <i>palanquin</i> was gently set down under a large and shady +tree, and the <i>durwans</i> respectfully withdrew a little distance to +permit of the <i>jhee</i> raising the covering, so that their kind +mistress might also enjoy the grateful shade and coolness of the +grove.</p> +<p>The spot was lonely and their responsibility great, so the men +decided among themselves that they should divide into two parties. Six +should <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e248" href="#xd20e248" name= +"xd20e248">4</a>]</span>remain with the guard to protect their fair +charge in case of any untoward happening while the other six refreshed +themselves at the lake.</p> +<p>This plan was no sooner agreed upon than the first six trooped off +gleefully towards the tank. The others stretched themselves in the +shade and relaxed their limbs in the interval of waiting.</p> +<p>Time passed unheeded till it dawned upon some of those who waited +that they still thirsted and that the first six seemed too long away. +They asked the <i>jhee</i> to obtain leave for them to go and hurry the +others up and refresh themselves at the same time, so that the journey +might soon be resumed as the evening sun was nearing the horizon, and +if they delayed further night would overtake them. The young lady gave +the desired permission and the second six soon disappeared towards the +tank. They too were long away!</p> +<p>The <i>jhee</i> felt uneasy but kept her fears to herself. Suddenly +she too disappeared. Without a word to her mistress she had decided to +see what the bearers were doing at the tank. Climbing up a tree, she +crept along an overhanging branch and a dreadful sight met her +horrified gaze. Some of the bearers lay dead in the shallow water and +the <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e263" href="#xd20e263" name= +"xd20e263">5</a>]</span>surviving ones were fighting desperately for +their lives with a small band of outlaws.</p> +<p>Rushing back to the <i>palki</i> with the utmost speed and +regardless of onlookers, she flung wide the door, screaming +frantically, “Dacoits! dacoits! run, <i>didi</i> (elder sister), +run. With these eyes of mine I saw them. I climbed a tree and saw them. +Some of our bearers lie dead and they are killing the others. Fly! fly +for your life!” With these words she turned and led the way with +swiftness impelled by fear.</p> +<p>The lonely occupant of the <i>palanquin</i> received the awful +tidings with horror and dismay. Often had she heard tales of dacoits +and their ruthless deeds. For a fleeting instant the thought, that she +must fall a victim to such desperados, paralysed her with fear; but +only for an instant. Her woman’s wit and ingenuity moved her to +action. Quickly she divested herself of her heavy jewelled anklets. How +could she run thus weighted? and might not their value satisfy the +greed of the highwaymen? Flinging them down in the <i>palanquin</i>, +she hastily closed the doors and dropped the covering over its sides. +Let them think she was within. The search of the <i>palki</i> would +delay them awhile. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e284" href= +"#xd20e284" name="xd20e284">6</a>]</span></p> +<p>Then tucking up her rich <i>satee</i> she too started to run for her +life. She had gone but a few steps when the voices of the two +<i>durwans</i> arrested her. They had heard the <i>jhee’s</i> +distracted cry, and their only thought was for their young +mistress.</p> +<p><i>“Didi,”</i> they said, addressing her affectionately +and respectfully by the endearing name of sister, which is a custom +permitted in Bengal to the servants of every household. In the home of +her girlhood a girl is addressed as <i>“didi”</i> (sister) +and in her father-in-law’s house as <i>“bow”</i> +(son’s wife). Sons of the family are addressed as +<i>“dada”</i> (brother, strictly elder brother) and +sons-in-law as <i>“jamai”.</i></p> +<p>“<i>Didi,</i> fear not! As long as there is breath in these +bodies we will defend you. If the dacoits overtake us, we will guard +you. No harm shall come to you.”</p> +<p>Encouraged by their presence and words, the girl made all possible +speed. But her delicate feet were unused to rough, hard roads, and, +despite her will and brave efforts, she tripped and stumbled +continually. In Bengal, in the hot dry weather, the country roads are +difficult to traverse. The deep ruts of the rainy season dry up and the +once muddy <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e319" href="#xd20e319" +name="xd20e319">7</a>]</span>earth crumbles into thick heavy dust, into +which the feet of the wayfarers sink. Fast travelling is difficult even +for those who are used to journeying, so the poor young lady made +little headway and was soon overtaken by her pursuers. They had not +been long in discovering her flight and were soon racing after her from +under the tree. As she ran she heard their shouts, and then realised +that they had caught up with her guard who were resisting them.</p> +<p>The poor girl ran on and on alone, and presently saw a tiny hamlet +hidden among some trees. She made for this as fast as her trembling +limbs could carry her and rushed breathlessly into a small red +brick-house, the door of which stood slightly ajar, crying: “Shut +the door! Dacoits are following me!” Then, overcome with fear and +exhaustion, she sank unconscious upon the floor.</p> +<p>The ladies of the little household ran forward on hearing her cry +and shut the door promptly. Dacoits were known and feared everywhere. +Then they tenderly ministered to the stranger. As soon as she recovered +her senses, she related to them what had befallen her and implored +their protection.</p> +<p>The master of the house immediately despatched <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd20e327" href="#xd20e327" name= +"xd20e327">8</a>]</span>a messenger to a distant police outpost for +aid. Soothed and comforted, the girl eagerly hoped and prayed for the +arrival of her attendants.</p> +<p>After some time, word was brought in that a <i>palki</i> was +approaching. Even in the dark the approach of a <i>palki</i> is made +known by the rhythmic cries of the bearers. Soon it arrived in front of +the red brick-house and the bearers, halting, asked loudly if a strange +lady, richly attired and decked with jewels, was within. From an upper +window the master of the house answered them, while the girl and her +kindly hostess listened anxiously downstairs. The pseudo +<i>palki</i>-bearers next informed the listeners that they were the +servants of a very wealthy man and had been conveying his daughter to +her parents-in-law’s house.</p> +<p>“But” they boldly declared, “our master’s +daughter is such a troublesome girl. She causes us much anxiety +whenever she is sent to visit her mother-in-law. She is so unwilling to +go that it is with great difficulty that we get her safely +there.”</p> +<p>The anxious listeners within felt sure these were the dacoits and +longed for the arrival of the police. The disguised thieves persisted +in their questioning for some time in spite of the house <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd20e345" href="#xd20e345" name= +"xd20e345">9</a>]</span>master’s repeated advice that they had +better search elsewhere. At last they departed carrying the +<i>palki</i> with them. And the dwellers in the red brick-house +breathed more freely. But not for long.</p> +<p>The village was a tiny one and the pretended bearers soon returned +from their search. Planting the <i>palki</i> in the doorway, they +shouted: “We know for certain that our mistress is hiding +somewhere. We feel sure she is in your house. Here we will sit till you +send her forth.”</p> +<p>On hearing these words the poor pursued girl fell at the feet of her +host, calling herself his daughter and addressing him as +“father”, and implored of him not to give her up to these +awful dacoits. The good man assured her of his protection while his +wife raised her from the floor, and, embracing her, said they would all +sooner suffer death than give her up.</p> +<p>The trying hours dragged on till past midnight. Then the dacoits +announced that the lady must be produced or they would force an +entrance into the house. No reply was given to this ultimatum. The +highwaymen waited awhile and then assailed the door with heavy blows. +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e359" href="#xd20e359" name= +"xd20e359">10</a>]</span></p> +<p>The distraught girl besought her hostess to take her jewels and hand +them out to the burglars and thus ensure peace and safety for all. The +mistress of the house declared this would not satisfy the ruffians and +once more assured her guest that, whatever happened, they would strive +to protect her.</p> +<p>Presently the door gave way and, with coarse oaths and triumphant +threats, the dacoits entered. But unknown to them,—so busy had +they been hammering and swearing,—the police had arrived and now +followed in on their heels. The dacoits were all captured and confessed +their guilt as to the murder of the <i>palki</i>-bearers and the +probable death of the two <i>durwans</i>, who, they averred, had fought +like tigers.</p> +<p>The bodies of these two devoted servants were found, all battered +and bruised, on the roadside and were given honourable cremation by +their master, whose daughter they had saved by their devotion.</p> +<p>The <i>jhee</i> was found close to the spot, hiding among the +branches of a tree. She had witnessed the fight between the +<i>durwans</i> and dacoits and the flight and pursuit of her mistress. +When both reached home again, the <i>jhee</i> filled up dull hours with +vivid accounts of their adventure. <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd20e383" href="#xd20e383" name="xd20e383">11</a>]</span> This little +story is a true one and shows how difficult and dangerous travel was in +the old days in Bengal. Travelling by <i>palki</i> is now in many parts +a thing of the past, for the whole Province is being linked together by +a network of railways. Good roads and better police arrangements also +lessen the terrors of travelling in places where railways are still +wanting. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e389" href="#xd20e389" name= +"xd20e389">12</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div id="ch02" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>Trapped by a Cobra</h2> +<p>Not many years ago a young married lady was journeying alone.</p> +<p>It is not customary in India for young women, even if married, to go +out by themselves. The <i>purdah</i> system unfits them for +independence. Even when going for a short distance by <i>palanquin</i> +or just for a carriage drive, a chaperon is necessary.</p> +<p>Yet occasions arise when it is imperative that they should journey, +but no suitable escort can be found or spared for the purpose. They are +then obliged to go with servants. It may seem strange that young ladies +should be permitted to travel alone with servants. But readers who know +India will not be surprised, for Indians treat their servants after the +patriarchal system, especially those who have served the family for +generations. Even hired attendants, like the driver in this story, are +thoroughly trusted when known to the family.</p> +<p>The young lady was on her way to visit her father and mother. Indian +parents-in-law cannot visit at the parental home of their +daughter-in-law. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e407" href= +"#xd20e407" name="xd20e407">13</a>]</span>Therefore <i>bow-ma</i> +journeyed alone with her little son, a child of about five years of +age.</p> +<p>The distance was not a long one, only from Calcutta to Durgapore, a +village a few miles away from the city. So a hackney-carriage was hired +with a driver who had often before been employed by her father-in-law, +and everyone felt assured <i>bow-ma</i> would reach her destination +safely.</p> +<p>Her mother-in-law saw her into the carriage. Her little boy was +lifted up beside her, and, with many injunctions to drive carefully and +with speed ringing in his ears, the driver whipped up his horses and +they were off.</p> +<p><i>Bow-ma</i> knew the road well. Often had she journeyed to and fro +in the early years of her married life, and even after the birth of her +little son her visits to her parents had been frequent.</p> +<p>The carriage was close and her heavy silken <i>saree</i> hot to +wear, so she opened the venetians and lazily watched the familiar +landmarks as they passed. She had started early so that the journey +should be accomplished in day-light, and still they did not reach home. +She noted the various trees and hedges and was puzzled. Surely, the +road seemed different. The sun, a ball of golden fire, <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd20e428" href="#xd20e428" name= +"xd20e428">14</a>]</span>sank to rest in a bed of many-tinted clouds, +and still they had not arrived. <i>Bow-ma</i> felt strangely +anxious.</p> +<p>The carriage suddenly swerved. To her dismay she saw they had turned +into a rough and untravelled road with paddy-fields on either side. The +place seemed lonely. It was now rapidly growing dark, for in India +after sun-set Night does not long delay her coming. A presentiment of +evil clutched <i>bow-ma’s</i> heart. She whispered to her little +boy to ask the driver where they were and when they should arrive. In +India it is not permitted a woman to address any man save her husband, +father, and brothers.</p> +<p>The child obeyed but the driver made no reply. “Ask +again,” whispered the mother, “he has not heard +you.”</p> +<p>The boy asked, “When shall we arrive?” again and again, +but not a word answered the driver.</p> +<p><i>Bow-ma</i>, now thoroughly alarmed, beat the shutters of the +carriage and commanded her son to shout loudly. The boy screamed at the +top of his voice, “Why don’t you reply? What road is +this?” <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e447" href="#xd20e447" +name="xd20e447">15</a>]</span></p> +<p>The driver now answered disrespectfully: “You will soon know +where you are going,” and laughed.</p> +<p>His rude gruff tone and evasive answer confirmed +<i>bow-ma’s</i> worst fears. The awful word <i>dacoits</i> stood +out in her mind in letters of fire. Horror and dread filled her soul. +Drawing her child towards her, she hushed his eager questioning and +waited in silent anguish for the coming danger.</p> +<p>The carriage bumped and rattled over the uneven road. Presently it +stopped. It was now almost dark. The door was jerked open and a harsh +voice commanded: “Get out of the carriage.” <i>Bow-ma</i> +recognised the driver’s voice and, realising the futility of +objecting, without a word she stepped down and helped her little son to +alight.</p> +<p>“Follow me” was the next rough order. Again she silently +obeyed. The man left the road and led her a little distance away under +the shadow of some trees. “Take off your jewels. Give them to +me.” A faint sigh of relief escaped her. Perhaps the jewels were +all he wanted. Quickly she unclasped her handsome necklet and gave it +him. He grasped it greedily with one hand and extended the other for +more. One by one she stripped her <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd20e465" href="#xd20e465" name="xd20e465">16</a>]</span>wrists and +arms of their lovely bracelets and bangles and handed them to him. +“More” he growled. She pulled the rings from her fingers +and added to them her ear and nose rings. “Your waist +chain” he snapped. She unclasped and dropped its golden weight +into those greedy hands. “Take off your anklets, I want +all” he sneered. She knelt on the ground to unclasp them. Then, +rising, handed them to him, wondering what more would follow.</p> +<p>Meanwhile the child wept bitterly, and angrily forbade the driver to +take his mother’s jewels, calling him robber and thief. +“Yes, dacoit I am,” the scoundrel replied to the +boy’s revilings, “and if you will not be quiet, I will +teach you how to.” <i>Bow-ma</i> gently strove to console and +silence her son. “Fret not! Your father will give me more and +better jewels.”</p> +<p>“Take off your <i>saree</i>” was the next outrageous +command. The boy’s indignation flamed afresh. His mother took an +unguarded step forward and asked: “Are not my jewels enough that +you want the <i>saree</i> off my back?”</p> +<p>“Aye, your <i>saree</i> and all you have. Silence your child +or I will kill him.” Terrible was the <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd20e485" href="#xd20e485" name= +"xd20e485">17</a>]</span>harsh voice in its determination. +<i>Bow-ma’s</i> heart stood still. Entreaty would be of no avail. +She unwound the richly-embroidered silken folds from about her and cast +the gold and green <i>saree</i> at his feet: “Take it.”</p> +<p>“You have stripped my mother,” screamed the boy. The +ruffian caught the <i>saree</i> with a fearful oath and turning on him +said: “Now I can deal with you. I will fetch a brick from yonder +kiln and pound the breath out of you,” With these words he strode +forward, tying the jewels in the <i>saree</i> as he went. Now her +sorely-tried nerves gave way, and, distracted with grief, <i>bow-ma</i> +caught her child in her arms, and their mingled cries rent the air. But +the thief did not return.</p> +<p>About midnight a village policeman going his rounds heard their +cries. At first he paid no heed to them: jackals swarmed and disturbed +the night. Again the anguished voices quivered in the air. There was +something human in the sound. He stopped to listen. The cries rose +again. He walked forward in their direction. Clearer, as he advanced, +shrilled the distressed voices, and he recognised they were those of a +woman and a child. He quickened his steps and hastened to the spot. +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e506" href="#xd20e506" name= +"xd20e506">18</a>]</span>The light from his lantern revealed +<i>bow-ma</i> and her son, clinging to each other and weeping +piteously.</p> +<p>“Who are you? What ails you?” he asked. The distraught +mother, unconscious of the flight of time, thinking him the heartless +dacoit returned to kill her boy, fell at his feet in an agony of +supplication: “Spare my son. Take my life instead.”</p> +<p>“I am a <i>chowkidar</i> (watchman). What is up?” But so +dulled were her ears with fear and grief that he was twice obliged to +repeat his words. When the joyful intelligence reached her brain she +burst into tears. “O! save my son.” Then the consciousness +that the danger was past reminded her of her own plight, and she +sobbed: “Give me something to wear.”</p> +<p>The policeman had noticed her semi-nude state. Dropping, his +<i>pugree</i> at her feet he turned away. She shook out its many folds +and draped it about her body. Then she related what had befallen her +and pointed towards the direction the thief had taken.</p> +<p>The policeman walked cautiously forward, his lantern raised in one +hand and his <i>lathi</i> tightly <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd20e529" href="#xd20e529" name="xd20e529">19</a>]</span>grasped in +the other. A few yards ahead he came to an old brick kiln. Here, prone +among the broken bricks, lay the robber in greater straits than his +victims. A huge cobra was tightly coiled round his right arm, while on +the left hung the <i>saree</i> and the jewels. The rays of the lantern +disturbed the snake. With an angry hiss it uncoiled itself and +disappeared. The dacoit, more dead than alive from simple fear of the +snake’s fatal sting, yielded himself a prisoner, and it was +subsequently discovered that the whole gang, of whom he was a member, +were licensed hackney drivers. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e534" +href="#xd20e534" name="xd20e534">20</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div id="ch03" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>Saved by a Bear</h2> +<p>The evening shadows and silence had settled on the river Hooghly as +an old Brahman wended his way to one of the many <i>ghats</i> (landing +places).</p> +<p>The <i>dinghis</i>—little boats which ply backwards and +forwards all day carrying passengers to and from Calcutta—had all +been made fast for the night. Some of the boatmen were cooking their +evening meal, while others sat about on the decks smoking and singing. +Many of the boats were wedged close together and drawn up on to the +bank.</p> +<p>But one lay well in the water and some distance from its +fellow-craft. Its <i>manjhi</i> (headman) stood on the stern deck, +binding together the mat roof of his boat. His seemingly careless gaze +took in the Brahman, about to descend the bank. He noted that the old +man carried a parcel, partially concealed in his <i>chadar</i> (scarf), +and, from the manner in which he hugged it, the observer concluded it +contained something valuable. As the Brahman came nearer, the +<i>manjhi</i> saw it was a bag of money.</p> +<p>The old man picked his way down the bank and called upon boat after +boat to take him to a <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e561" href= +"#xd20e561" name="xd20e561">21</a>]</span>small village near Serampore, +for in those days there was no railway. None were willing to go so far. +Meanwhile a whispered consultation had taken place between the +<i>manjhi</i> and <i>dhars</i> (oarsmen) of the furthest <i>dinghi</i>. +When the Brahman finally accosted them, they first demurred and then, +as though still reluctant, consented to hire their boat.</p> +<p>Just as they were pushing off, a man with a performing bear ran down +the bank. “Where goest thou?” he asked.</p> +<p>“Serampore” answered the Brahman before the boatman +could reply.</p> +<p>“My home is near by,” the man remarked gladly, and +jumped into the boat, pulling his bear after him.</p> +<p>The boatmen scowled angrily: “Get out, we go not so +far.” But he would not. The <i>manjhi</i> warned him that he and +his bear would gain nothing by forcing themselves into the boat.</p> +<p>“These boatmen are queer customers,” he laughingly +remarked to the Brahman, and to them: “Gain nothing! Why! I will +reach my home.”</p> +<p>“So you say,” they answered. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd20e587" href="#xd20e587" name= +"xd20e587">22</a>]</span></p> +<p>The bear-man wondered within himself at their unwillingness to have +him as a passenger. He and the old Brahman made a few remarks to each +other. Then they fell silent.</p> +<p>They were near the end of their journey when the bear-man asked +suddenly: “<i>Manjhi</i>, have we not passed +Serampore?”</p> +<p>“Are you the <i>guru</i> of boatmen that you question +me?” replied the <i>manjhi</i>, and then, in a more conciliatory +tone, added: “We are going higher up for a crossing. The tide is +strong.” The explanation was reasonable. But the bear-man’s +suspicions had been awakened and he was on the alert. The Brahman sat +placidly nursing his bag which the bear-man too had noticed contained +money. He had also noticed that the <i>manjhis</i> kept glancing +furtively at it and its owner.</p> +<p>The river crossed, the boat hugged the bank; after a time it came to +a standstill. One of the <i>manjhis</i> jumped ashore with the rope and +secured it to a tree. The Brahman and the bear-man both asked: +“What is wrong? Why stop the boat in this strange +place?”</p> +<p>“You will soon know, you will soon see,” answered the +boatmen and chuckled over some <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e614" +href="#xd20e614" name="xd20e614">23</a>]</span>secret joke as, one +after another, each stepped ashore and disappeared.</p> +<p>The aged Brahman gazed after them apprehensively. Then, placing his +money between his knees, as he sat on the deck with crossed legs tucked +under him, he folded his hands together and bent forward in prayer.</p> +<p>The bear-man thought within himself: “Prayer for him, action +for me.” And saying softly to the old man; <i>“Brahman +Thakoor</i>, something is brewing. I follow to see,” he too +stepped ashore.</p> +<p>Not far from the tree he found a small thatched house and several +men gathered behind it. Moving warily forward among the group he +recognised the <i>manjhis.</i> “Dacoits!” he whispered to +himself. Then an inspiration struck him.</p> +<p>He ran back to the boat, and asked the Brahman to change his seat to +the stern and be ready to steer off when he gave him a signal. He took +up a position in the prow and fondled his bear.</p> +<p>Within a few minutes a party of men appeared coming towards the +<i>dinghi</i>. Some were boatmen; all were dacoits.</p> +<p>The actor loosed the bear’s chain, saying: “Go! go! hug +the life out of all of them!” <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd20e637" href="#xd20e637" name="xd20e637">24</a>]</span></p> +<p>The sagacious animal responded to his master’s order with a +fierce charge right among the approaching band of robbers. With +startled cries they fled in all directions. Quite sure they were +effectively scattered, the bear-man called his animal back, secured its +chain once more, and pushed from the shore.</p> +<p>With some difficulty he and the old Brahman navigated themselves +back to Calcutta and informed the police authorities there. The police +took possession of the <i>dinghi</i> which on inspection proved to be a +dacoit’s nest well-equipped with instruments fitted for murder +and robbery. But none of this gang of river dacoits were captured.</p> +<p>The lives of the Brahman and the showman were certainly saved by the +wonderful intelligence of the latter’s bear. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd20e648" href="#xd20e648" name= +"xd20e648">25</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div id="ch04" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>Raghu Dacoit</h2> +<p>Madhub Babu, a Calcutta gentleman, owned much property in that city +and was known far and wide on account of his great wealth. To do him +honour, the City Fathers had named a tank after him.</p> +<p>At that time there flourished a notorious dacoit, Raghu, for whose +capture Government had offered a handsome reward. But like Robin Hood +of old, Raghu Dacoit had caught popular fancy by his generosity to the +poor. Though he looted the rich, to the needy, the famine-stricken and +widows he was always kind. No one would inform against him.</p> +<p>Madhub Babu had a fine country house in Chandernagore, where he +frequently entertained his friends. On one of these occasions, the +latest doings of Raghu Dacoit were being discussed. The Babu remarked +confidently: “He dare not visit me. He knows my house is well +guarded.”</p> +<p>One of the guests quickly rejoined: “Oh, don’t say that. +Raghu Dacoit is a dangerous and clever man.” <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd20e660" href="#xd20e660" name= +"xd20e660">26</a>]</span></p> +<p>A few days after, Madhub Babu received a letter from the famous +outlaw saying that he would be pleased to visit the rich man’s +country house. Madhub Babu was amazed at the audacity of the fellow, +and wondered how his remark had reached the robber’s ears.</p> +<p>He immediately sent information to Calcutta and asked for a strong +body of police to be sent at his expense. They arrived, and his country +residence was extra well guarded for some time. But nothing happened! +Madhub Babu concluded that the letter had been a hoax. So the police +guard was withdrawn.</p> +<p>Madhub Babu’s Chandernagore house stood on the bank of the +river. One dark night a boat came quietly to the <i>ghat</i>. Its +occupants silently landed and proceeded stealthily to the house. Every +door and window was securely fastened, but what mattered that to Raghu +and his band? Tall trees graced the grounds everywhere and many grew +near the house. Climbing the nearest, some of the dacoits reached up a +long and stout bamboo from it to the flat roof. A slim youth crawled +over and fixed the other end securely. Then one by one some of the gang +slid across. The door of the <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e670" +href="#xd20e670" name="xd20e670">27</a>]</span>staircase leading down +into the house stood open. Creeping like cats downstairs they gained +the entrance hall. Here they found all the <i>durwans</i> fast asleep. +The light of their lanterns showed the <i>durwans’</i> swords +hanging on the wall. In a trice the dacoits had them down, unsheathed, +and, oh, bitter blow! despatched Madhub Babu’s men with their own +weapons.</p> +<p>Then noiselessly opening the door they admitted the remainder of the +band. For a few hours there was uproar, confusion and dismay while the +burglars invaded room after room and collected all Madhub Babu’s +treasures with which they disappeared.</p> +<p>While still smarting under the loss of his valuables, the Babu +received another letter from Raghu Dacoit asking, “Had his visit +given Madhub Babu pleasure?” <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd20e682" href="#xd20e682" name="xd20e682">28</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div id="ch05" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>Girl as Kali-Ma</h2> +<p>A large and well-to-do family lived happily in a country place in +Bengal.</p> +<p>One day their peace was disturbed by an anonymous letter. The writer +warned them to expect a “dacoity” (burglary). These Indian +outlaws always make it a point of honour to inform their intended +victims, and always come with drums, torch-light and a sort of +war-cry.</p> +<p>There was much valuable jewellery in the house and the family, +thinking discretion the better part of valour, gathered all together, +packed it securely and, taking it with them, left their home about +sunset for safe quarters.</p> +<p>Somehow one of the younger ladies with a tiny infant was left +behind. Unaware of the warning letter or desertion of the family, she +slept peacefully through the early hours of the night. But later, she +was awakened by the sound of drums and loud cries, which she recognised +as the signal of the dacoits. Rushing out of her chamber she discovered +that the burglars were already in the house and that none of the family +were to be found. From <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e694" href= +"#xd20e694" name="xd20e694">29</a>]</span>room to room she fled, +finding none to protect her, and realised that she was alone and +helpless. Even her husband was gone!</p> +<p>She was a high-spirited and resourceful girl. She knew her life and +the baby’s as well were in danger and she determined to outwit +the burglars. She had a swarthy complexion like Kali, the +dacoits’ divinity. Often had her mother bemoaned its darkness! +Now it should serve her. But was she black enough? To make assurance +doubly sure, she caught up a bottle of ink, which she knew where to +find, and hastily smeared her face and limbs with it. Then, hiding her +baby in a safe corner, she uncoiled her heavy hair and let its +luxuriant black tresses fall about her like a cloak. Her preparations +complete, she placed herself in a large niche at the head of the +stairs.</p> +<p>The dacoits found nothing below worth attention and trooped +upstairs. The flickering glare of their torches fell upon a life-like +image of Kali the Terrible. With protruding scarlet tongue and fixed +staring eyes, the girl stood immovable and breathless, silently +invoking all her family gods to come to her aid in her bold design.</p> +<p>With an awe-struck cry of “Mercy! mercy! <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd20e702" href="#xd20e702" name= +"xd20e702">30</a>]</span>Kali-Ma!”, the thieves fell prostrate at +her feet. The girl held her breath. Was it possible that her plan had +succeeded? The slow seconds passed. The Chief arose. “Come, +brothers, we touch nothing where Mother Kali is worshipped.” With +hasty and reverent steps they descended the stairs and left the +house.</p> +<p>Long after the dacoits had gone the girl stood there. Then the +strain snapped and she relapsed to her normal self. Fear swept over her +and she rushed out of the house. But her trembling limbs could not +carry her far. She fell in a dead faint on the pathway. The neighbours, +who had heard the dacoits enter the house and seen them go away silent +and empty-handed, came to learn the mystery and found her there.</p> +<p>When the family returned next morning, the neighbours abused them +soundly for leaving the girl and her babe behind. The girl herself was +so hurt by the neglect that she had scarcely strength enough to relate +the strange happenings of the night. Her husband found it difficult to +make his peace; he said that he believed her to be with the ladies of +the family. In zenana families even the most devoted husband has little +voice in his wife’s <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e708" href= +"#xd20e708" name="xd20e708">31</a>]</span>movements, as all +arrangements are left in the hands of the mother-in-law. There were +several ladies and children in the family and the mother-in-law had +thought the girl was with some of them. Friendship was however finally +restored. All generously admired her ingenuity and realised her +bravery. From the white-haired old father to the smallest child, +everyone was grateful then and always after for her presence of mind on +that memorable night. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e710" href= +"#xd20e710" name="xd20e710">32</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div id="ch06" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>The Deputy Magistrate</h2> +<p>In the Dacca district, a few years ago, there was a big dacoity. A +Deputy Magistrate was ordered to secretly investigate the matter and, +if possible, to capture the miscreants.</p> +<p>Besides his cook and personal attendants he took with him some +policemen. All were disguised. They travelled in several small +boats.</p> +<p>It was late in the evening as they neared the place, where the +burglary had occurred. He decided to proceed no further that night. The +boats put to; the men cooked their evening meal and all retired.</p> +<p>About midnight, the Magistrate awoke with a start to hear many +voices calling him by name. He listened: “So you have come to +arrest us, to put us in jail, to hang us. Ah! you will soon see who +will be punished. We shall know how clever you are!”</p> +<p>The night was pitch-dark. He noiselessly opened the small window of +the boat and saw a number of men, with flaming torches in their hands +and armed with heavy sticks, coming down the <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd20e724" href="#xd20e724" name= +"xd20e724">33</a>]</span>bank. There was no time to call his men. He +seized his loaded revolver. But what was one against so many! He +decided to bolt. The land way was barred by the dacoits. What of the +river? He was a good swimmer. But the water looked black as ink and +swarmed with crocodiles. Yet to stay in the boat meant certain death. +If he gained the opposite bank, he could make for his +father-in-law’s house, which was near the river and where his +wife was then staying. He might escape the crocodiles. He determined to +risk it.</p> +<p>Like a flash all this passed through his mind. Opening the other +window he clambered out stealthily and slipped into the water. A few +powerful strokes carried him across. He stumbled up the bank and raced +through the thorny jungle to his father-in-law’s house.</p> +<p>The sleeping family were disturbed by his violent knocking. As soon +as he was admitted, he went to his wife’s room. She was horrified +to hear of his danger. After a hasty bath and change she insisted that +he should eat something, and while he was refreshing himself, she +informed her father of his son-in-law’s escape and predicament. +To her surprise, her father said: “I am sorry, but he +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e730" href="#xd20e730" name= +"xd20e730">34</a>]</span>must leave my house.”</p> +<p>“O! father, how can he?” she pleaded.</p> +<p>“<i>He must</i>” repeated her father.</p> +<p>The daughter fell at her parent’s feet and implored him not to +drive her husband forth. But no words of hers could move him. +“Why should all suffer for one?” he argued. She returned +sadly to her husband.</p> +<p>Presently the cries of the dacoits showed that they had scented +their quarry. Soon they shouted at the door: “Open! or drive out +the Deputy Magistrate. We know he is here. Give him to us or what +happens be on your own head.”</p> +<p>The wife wept piteously. Her father remained obdurate, muttering, +“I knew this would happen.”</p> +<p>The unfortunate Magistrate could not understand his +father-in-law’s behaviour. He sat with his head bowed in despair. +Suddenly his wife ran to him.</p> +<p>“You must try to escape. I have an idea.” She pulled out +a <i>saree</i> and some jewels, and began to dress him as a woman.</p> +<p>“It’s no use,” he said hopelessly, “they +will catch me.” <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e755" href= +"#xd20e755" name="xd20e755">35</a>]</span></p> +<p>“Be brave,” she said encouragingly, “for my sake +see if you cannot elude them.”</p> +<p>With tender hands she arranged the <i>saree</i>, draping it well +over his head to conceal his face. Then giving him a <i>ghurra</i> +(water vessel) told him to pretend that he was going to fetch water +from the river. Cheered by her courage, he caught her to his heart in a +mute farewell, and her prayers went with him.</p> +<p>He had not gone far from the house when cries arose of “There +he is!” But some one shouted: “It is a woman. Look +elsewhere.” And he passed slowly to the river. Here he flung the +brass <i>ghurra</i> far out into the stream and ran for his life along +the bank. No sounds of pursuit followed him, and he now gained courage +enough to form a plan of escape. Not far from his father-in-law’s +village was a small police station. Thither he bent his steps and asked +protection of its solitary occupant.</p> +<p>The man recognised him and asked: “Deputy Saheb, why are you +here? What is wrong?”</p> +<p>The Magistrate told him of the dacoits and of his escape. +“Dacoits after you!” said the policeman and looked grave. +“Sir, I cannot help you. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e775" +href="#xd20e775" name="xd20e775">36</a>]</span>What is one +<i>policewallah</i> against so many? If I shelter you we shall both +die. You better push on.”</p> +<p>For a time the Magistrate pleaded to deaf ears. But at length his +promises of promotion and reward moved the man. “Come” he +said “I will do my best,” and, rising, led the way to his +own house. Here in the inner room was a high <i>machan</i>—a huge +bamboo shelf made like a raft and suspended from the roof and reached +by a moveable ladder, used for storing all sorts of things.</p> +<p>On this <i>machan</i> were some old blankets. “Here, conceal +yourself in these” said the policeman. The Deputy Magistrate +needed no second bidding. He climbed up and rolled himself in one of +the blankets and heaped the others in front of him. The policeman +carried the ladder away, right out of the house. Then he shut the door +and returned to the office.</p> +<p>After a time there came the noise of the dacoits. They soon entered +the police station and shouted: “Give up that Deputy Saheb. We +know he is here.”</p> +<p>“Deputy, what Deputy? I cannot understand. Where is he?” +answered the policeman.</p> +<p>“Don’t be shamming,” returned the dacoits +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e797" href="#xd20e797" name= +"xd20e797">37</a>]</span>contemptuously, “thou knowest well whom +we mean. Produce him if you value your own life.”</p> +<p>In vain the policeman pleaded ignorance. His trembling limbs and +shaking voice belied his words. The dacoits bound him, searched the +police office, and then proceeded to hunt the house. “He is not +here. Let us not waste further time,” said one. +“Let’s look well,” said another, “and search +every place.” Some climbed the <i>machan</i> and discovered their +victim. It did not take them long to drag him down, and beat him +mercilessly with their long sticks, till he became unconscious. The +policeman too was severely chastised. Him they left lying there; but +rolled the offending Magistrate in an old mat, bound him tightly with a +rope and carried him away to the river.</p> +<p>As he was borne on their shoulders through the night air, he +gradually came to his senses but kept silent and listened to his +captors. By this time it was dawn, and they were at the river. The +majority were for re-crossing and burning him, dead or alive. One +dissentient voice struck him with surprise. It was his +father-in-law’s! Clearly he was one of the gang! But scruples had +overtaken him and he pleaded that he might not be a witness +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e806" href="#xd20e806" name= +"xd20e806">38</a>]</span>of the projected murder of his son-in-law. +“Spare me! spare me!” he cried.</p> +<p>Some jeered: “Ho! Ho! you still have a soft corner in your +heart for your son-in-law.” At last they agreed that he might +absent himself and he apparently turned back.</p> +<p>The others now put their burden into a boat and crossed the river. +They were laughing at the father-in-law’s weakness, and as they +approached the <i>ghat</i> failed to observe a Government +<i>budgerow</i> anchored there. It was the Divisional +Commissioner’s. He was out on tour. The <i>paharawalla</i> on +deck checked them: “Do not make such a noise. The Saheb +sleeps.”</p> +<p>They answered rudely and the watchman retorted angrily. The dacoits +loudly abused the man.</p> +<p>The noise woke up the Commissioner, and he got out on deck with a +loaded revolver in his hand. The dacoits jumped from their +<i>dinghy</i> and ran up the bank. It was evident who they were and the +Commissioner fired, aiming at their legs. One man fell with a scream of +pain but scrambled to his feet and ran on.</p> +<p>Nothing was to be gained by chasing them <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd20e830" href="#xd20e830" name= +"xd20e830">39</a>]</span>through the still dark jungle. The +Commissioner turned his attention to the boat. “Search it” +he ordered his watchmen. His quick eyes detected legs protruding from a +mat, and he was not surprised when his <i>chaprassi</i> called: +“Saheb, a dead man lies in it.”</p> +<p>The Deputy murmured feebly: “I am not dead. I live.” The +<i>chaprassi</i> amended the first statement: “Saheb, he +speaks.” The Commissioner jumped into the <i>dinghi</i>, cut the +ropes that bound the unfortunate man, and discovered the Deputy +Magistrate. It did not take him long to recover and pour his tale of +woe into his Chief’s ears.</p> +<p>By sunrise they were all after the dacoits. Blood-drops marked the +way and, near by, they found the wounded man who, only able to hobble, +had hidden himself in a thicket. The Deputy Magistrate’s +father-in-law was arrested. He was one of the leaders of the band. It +did not take long to capture the others. And after this, for a time, +this part of the Dacca district enjoyed peace from dacoits. +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e846" href="#xd20e846" name= +"xd20e846">40</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div id="ch07" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>All for Nothing</h2> +<p>A young and very high-caste Bengali lady was married to the son of a +rich man who lived near Hooghly, a small town within a short distance +of Calcutta.</p> +<p>Some years passed, but there was no sign of a son and heir. The +parents-in-law were fond of the girl. She had won her way into their +hearts and they sympathised with her. Yet they longed to see the old +name being carried down the years, and whisperings grew into talk of a +second marriage for their son. The girl’s parents were anxious +and distressed.</p> +<p>Then a kindly Providence intervened, and after months of expectation +a little son lay in her arms, and both families rejoiced with the girl +and shared her pride in the boy baby.</p> +<p>When the child was about a year old, the young mother’s +brother became engaged to be married. The date was fixed and +invitations sent to the girl and to the family of her parents-in-law. +It was arranged that she and her baby should attend the wedding. +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e858" href="#xd20e858" name= +"xd20e858">41</a>]</span></p> +<p>Not far off, also in Hooghly, lived a widowed sister (of the girl) +in her father-in-law’s house. She too was going to the wedding, +and it was settled that both sisters should travel in the same boat to +Calcutta. No male member of either family could accompany them. +Therefore, their father sent an old servant from Calcutta to fetch +them. This man was trusted and treated like a member of the family, +with whom he had been for years.</p> +<p>The girl put together her clothes. Her good mother-in-law unlocked +the great safe and took out the girl’s best jewels. An Indian +wedding is the occasion for a great display of clothes and jewellery, +and a well-dressed and richly-adorned <i>bow</i> raises the credit of +the mother-in-law, especially if the wedding is in the girl’s own +family; so a careful selection was made. Baby was not forgotten either. +Tiny gold bangles and chains had been showered upon him at his birth, +and this was his first public appearance.</p> +<p>They started early, so as to arrive during the afternoon. There was +to be a ceremony the next day and many guests had arrived at the +bride-groom’s house, and all watched eagerly for the two sisters. +But the hours waned and still they tarried. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd20e868" href="#xd20e868" name= +"xd20e868">42</a>]</span>Late in the evening, the old servant arrived, +agitated and all mud-bespattered.</p> +<p>Family, guests and servants plied him with questions concerning the +sisters. Not a word would he reply. Suspicions soon voiced themselves. +Dacoits were about. Everyone knew of the wedding and the consequent +family gathering. Everyone knew too that the daughter was the cherished +<i>bow</i> of a rich family.</p> +<p>Urged by these arguments and his own anxiety, the father threatened +to skin the man alive unless he spoke. Intimidated by his +master’s anger, the servant stated that the boat had capsized and +the sisters and baby were drowned.</p> +<p>The house of mirth and laughter was changed to one of weeping. But +the father did not accept the information in its entirety. He called in +the police and a vigorous search was made. All the boatmen were found. +They stated they had swum ashore but could or would give no word of the +ladies.</p> +<p>The only possible clue was given by an Englishman living in a mill +on the river bank at Chinsurah. About midnight, on the date of the +disappearance of the ladies, he heard the cries of women and a child. +At first he had thought of going to <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd20e882" href="#xd20e882" name="xd20e882">43</a>]</span>see what was +up. But the sounds were coming from a thick jungle, and he argued it +was impossible any one could be there in trouble, and finally thought +no more of the seeming cries.</p> +<p>This ill-omened happening broke up the wedding party. The marriage +was cancelled. All the preparations had been for nothing. To this day +the fate of the sisters is unknown. The bride and bridegroom-elect were +married to other parties. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e886" href= +"#xd20e886" name="xd20e886">44</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div id="ch08" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>A Punjabee Dacoit</h2> +<p>In a railway train several Punjabee ladies sat on the lower berths +of a second class compartment, laughing and talking gaily. They were, +with one exception, all richly dressed and each of them wore a quantity +of jewels. The exception was a capable, good-looking woman, of about +twenty-five. Her short hair, neck and arms bare of jewellery, and plain +white <i>saree</i>, proclaimed her a widow. But like the others she +chatted merrily, and a listener would have learned from their +conversation that they had been attending a wedding, and were now on +their way home. Witty remarks about the guests, criticism of the looks +of the bride, and comparisons of this wedding with others, passed from +one to another, and whiled away the hours of the journey as the train +sped onwards.</p> +<p>Night fell, and the ladies became silent. They rested against each +other and dozed at intervals. The widow sat on a trunk at the end of +the carriage and silently told her beads. The train slowed down and +stopped at a little station. Then the bell clanged and once again they +were on their way. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e897" href= +"#xd20e897" name="xd20e897">45</a>]</span>The little station had not +been left far behind when a dark figure appeared on the foot-board of +the ladies’ carriage, and a man’s head was thrust in at one +of the windows. A startled exclamation from one of the party drew the +attention of all to the intruder, who was pulling himself up into the +carriage. He was very fierce-looking, wore a huge turban, and had a +bushy black beard. In one hand he held a knife and with the other he +assisted himself into the compartment, in spite of the ladies’ +protestations.</p> +<p>Some of them began to cry but one or two bolder spirits ventured to +argue with him. In answer to their questions and objections, he said +roughly: “It is a long while before you will reach another +station. I have come for your jewels. If you give them to me quietly, I +will not hurt any of you; but if not—” and he looked very +expressively at the knife in his hand.</p> +<p>After some few minutes, the ladies, who were inclined to oppose him, +yielded to the tearful advice of their more timid sisters, and one by +one they began to unclasp necklaces and belts and hand them over to the +dacoit together with bracelets, bangles and rings. The ruffian, finding +them <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e903" href="#xd20e903" name= +"xd20e903">46</a>]</span>docile, did not hustle them in any way but +stood leisurely receiving the spoil. Then he carefully folded all in a +rich <i>saree</i> and was knotting the ends together when the train +suddenly stopped, and an Englishman pushed open the door of the +ladies’ compartment and sprang at him with the exclamation, +“You scoundrel!”</p> +<p>The sudden surprise and assault threw the robber off his feet, and +he fell sprawling on the carriage floor, with the Englishman on top of +him. In the meantime, the guard and others arrived and the thief was +secured and his hands and feet were bound together with his own +<i>pugree</i>, and he was removed to the guard’s van.</p> +<p>The widow was the heroine of the adventure. As soon as she saw the +man entering the carriage, she realised his purpose. Slipping into the +lavatory she climbed through the window there on to the footboard, and +pulled herself along by the carriage rods to the next compartment where +the solitary occupant, an Englishman, sat reading.</p> +<p>He was amazed to see a woman clinging to the window of his carriage, +but fortunately he understood the language; and when she said +“Help, thief in the next carriage”, he opened the door and +got <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e917" href="#xd20e917" name= +"xd20e917">47</a>]</span>her into his carriage without any delay. In a +few words, she acquainted him with what was happening in the next +compartment. He immediately pulled the alarm cord to stop the train, +and hurried along the footboard to the assistance of the ladies. They +were profuse in their expressions of gratitude to him, but he insisted +that they owed their lives and their jewels to their courageous friend. +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e919" href="#xd20e919" name= +"xd20e919">48</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div id="ch09" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>A Child’s Experience</h2> +<p>Some years ago in a country place, not far from Calcutta, there +lived a well-to-do Bengalee gentleman. He was an old man; and his large +family consisting of sons, grandsons, and his brothers with their wives +and children, and many dependent relatives—all lived happily +together in their ancestral home.</p> +<p>It was an old-fashioned house with verandahs, courtyards and many +rooms. In a large <i>dalan</i> or verandah all the family <i>poojas</i> +were celebrated. Here the daughters of the house were married, and for +generations the old walls had looked on at family gatherings and +festivities.</p> +<p>There were extensive grounds round the house. Quite close to the +<i>zenana</i> there was a large kitchen garden which supplied all the +vegetables consumed daily in the house; and so plentiful was the +produce that large trays filled with vegetables were sent out every day +as presents to friends, relatives and to the neighbouring temples.</p> +<p>A little further away was an orchard, and in spring the numerous +mango trees delighted all <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e940" href= +"#xd20e940" name="xd20e940">49</a>]</span>eyes with their blossoms. And +there were jack fruit trees, peaches, plums and guava trees in numbers, +besides long lines of plantains and palms of several kinds.</p> +<p>In the garden, orchard and stables there were tanks and wells so +that the supply of water was sufficient for the needs of such a large +establishment. In front of the mansion there was a large ornamental +tank or lake with white marble steps leading to its waters. Here every +evening the men and boys of the family gathered to recreate and enjoy +the cooling south breeze, and they were often joined by neighbours, and +many a pleasant hour was spent on those marble steps.</p> +<p>An avenue of trees and a high hedge rendered the house quite +private, and the roof was a lovely recreation place and promenade for +the ladles and girls of the family, who were all <i>purdah</i>.</p> +<p>The old man’s wealth was much discussed and the expensive +clothes and rich jewels of the ladies were often spoken of. One day the +old gentleman received a warning letter from a band of dacoits that the +house would be visited by them that night. After some hurried +consultation, the family packed up all their jewels and valuables and +sought shelter <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e951" href="#xd20e951" +name="xd20e951">50</a>]</span>in flight. It was decided to spend the +night at a place a few miles distant.</p> +<p>In the excitement a young mother was separated from her little boy, +a child of about three or four years of age. She concluded that he was +with some other member of the family in another carriage and did not +trouble herself about it. But on their arrival at their place of refuge +he was not found with any of the others.</p> +<p>The mother’s distress of mind was pitiful. She wished to +return for her child; but it was growing dark and there was the danger +of meeting the dacoits. So her wish was overruled, and through the long +night she suffered terrible anxiety, picturing in her mind all that was +perhaps befalling her little son.</p> +<p>In the meantime the child was sleeping sweetly and peacefully in his +bed in his mother’s room. Tired out with play, he had slipped +into bed unknown to any one and there he lay.</p> +<p>About twelve at night the dacoits arrived and broke into the house. +They searched the empty rooms and were furious at finding no valuables +worth carrying away. They came to the room where the little boy slept, +and their loud voices <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e962" href= +"#xd20e962" name="xd20e962">51</a>]</span>awakened him. He sat up and, +seeing their strange faces and glaring torches, screamed with fright. +One of them threatened to kill him if he did not stop his noise. +Another stepped to the bedside and taking the little boy in his arms +said: “Little one, do not cry. No one will hurt you.”</p> +<p>The child recognised his father’s servant and twined his +little arms around the man’s neck. The other dacoits laughed and +walked out of the room leaving their comrade with the child.</p> +<p>When daylight broke, the family returned home, and the poor young +mother flew through the house in search of her child. To her surprise +and joy she found him sleeping peacefully in her own room. Her +hysterical caresses awakened him and the little fellow could not +understand what ailed his mother.</p> +<p>“Did nothing happen during the night?” she asked. +“Did you see anything or anyone, my son?”</p> +<p>Rubbing his chubby knuckles in his eyes the sleepy little boy +answered: “Oh, yes, where were you, mother? A lot of men came. +Some wanted to hit me, but—(naming the servant) was with them, +and he sent them away. Then he gave me sweets and put me to +sleep.” <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e972" href="#xd20e972" +name="xd20e972">52</a>]</span></p> +<p>The servant was arrested, and he confessed that he was one of the +band of dacoits who had sent the warning letter and had broken into the +house. Nearly the whole band was captured. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd20e975" href="#xd20e975" name= +"xd20e975">53</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div id="ch10" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>Two Chinese Dacoits</h2> +<p>In a large house in Calcutta there lived an Englishman, his wife and +her sister. Mrs. C. was of a highly-strung and nervous disposition, and +as her husband’s business frequently occasioned his absence from +home, they had persuaded her sister Ethel to come out to India on a +long visit.</p> +<p>Ethel was a bright, lively girl, very practical and quite the +opposite of her sister, whom she often rallied for her timidity. Once +when Alice was more trying than usual, Ethel exclaimed: “Perhaps +if I were a little like you, Alice, delicate, nervous and silly, I +might get a husband who would fuss over me like Charlie does over +you.”</p> +<p>Alice laughed at her sister’s earnestness and said: “If +you were not healthy and strong-minded you would understand me better, +Ethel.”</p> +<p>Not long afterwards the two ladies were left alone for some days as +Mr. C. was obliged to go upcountry on business. While he was away, +Ethel slept with her sister. It was the cold weather when night closes +in early and the evenings are long. Mrs. C. liked an early dinner, soon +after which she <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e988" href= +"#xd20e988" name="xd20e988">54</a>]</span>always retired. Ethel liked +to spend the long quiet evenings, reading or writing, and often sat up +till midnight.</p> +<p>One afternoon, while they were at lunch, a telegram was brought in, +and on opening it, Alice exclaimed delightedly “Charlie will be +back in time for dinner.”</p> +<p>The evening passed away till dinner time but Mr. C. did not arrive +and the ladies waited till nine o’clock. Then they dined, and +when the clock struck ten and still there was no arrival, Alice said +she would go to bed, as Charlie must have missed his train and the next +was not due till near midnight.</p> +<p>Ethel looked up from her book and said: “Well, I am sleeping +in my own room.”</p> +<p>“O! you know I hate to be alone,” exclaimed Alice; +“you might come and sleep in mine until Charlie comes +in.”</p> +<p>“Alice, you are selfish,” retorted Ethel. “I shall +barely be in bed before he walks in. The only thing for me is to go to +bed in your room in my evening dress.”</p> +<p>“How silly you are,” said Alice peevishly; “why +cannot you undress as usual? Charlie may not come at all to-night and I +dread being alone.” <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1002" +href="#xd20e1002" name="xd20e1002">55</a>]</span></p> +<p>“Oh, very well,” said Ethel, “I will come and read +in your room till Charlie does come. I shall never marry a man who is +always away on business,” With these words she forsook her easy +chair and accompanied her sister into the large bed-room. She threw +herself on the side of the bed and went on with her book.</p> +<p>Alice undressed, got into bed and was soon asleep. Ethel finished +her book and then lay waiting for her brother-in-law. The lights in the +hall and on the landing were not extinguished, but the house was still +and quiet. It was near twelve and Alice was just wondering if Mr. C. +would really arrive or if it would not be better for her to undress and +get into bed comfortably when she heard gentle footsteps on the +stairs.</p> +<p>“There’s Charlie,” she said to herself, “and +how softly he is coming upstairs! he is a considerate +husband.”</p> +<p>She looked at her sister, saw that she was sleeping very soundly. +“I will pretend to be asleep too,” said Ethel to herself +and she drew up the bed-clothes to hide her evening dress and put a +pillow over her head.</p> +<p>To her disappointment, Charlie delayed his <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1014" href="#xd20e1014" name= +"xd20e1014">56</a>]</span>coming and she was wondering if he was dining +when the door slowly opened, but instead of Mr. C. two Chinamen entered +the room. Ethel stared at them from under her pillow with amazement. At +first they stood motionless beside the door. Then, closing it +noiselessly, they advanced into the room. Their quaint clothes, long +pigtails and red eyes together with their stealthy movements and the +hour of midnight, created an uncanny atmosphere in the room, and for +the first time in her life Ethel began to understand what nerves mean. +Never in her life had her pulses jumped and throbbed as they were doing +now. She controlled her inclination to scream and from under her pillow +watched the men.</p> +<p>They examined the room and one of them approached the toilette table +and began to transfer the jewels and silver ornaments which lay upon it +to a capacious bag. The other took a big cigar out of his pocket and +lit it. Then he stepped to Mrs. C.’s side and began to puff the +smoke into her face. She was sleeping upon her back and though she at +first stirred uneasily she soon seemed to sink into a deeper sleep. +After a few minutes by her side, the Chinaman moved round to +Ethel’s side of the bed; but seeing that her head was covered by +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1018" href="#xd20e1018" name= +"xd20e1018">57</a>]</span>a pillow and that she was apparently fast +asleep, he turned to help his comrade.</p> +<p>At this moment Mr. C.’s voice sounded in the hall and he came +running upstairs, whistling gaily. The robbers exchanged alarmed looks +and hastily hid themselves and their bag of booty behind a large +almirah. Charlie opened the door and came into the room, saying +“Alice, where are you?” Approaching the bed he said +“What, asleep!” and bent over his wife. But she was in a +deep slumber and oblivious of her husband’s presence. He noticed +Ethel’s form on the opposite side of the bed and, walking gently +round, touched her arm and whispered: “Are you asleep +too?”</p> +<p>She lifted the pillow, stretched her arms, and then sat up on the +bed. He noticed her evening dress and was explaining his late arrival +when she jumped up crossly from the bed and saying, “Look at your +wife, is she not looking ghastly?” went out of the room. Charlie +returned to his wife’s side and looked closely at her. Her face +seemed strangely pallid and her hands were cold. He endeavoured to wake +her and was still trying to rouse her when Ethel returned to the room +followed by several of the servants, who looked excited. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1024" href="#xd20e1024" name= +"xd20e1024">58</a>]</span></p> +<p>In answer to his question, “What is wrong with Alice?” +Ethel said “There are two thieves hidden behind the +<i>almirah</i>. Let the servants help you to secure them and then you +will know what is wrong with Alice.”</p> +<p>The two Chinamen were soon routed out from behind the almirah, +captured and handed over to the police. A doctor was summoned and Alice +was brought out of the stupor, she had been thrown into by the fumes of +opium smoke. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1032" href="#xd20e1032" +name="xd20e1032">59</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div id="ch11" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>An Unfaithful Servant.</h2> +<p>A rich zemindar named Bose lived in Lucknow, He had emigrated there +from Bengal, acquired land there, and studied the language until he +could speak Urdu like a Hindustanee. He became so much a native of +Lucknow that, when business took him down to Calcutta, he felt himself +a foreigner and stranger in Bengal.</p> +<p>His wife was an invalid and, as the years told on her, he had +frequently to take her to Calcutta for medical advice and treatment. +Their only child was a daughter who was the darling of their household. +The second favourite in the family was a boy called Ram, who though +really a servant was treated like a son of the house and both Mr. and +Mrs. Bose were very fond of him.</p> +<p>When quite a small boy, Ram had been taken into service in the Bose +menagé; and as his parents were both dead and he was remarkably +quick and intelligent, the zemindar took a fatherly interest in the lad +and had him taught to read and write. The teacher thought so highly of +Ram’s intellect that he was taught one subject after another by +his <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1042" href="#xd20e1042" name= +"xd20e1042">60</a>]</span>indulgent master, and when he grew older, was +especially educated and trained for estate work. When his education was +finished he was appointed to be confidential clerk and cashier, and +gradually grew to know as much of Bose’s money affairs as the +zemindar did himself. Whenever the rich man went on his estate, Ram +went with him. At times of collection, Ram had the office of counting +the silver and locking it up in the cash box. Frequently thousands of +rupees passed through his hands in this way, and he alone always knew +what amount of money the cash box contained.</p> +<p>One year, Bose and the faithful Ram had been round the zemindari, +collecting rents; and, as many who had been in arrears paid up, they +returned with a larger sum of money than usual. This was locked up in +the cash box and Bose told his wife in Ram’s hearing that next +day he should deposit it in the bank. The cash box was always kept at +night on a table by the zemindar’s bed-side.</p> +<p>The Boses had a large house in Lucknow and it was nearly always +full, as Mrs. Bose was fond of company and they invariably had a number +of relatives and friends staying with them. Mr. and Mrs. Bose slept +upstairs in a large south room, which <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd20e1048" href="#xd20e1048" name="xd20e1048">61</a>]</span>opened +into another large room alongside of it. The only furniture in their +room was their two beds and a table which stood between the beds to +hold the cash box and a lantern.</p> +<p>The night of the zemindar’s return, his wife could not sleep. +She had been ill and she counted the hours as the night wore on. The +light of the lantern showed her husband’s sleeping form, the +naked sword which always hung at his bedpost, and the bare white-washed +walls of the room. As she lay awake, Mrs. Bose thought she heard a +noise at the door leading into the other room. The noise came again and +she listened intently. Some one opened the door and then shut it. Mrs. +Bose kept still, listened and watched. Some one again opened and shut +the door gently, then again and again. It struck Mrs. Bose that this +was being done to ascertain whether the inmates of the room were asleep +or awake. She continued to keep perfectly still.</p> +<p>Now the door was pushed wide open and Ram entered, and closed the +door softly behind him. When Mrs. Bose saw him enter, her first thought +was that he was the bearer of some bad news, and she very nearly asked +him what was the matter. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1054" href= +"#xd20e1054" name="xd20e1054">62</a>]</span>But his stealthy movements +made her feign sleep and see what he was about; and as he approached +her bed on tiptoe, she closed her eyes and lay as if peacefully +sleeping. He stood beside the bed apparently watching her. Mrs. +Bose’s nerves were tingling with fear, and it took all her powers +of self-control to keep her eyes closed and her breath steady. Just as +the effort seemed more than she could keep up, Ram moved away from her +bed.</p> +<p>Through her eye-lashes she watched him creep noiselessly to the +table and examine the cash box. Then he returned to the side of her bed +and coughed. Mrs. Bose again succeeded in keeping perfectly still and +he moved round to his master’s bedside. Here he stood motionless +for some seconds and then unfastened the sword. The zemindar was +sleeping heavily and as he detached the sword Ram smiled to himself as +if everything was very satisfactory. He grasped the sword in his right +hand and made a trial stroke. Then, smiling again, he lifted the +curtain of the zemindar’s bed with his left hand.</p> +<p>Mrs. Bose felt sure that his motive was murder as well as robbery, +and she now shrieked loudly for aid. At the first sound of her voice +Ram dropped the sword and fled from the room. His wife’s +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1060" href="#xd20e1060" name= +"xd20e1060">63</a>]</span>piercing screams of “Murder! +Help!” woke the zemindar, but by the time he understood what had +taken place Ram had let himself out of the house and was gone.</p> +<p>When morning came the police were informed and the zemindar offered +a handsome reward for the arrest of Ram; but though the police hunted +in Lucknow and elsewhere and also searched the village where +Ram’s relatives lived, no one knew anything of him and he was +never again heard of in Lucknow.</p> +<p>Some years after, the old zemindar died and one of the last remarks +he made was: “I should like to know what has happened to poor +Ram.” He had never forgotten his affection for his old protege, +and had quite forgiven him for his ungratefulness. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1067" href="#xd20e1067" name= +"xd20e1067">65</a>]</span></p> +</div> +</div> +<div class="div0"> +<h2>Tiger Stories</h2> +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1071" href="#xd20e1071" name= +"xd20e1071">67</a>]</span> +<div id="ch12" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>The Bearer’s Fate</h2> +<p>Mr. Gupta, a Bengali gentleman, was a skilled engineer. The +Government thought highly of him and whenever any work of special +difficulty had to be undertaken, always chose him.</p> +<p>At one time he was stationed at Hazaribagh. This district is even +now infested with tigers, and in those far-off days these lords of the +jungle roamed far and wide.</p> +<p>There was then no railway. Travelling was done by <i>palki</i> or by +“push-push”—-a box-like carriage on four wheels, in +which the traveller was forced to recline, and which relays of coolies +pushed before them. The roads were often mere tracks through dense +forest.</p> +<p>It happened that Mr. Gupta was ordered to report on some important +work a few miles away. His devoted wife carefully packed his luggage. +They were a happy couple and each short parting was a pain in their +lives. A trustworthy old servant always accompanied his master to camp. +But to-day to his mistress’ surprise he begged not to go. +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1086" href="#xd20e1086" name= +"xd20e1086">68</a>]</span></p> +<p>When Gupta came in, his wife told him of the man’s +unwillingness to accompany him.</p> +<p>“Nonsense!” said Gupta, “he will have to go. What +has happened to him?”</p> +<p>“I think he is ill” the wife excusingly replied, her +tender heart full of the man’s wistful face and strange manner. +Still she agreed with her husband and told the bearer, he must go with +his master.</p> +<p>“Forgive me, I have high fever, <i>Ma-ji</i>,” he +shivered, addressing her by the honoured name of mother, as is the +custom of Indian servants in an Indian household.</p> +<p>She turned again to her husband who said: “I know what is in +the poor old fellow’s mind. He has an idea he will be killed by a +tiger. However, tell him there is no danger. I am taking a large number +of bearers and he can keep near the <i>palki</i>.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Gupta tried to cheer the servant with this information but he +wailed: “<i>Ma-ji</i>, I am afraid. Surely a tiger will kill me +to-night.”</p> +<p>“Do not fear,” consoled the kind lady. “Your +master will take good care of you.” “Go you must,” +she continued in a firm tone. “There is no one except you who +knows his ways and can see to his comfort. Now get ready +quickly.” <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1111" href= +"#xd20e1111" name="xd20e1111">69</a>]</span></p> +<p>“Oh, <i>Ma-ji</i>,” he sobbed like a child, “I +obey, but my heart is heavy.”</p> +<p>Mr. Gupta had to travel through the night. After an early dinner he +started, attended by many <i>palki</i>-bearers and the old servant. The +moon rose bright and glorious and bathed the picturesque country in +soft radiance. The silence of the forest was broken only by the +rhythmic cries of the bearers and the <i>pat-pat</i> of their feet. The +first stream was reached and the bearers asked for a halt. Consent +granted, they went into the stream to drink of the deeper water. The +old servant crouched by the <i>palki</i>.</p> +<p>“Thirstest not?” kindly asked his master.</p> +<p>“<i>Babu-ji</i>, I feel nervous. I will stay near +you.”</p> +<p>Gupta wondered what might have unstrung the man, and felt sorry for +him. “Come and sit close to me,” he said.</p> +<p>The night was cold and the old bearer, huddled in his blanket, sat +on the edge of the <i>palki</i> door.</p> +<p>Suddenly the stillness of the night was broken by a rapid crash +through the dry grass near the <i>palki</i>, and with a thrilling roar +a tiger leapt at the man and dragged him away. The <i>palki</i> shook, +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1150" href="#xd20e1150" name= +"xd20e1150">70</a>]</span>and the bearer’s piteous cry +“<i>Babu-ji, Babu-ji,</i> I told you” filled the forest, +and echoed and echoed again as the tiger bore him away. Then all became +still.</p> +<p>Gupta realised what had happened. He lay back sick with horror, and +felt as if he were the guilty one. For many a day the old man’s +dying wail rang in his ears. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1157" +href="#xd20e1157" name="xd20e1157">71</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div id="ch13" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>Through the Roof</h2> +<p>They were laying the railway through the Hazaribagh district, and in +a low-roofed bungalow at Giridih lived the Engineer in charge of the +work. He was a young Englishman and his only recreation in this dreary +place was riding and shooting.</p> +<p>The coolies lived in frail little mat houses in the same enclosure +as his bungalow. One morning they came to him in a body to tell him +that during the night a tiger had carried off one of their cows. The +next morning another cow was missing, and on the third his servants +awakened him with the news that his Arab pony was gone.</p> +<p>He loved the little animal. Many a mile had he scoured on its back. +“Stripes” must be punished for this. He would sit up the +coming night and watch.</p> +<p>Babus, servants and coolies loudly approved. What was life worth +with such nightly happenings? and the lord of the jungle would surely +come again. Had he not discovered a well-filled larder?</p> +<p>Work over, the young man loaded his gun, and <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1171" href="#xd20e1171" name= +"xd20e1171">72</a>]</span>after dinner took up his position and awaited +the enemy. A reliable servant sat up with him.</p> +<p>The bungalow was raised on piles a few feet from the ground. It had +brick walls but a thatched roof which sloped very low down on all +sides. The wooden windows were closed. Our friend sat at one of them +with the Venetians slightly stretched. The bungalow was dark and +still.</p> +<p>At last a strange odour filled the air and then the heavy breathing +of the tiger was audible. It came and stood just outside the window. +The young fellow noiselessly pointed his gun through the Venetians and +fired. An angry growl told that the tiger was wounded. Then it charged +forward with a furious roar. The Englishman fired again and this time +thought he had finished it. But the animal charged again with increased +rage. After several attempts at the window it leapt for the roof and +succeeded in clutching the eaves and scrambled up. The terrified +servant cried: “Saheb, come into another room”.</p> +<p>“Don’t be a fool!” shouted his master, “the +tiger can’t come through the roof.”</p> +<p>In their huts the poor coolies heard the shots and the terrible +roars and growls and dared not come <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd20e1181" href="#xd20e1181" name="xd20e1181">73</a>]</span>to their +master’s assistance. The tiger tore and scratched the thatch with +all his might and soon made a hole. “Look! Saheb!” screamed +the servant, “he comes through”.</p> +<p>“I have a loaded gun in my hand”, the Saheb replied.</p> +<p>The hole speedily grew larger as the great cat clawed and growled. +The servant could stand it no longer. He bolted into the next room, +shutting the door between. There he shivered and shook till morning, +when he fled to the railway station a couple of miles away and told the +Sahibs there his tale. They got guns and horses and rode over. They +peered through the shutters and saw the tiger in the room. It soon +scented them and charged with a mighty roar. They retreated without +dignity to a safe distance where all stopped. One said, “I say! +we must see what has happened to the poor chap”. Another: +“So many of us and loaded guns! We must do something”. A +third: “let’s get back and kill the beast”.</p> +<p>They went back and fired shot after shot through the shutters till +the animal was killed. Then they broke into the room and found their +luckless comrade dead on the floor, his loaded gun <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1190" href="#xd20e1190" name= +"xd20e1190">74</a>]</span>still in his hand. The tiger must have killed +him with a slap of its mighty paw, and sat on his body all night, but +clearly the animal was not a man-eater. <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd20e1192" href="#xd20e1192" name="xd20e1192">79</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div id="ch14" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>Earning the Reward</h2> +<p>A man-eating tiger was roaming through Hazaribagh station. It had +killed many villagers and had become so daring that it entered the +market-place in broad day-light.</p> +<p>A poor old tailor on his way home one evening was seized by the +blood-thirsty animal, and his screams for help filled the little town. +The morning light showed traces of the struggle between man and beast, +and where the latter had been dragged from the main road.</p> +<p>The villagers did <i>puja</i> that night that all might be saved +from a like fate. A few days after, a ploughman and a little boy stood +talking about the tiger. “How do you know that he won’t +catch you?” asked the boy.</p> +<p>The ploughman answered confidently: “I have done +<i>puja</i>”. Barely had the words passed his lips than the tiger +leapt upon him. The boy was startled, but not realising his own danger +not only did he not run but also caught up a stick and tried to save +his friend. In spite of his hitting it the animal began to devour the +unfortunate man, <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1210" href= +"#xd20e1210" name="xd20e1210">76</a>]</span>snarling threateningly the +while. Then the boy threw away the stick and fled to the village. The +news roused the villagers and they determined to try to rid themselves +of their foe. Armed with spears, sticks and heavy bamboos they followed +the boy to the scene of the tragedy. But the tiger was gone.</p> +<p>The Government had offered a handsome reward to any one who would +succeed in killing this tiger and now a poor shop-keeper determined to +win it. He knew nothing of shooting but worked up the ambition of a +friend who could shoot and had a couple of guns. Together they essayed +the difficult job. Difficult it was. The tiger seldom returned to his +kill, nor stopped at a kill any length of time, and was known to have +killed three or four victims in one day.</p> +<p>However they hoped for success. The villagers had been very careful +of late and the tiger had consequently been obliged to go hungry. It +was just possible he might return to the kill. So they got permission +for a mangled body to be left there, and built a <i>machan</i> near it. +At sunset they took up their places and watched.</p> +<p>At first the pair felt cheerful. A brilliant <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1221" href="#xd20e1221" name= +"xd20e1221">77</a>]</span>moon illuminated the whole country making +everything as clear as day. But no tiger came. And later, as the hours +dragged on, their cramped position, the nearness of a dead body, the +silence and mystery of the night, all got on their nerves, and they +wished they had not attempted such a task. But to leave now would be +dangerous. So they did their best to encourage each other and waited +on.</p> +<p>In the small hours of the night they distinctly heard the tiger +coming and saw a huge black shadow moving stealthily towards their +tree. The animal looked enormous in the uncertain light and each +thought the <i>machan</i> too low and wished himself in his house in +the village. Neither dared to speak or move.</p> +<p>Not far from the <i>machan</i> was a hillock. The tiger, after +stalking round the tree, went to the corpse, smelled it, and then +crossing to the hillock climbed up and sat himself there. The men felt +sure he could now see them.</p> +<p>The tiger began to sniff as if he scented them. Then it yawned and +snarled. The men sat fascinated. Presently the great head turned +towards them. The shopman pulled the trigger of the gun <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1235" href="#xd20e1235" name= +"xd20e1235">78</a>]</span>he held. There was a deafening roar and the +tiger disappeared from the hillock. Then all became still. They knew by +the roar of pain that he was hit. Tigers are clever and often feign +death when wounded. They dared not descend. They were not sure that he +was killed. At any moment he might attack their tree. Comrades in +enterprise and fear, they sat gripping each other in the darkness, for +the moon had now set.</p> +<p>The villagers had heard the shot and at day-break came to the spot. +They found the tiger lying dead at the foot of the hillock. The heroes +could barely descend from the <i>machan</i>, so stiff and aching were +their bones. Together they received the plaudits of the village and +shared the Government reward which to them was quite a small fortune. +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1243" href="#xd20e1243" name= +"xd20e1243">79</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div id="ch15" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>A Burmese Monster</h2> +<p>Some years ago Government sent an engineer and party to explore and +prospect in the forests of Burma. None returned. Their disappearance +was a mystery.</p> +<p>The authorities decided to send another party to ascertain the fate +of the first and continue the work. To induce volunteers, a handsome +salary was offered; and at length an Englishman came forward. He asked +for twice the number of native attendants that the first man had had. +Government granted him his request and provided him with every facility +procurable and he started.</p> +<p>He followed the course taken by his predecessor up a large river. He +travelled in a big boat and his men in smaller ones. Here and there +they came upon traces of the former party. They pushed on. Suddenly all +indications of the missing ones ceased. He felt he had better stop and +investigate. Tents were landed and pitched and the men began to prepare +their evening meal.</p> +<p>As he sat in his tent reading, he heard loud shouts and some of his +coolies rushed to him. They <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1255" +href="#xd20e1255" name="xd20e1255">80</a>]</span>said that as they were +cooking they saw a great black thing hanging from a tree above them. +When they made a noise it disappeared. It was long and thick and black. +The coolies were frightened out of their wits and refused to remain in +that place. Argument was of no use; so the tents were taken down and +the party moved on.</p> +<p>Another spot was selected and here they stayed peacefully for some +days. Suddenly a man was missing. Then another and another! Each +disappeared when alone. The coolies were frightened and uneasy. But +this time the Sahib managed to control them. He himself was anxious and +puzzled.</p> +<p>Next a coolie who had gone to the river to scour vessels after a +meal disappeared. The plates and <i>lotas</i> were scattered about just +as if he had been suddenly seized. The Englishman thought that a +crocodile must have taken him off.</p> +<p>Soon after this incident the engineer was fishing in the river +opposite to the camp, and he noticed two coolies coming to the river. +They sat down at the <i>ghat</i> and began to scour their vessels. The +murmur of their voices reached him.</p> +<p>Presently the boatman clutched his arm and <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1271" href="#xd20e1271" name= +"xd20e1271">81</a>]</span>pointed to the bank. He looked. One of the +coolies was chasing a huge hairy monster. The other could not be +seen.</p> +<p>The engineer soon crossed the river and joined the coolie, still in +the chase after the strange creature. As usual, the Saheb carried a +loaded revolver and as he ran he fired several shots at the animal. +They had no effect on it. The beast ran on with heavy lumbering +strides, covering the ground with great rapidity and only once glancing +back over its shoulders with a horrible grin. He could not overtake it +and it disappeared into the thick jungle. Its hair was so long that it +completely covered the man it carried in its powerful arms. It was some +kind of an orang-outang.</p> +<p>The mystery was now cleared up. The engineer returned. His task was +accomplished. Later he wrote an account of this adventure and concluded +with these words:—“Now when I see a great hairy spider I +tremble! and the remembrance of that monstrous black form returns to +me, and the hideous grin that thrilled me. Never can I forget +it.” <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1277" href="#xd20e1277" +name="xd20e1277">82</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div id="ch16" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>The Palki and the Tiger</h2> +<p>In a lonely village in the Hazaribagh district the peaceful dwellers +were one evening disturbed by shrill cries of distress. When they +gathered round the house from whence the cries came, they discovered +that a ghastly murder had been committed. The headman of the village +immediately despatched two messengers for the police. These men started +in the dawn and reached the Police outpost just before sunset.</p> +<p>The Inspector-in-charge was a Bengalee, named Bose, who was a very +intelligent officer and keen on his work. As soon as he received +information of the murder, he ordered one of his staff to arrange for a +<i>push-push</i> (carriage which is partly drawn and partly pushed by +men) and a set of bearers. He quickly put together a few requisites for +the journey, and was soon ready. The night was not far advanced when +the orderly returned with a <i>push-push</i> and eight bearers, and +Bose started off, attended by his cook and body-servant.</p> +<p>The road lay through a forest. At times the path was so narrow and +rocky that the men could <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1293" href= +"#xd20e1293" name="xd20e1293">83</a>]</span>make little progress, and +at last they declared that the road was impassable for a wheeled +conveyance, and that it was necessary for the Inspector to change into +a <i>palki</i>. One of them said that about two miles off the road +there was a village, and that in the village there lived a rich +Hindustani merchant who might lend a <i>palki</i>. Bose was pleased at +the suggestion and told the <i>push-push</i> bearers to take him to the +village. They needed no second bidding, and the Inspector was soon +being trundled across the paddy fields that lay between the village and +the road. Arrived there, he hastened to the merchant’s house and +asked to see him.</p> +<p>A handsome up-countryman came out and when, he saw that his visitor +was a gentleman he courteously asked him to enter and be seated. The +Inspector soon explained his necessity for a <i>palki</i>, and the rich +man placed his at the disposal of the police officer. “But +<i>Jenab</i> (Sir),” he said, “tigers are bad in this +forest and you have to pass through a part known to be a favourite +haunt of theirs. Have you any fire-arms?”</p> +<p>“Only my revolver,” said Bose “but I must push on +and take my chance.” And as the <i>palki</i> now stood ready and +the bearers declared themselves <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd20e1317" href="#xd20e1317" name="xd20e1317">84</a>]</span>refreshed, +he thanked his host for his ready assistance, bade him farewell and +started once again.</p> +<p>The bearers were full of spirits after their rest at the +merchant’s house and for a mile or two travelled at a rapid pace; +but the narrow winding road impeded their progress, and as the night +advanced the eerie sounds of the forest must have got on their nerves. +At the commencement of the journey they had beguiled the march with +stories of tigers and bears met in the forest, but after some hours of +travel they became silent; and beyond the usual directions of the +forward men concerning the road and occasionally a shrill cry to scare +away wild animals, they made no remarks to each other.</p> +<p>Within the <i>palki</i>, Bose lay fitfully dozing. The night was +oppressive and his thoughts were on the murder and his chances of a +successful capture of the wrong-doer. The road had become wider and +level and the men were going along at a good pace, when suddenly they +dropped the <i>palki</i> to the ground and fled in all directions. Bose +shouted: “What is up? Why have you run away?” No answer +greeted his ears but a strange odour penetrated his nostrils and he +knew there was a tiger in the jungle. He quickly pulled the doors of +the <i>palki</i> jamming <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1332" href= +"#xd20e1332" name="xd20e1332">85</a>]</span>them as securely as he +could with the ends of his <i>razai</i> (quilt). Then he tore the +strong border off his <i>dhoti</i> (loin cloth) and commenced to bind +the handles of the doors together. He had just finished firmly lashing +together the handles on one side when he heard an ominous growling. +With frantic haste he bound the handles of the opposite doors together, +praying fervently that he might escape the jaws of the tiger.</p> +<p>The animal continued growling. Evidently the dark bulk of the +<i>palki</i> frightened him. Bose sat inside, huddled in a heap and +breathless. The tiger, re-assured by the stillness of the object before +him, ceased growling; and presently, the soft thud of his feet and his +sniffing round the <i>palki</i> told the trembling man within that +’Stripes’ was making an investigation.</p> +<p>Now a mighty roar shook the jungles and Bose realised that the tiger +had leapt upon the roof of the <i>palki</i> and was scratching +furiously at it. Bose clutched the handles of the doors and held on to +them with the grip of despair. The tiger scratched and growled and +finally bounded off the top and began a vigorous assault upon the side. +The <i>palki</i> toppled over on to its other side. Poor Bose +congratulated <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1357" href= +"#xd20e1357" name="xd20e1357">86</a>]</span>himself that now one of the +doors rested upon Mother Earth and he could give his whole energy to +defending the other. He gripped the handles with renewed determination +and waited.</p> +<p>The tiger had sustained a shock at seeing the unknown monster he was +tackling roll over, and for a time satisfied himself by growling +savagely. But as the monster lay still “Stripes” tried the +experiment of a sharp blow with his paw. The <i>palki</i> rested on +uneven ground and the blow made it rock. The tiger waited awhile; and +when the rocking had subsided administered another stroke. The +<i>palki</i> rocked again. The situation now developed into a game +between the huge cat and the <i>palki</i>. When he slapped the +<i>palki</i> rocked; and when the <i>palki</i> ceased vibrating the +tiger slapped again. Inside the <i>palki</i>, the Inspector held on to +the handles of the door and prayed for deliverance.</p> +<p>At last the tiger, wearied of the game and purring loudly, walked +away. Bose breathed more freely but knew not if the danger was past. +There he lay gripping the handles of the door and wishing for daylight. +At last the dawn broke and with the first rays of light courage +returned to the bearers and servants, who were hiding in the branches +of <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1383" href="#xd20e1383" name= +"xd20e1383">87</a>]</span>the surrounding trees. They called to each +other, expressing anxiety as to their master’s fate. Finally, as +the daylight grew stronger they encouraged each other to descend and +approach the <i>palki</i>.</p> +<p>As they examined it with wonder some very cutting remarks from +within assured them of their master’s existence, and with many +apologies for the abrupt way in which they had abandoned him they +righted the <i>palki</i> and assisted him out.</p> +<p>The journey was soon resumed and Bose had the satisfaction of +arresting the murderer in spite of his ill-timed adventure and forced +delay. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1395" href="#xd20e1395" name= +"xd20e1395">88</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div id="ch17" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>An Assam Adventure</h2> +<p>Some years ago, an English baron came out to India to enjoy some +tiger shooting. He received invitations to many Native States, and was +having a right royal time. In the course of his wanderings he came to +Assam. In those days, the jungles of Assam swarmed with tigers but a +“man-eater” was very rarely known there.</p> +<p>Sir M. was in a small camp with just two or three other guns, and +all were hopeful of “bagging” a tiger, for the roaring of +the lords of the jungle could be heard almost every night. The tents +had been pitched on the bank of a river and all round the camp and on +the opposite bank was heavy jungle. Wild animals abounded in these +jungles and the camp servants did not appreciate the site. No sooner +had the Sahebs finished their dinner than the servants disappeared into +their tents, and securing themselves within, as strongly as they could, +devoutly hoped that the morning light would find them still alive and +unharmed.</p> +<p>One evening Sir M. retired to his own tent immediately after dinner. +He was very tired but <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1405" href= +"#xd20e1405" name="xd20e1405">89</a>]</span>as he was not sleepy, he +made himself comfortable and settled down on a long-sleeved chair with +a book. His tent was a small one, with a camp cot, a couple of chairs +and a table. On the table stood a reading lamp. M. was soon absorbed in +his book and did not notice how the hours fled. The camp became quiet +and still. It was a dark close night and the door of his tent stood +open, for he was a lover of air. He had read on for some time when his +attention was drawn to a movement of his tent wall. It seemed to him as +if some one or something was rubbing along the side. He put down his +book and got on to his feet to see what it could be. As he was about to +step forward the head of a tiger loomed in the doorway, the eyes +gleaming brightly. Sir M. stood motionless with surprise and +“Stripes” stepped into the tent. He was a fine specimen of +a Royal Bengal tiger, and M. forgot everything in his admiration of the +noble animal.</p> +<p>The table with the lamp upon it stood between Sir M. and the tiger, +and each stood on either side of it gazing at each other. As the silent +seconds passed, Sir M. realized that he was in danger and bethought him +of his rifle which was almost within reach of his hand; but he dared +not move and so <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1409" href= +"#xd20e1409" name="xd20e1409">90</a>]</span>continued gazing +steadfastly at his visitor. The tiger too stood, surveying his +vis-a-vis and then began to move round the table. The lamp either +attracted or annoyed him and he raised his paw to the table. The weight +of the huge paw tilted the table, the lamp toppled and fell with a +crash. The terrified tiger gave a mighty roar, turned tail and +fled.</p> +<p>The camp was aroused. Everyone shouted and rushed out into the +night, armed with some weapon or other. Sir M. related to his brother +guns what had happened and they all enjoyed a good laugh and rather +envied him for the fine sight he had of such a superb specimen of the +kings of the jungle. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1413" href= +"#xd20e1413" name="xd20e1413">91</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div id="ch18" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>A Thrilling Story</h2> +<p>One evening, in Assam, a young Englishman was driving along a lonely +jungle road. He wished to visit a neighbouring Saheb; and though his +servants had warned him that tigers had been frequently seen on that +particular road, he had laughed at their fears and told them that the +only tiger to be feared was a “man-eater”, and that there +were no “man-eating” tigers about that district. As usual +in the mofussil of India, he was going out to dine and sleep, and his +bearer had put up his clothes and his suit case was stowed into the +dog-cart.</p> +<p>The road was a good one and considerably wide, for it was the main +thoroughfare in the district and along it tea, jute and all other +agricultural products were transported to the river for export to other +districts of India and also to Europe. Nevertheless it was bordered on +either side by dense jungle, and there were few villages in its +vicinity. After sunset it was a road little frequented by villagers and +it had the reputation of being tiger-haunted. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1421" href="#xd20e1421" name= +"xd20e1421">92</a>]</span></p> +<p>There was no moon and, as B. had not started much before sunset, +darkness soon overtook him on the road. As he had no <i>syce</i> with +him he got down to light the trap-lamps and jumped in and drove on +again very cheerily. He was not far from where he must turn off the +main road to the narrow one leading to his friend’s estate, when +the pony suddenly took fright at something and bolted. At first B. +tried to pull the animal up; but its erect ears and wild snorting +showed him that there was cause for alarm. He looked over his shoulder +and in the dim starlight discerned the bulk of some animal in pursuit +of them. An eerie feeling came over him and he wondered what was going +to happen. He sat tight in his seat and let the pony race on. The chase +continued and the pony began to show signs of collapse. It was +evidently being overcome by fear and, in spite of all B.’s +urging, could not keep up the pace, and the pursuing animal gained upon +them. B. had just determined to leap from the cart when the pony +tripped and fell and B. was shot out of the cart. He fell into the long +grass on the side of the road, and had barely collected himself when a +dark form sprang upon the pony.</p> +<p>The poor animal neighed with fear but kicked <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1429" href="#xd20e1429" name= +"xd20e1429">93</a>]</span>and fought its foe. B. rolled down the side +of the road and began to crawl away through the jungle as fast as he +could. Long grass and thorny brambles grew on either side of the road +and as it was the dry season every movement of his made a crackling and +rustling; and often he fancied he heard an animal in pursuit of him, or +he would imagine he was about to meet one coming through the jungle +towards him. He pressed on as fast as he could, sometimes crawling and +sometimes walking, and at last he saw the glimmer of lights and came to +some huts. He shouted to the inmates who came to his assistance.</p> +<p>When they discovered a Saheb in such a plight they were full of +concern, helped him to their huts, gave him hot milk to drink and +washed his wounds. His clothes were torn and his hands and knees +bleeding from his flight through the thorny jungle. The sympathising +villagers emptied a hut for him to rest in, and when morning came +escorted him to the scene of his mishap.</p> +<p>The mangled remains of his poor pony told him that the wild animal +had been a very famished tiger. B. returned to his own bungalow a wiser +man, and told his servants that, had he taken their <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1435" href="#xd20e1435" name= +"xd20e1435">94</a>]</span>advice, he would not have suffered such an +adventure or the loss of his pony. He rewarded the villagers for their +kindness and hospitality and for a long time his escape was the talk of +the district. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1437" href= +"#xd20e1437" name="xd20e1437">95</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div id="ch19" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>A Cachar Tiger</h2> +<p>In the province of Assam lies a fertile and picturesque valley +called Cachar. Shut in on north, south and east by lofty hills, this +valley remained hidden for centuries and was never conquered by any of +the Mahommedan rulers of India.</p> +<p>Here a race of aboriginal kings held sway, and it was the East India +Company who first became masters of this hilly corner of Bengal. In +1830, the last of the old Cachari kings died without heir, and +“Company Bahadoor” took possession of the little +kingdom.</p> +<p>In 1855, the discovery of the tea-plant, growing wild in the +jungles, opened out a new industry, and soon the low-lying hills, +knolls and undulating plains of the little valley became gradually +clear of jungle, and covered instead with row after row of +carefully-kept and trim tea bushes. To-day acres upon acres of tea are +grown in Cachar; and the inland steamers, which ply all through the +rainy season up and down the wide-rolling stream of the <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1447" href="#xd20e1447" name= +"xd20e1447">96</a>]</span>river Barak, bring down for export millions +of pounds of tea for the “cheering cup”.</p> +<p>Cachar is rich in forests, and tigers and other wild animals are +there in plenty. During the monsoon the jungle animals retreat to the +higher levels of the forest-clad hills. But when the rains abate they +begin to gradually descend; and when the great “hoars” or +fenlands dry up at the approach of the cold season, numerous tigers +take up their winter haunts in the patches of jungle, which grow here +and there in the marsh lands, and in the forests which often surround +or separate the tea gardens.</p> +<p>It was cold-weather time about forty years ago, and four planters +sat talking after dinner in the Manager’s bungalow on a tea +garden in Cachar. We will call them M., B., C. and H.</p> +<p>The bungalow, like many bungalows in tea districts, stood on a high +hill, the steep sides of which had been terraced and planted with tea. +On adjacent but lower hills stood the factory and coolie lines. +Everything was quiet and lay wrapped in a heavy fog.</p> +<p>In the verandah near the steps sat the bungalow <i>chowkidar</i> +(watchman). The charity of the Tea Company had provided him and his +fellow-coolies <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1460" href= +"#xd20e1460" name="xd20e1460">97</a>]</span>with blankets. And he wore +his in the usual <i>pachim</i> (North-West Provinces) style: one end of +the blanket is pleated and tied closely with a piece of string, the +short part above the cord forming a tuft. The wearer pulls the pleated +end of the blanket over his head, the tuft resting on his crown. The +sides of the blanket are drawn round the body, and thus the blanket is +made to form both a hood and a cloak, in which the wearer hugs himself +against the inclemency of the weather.</p> +<p>The <i>chowkidar</i> sat on his mat huddled up in his blanket, +droning one of the time-honoured <i>bhajans</i> (hymns) of India.</p> +<p>Presently he disappeared and, next, piercing yells rent the +mist-laden atmosphere. The four Sahebs were in the verandah in a trice, +and soon discovered the <i>chowkidar</i> returning to the verandah, +visibly shaken and without his blanket.</p> +<p>“What is the matter, and who shouted?” asked the +Manager.</p> +<p>“Saheb,” the <i>chowkidar</i> replied in a quavering +voice “a tiger sprang on me and caught the knot of my +blanket.”</p> +<p>“Here!” interrupted the four Englishmen incredulously. +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1488" href="#xd20e1488" name= +"xd20e1488">98</a>]</span></p> +<p>“Yes, <i>Huzoor</i> (Your Honour), as I sat here against this +post the tiger came, seized the knot of my blanket and began to pull. +Like lightning I made my plan. I grasped with a strong tight hold the +sides of the blanket and holding myself together like a ball I let Lord +Tiger pull. He dragged me to the edge of the <i>tila</i> (hill). There +I suddenly let go the blanket and shouted with all my might. The tiger +fell over, down the hill, and is gone.”</p> +<p>Sure enough, there were the foot-marks of the tiger, the mark of the +drag, and the signs of where “Stripes” had slipped over and +down the terrace.</p> +<p>The tiger had been harrying the coolies for some time and a rumour +had got about that he was a man-eater. It was pretty certain that he +would come again the next night; so the planters determined to sit up +and shoot him.</p> +<p>On the following night after dinner M. B. C. and H. took their +positions on the verandah. Each had his loaded gun and all waited +patiently for the tiger. Time passed. It was weary work and they +dozed.</p> +<p>M.’s dog had wandered off to the kitchen as usual after +dinner. After some time it returned hurriedly and ran up the steps of +the verandah, <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1505" href= +"#xd20e1505" name="xd20e1505">99</a>]</span>barking in a frightened +manner. The dog’s barking woke the four men. B. sat first near +the steps and H. not far from him in a dining-room chair.</p> +<p>The dog ran into the dining-room and hid himself under the table and +everything again became quiet, and the men waited. Suddenly a hoarse +cry paralysed three of them. “He’s on me. Shoot.”</p> +<p>The tiger had come up on to the verandah and springing at B. caught +him by the arm. Then, releasing the arm, he made a spring at his +victim’s throat. B. was instantly on his feet and, as the tiger +essayed his throat, he rammed his clenched fist into the animal’s +mouth. The tiger shook the man’s fist out of its mouth and made +another attempt to reach his throat. B. repeated his manoeuvre. This +happened three or four times.</p> +<p>In the meantime the other three men dared not shoot for fear of +missing the ferocious cat and killing their comrade. H. had the +presence of mind to swiftly fix his bayonet, and, rushing towards the +tiger, he thrust it in the animal’s side, firing as he did so. +The tiger fell backwards off the verandah mortally wounded, but to the +amazement <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1513" href="#xd20e1513" +name="xd20e1513">100</a>]</span>of the Sahebs struggled tip and made +another attempt to get at B. He was however too badly wounded and fell +back dead.</p> +<p>B.’s hand and arm were terribly mauled, and after medical +treatment he had to go home on long leave. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1517" href="#xd20e1517" name= +"xd20e1517">101</a>]</span></p> +</div> +<div id="ch20" class="div1"><span class="pagenum">[<a href= +"#toc">Contents</a>]</span> +<h2>A Maharajah’s Adventures</h2> +<p>A Maharajah of Bengal who became a noted sportsman shot his first +tiger when he was quite a small boy. When about twelve years of age he +went out on a shoot one cold weather on his estate. He was accompanied +by some of his relatives, and they encamped in one of the forest +bungalows. This bungalow was just an ordinary Assam house built on a +<i>chang</i> or raised platform. It consisted of a large centre room +with a bedroom on either side and a deep verandah in the front, where +the servants slept at night. Under large trees, some little distance +away, the elephants were chained, and not far off were stables for the +horses.</p> +<p>The Maharajah shared his room with a friend, a lad about two years +older than himself. One night between ten and eleven o’clock, +when all were in bed and asleep after a tiring day and an early dinner, +the near roaring of a tiger awakened the camp. In a twinkling the +servants had transferred themselves and their bedding from the verandah +into the centre room and securely bolted the door. Roar after roar +sounded through the night, but the <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd20e1528" href="#xd20e1528" name="xd20e1528">102</a>]</span>young +Maharajah slept the healthful and deep sleep of tired childhood and the +mighty voice of the lord of the jungle did not disturb him. His friend +was awakened by the majestic sound and lay trembling with fear; envying +his blissfully unconscious companion, until the nearness of the tiger +broke down his self-control and, vigorously shaking his bed-fellow, he +shouted in his ear: “Tiger, tiger!”</p> +<p>The young Maharajah awoke, yawned, stretched and listened. The +roaring had ceased but under the bungalow they could hear the purring +of a tiger as it rubbed itself against a post. The younger and fearless +boy laughed with glee and assured his friend that there was no danger +of the tiger getting into the bungalow, and that on the morrow they +would be easily able to track and shoot it. Soon the sounds of purring +and rubbing gave place to others, and the occupants of the bungalow +realised that more than one tiger played beneath them. Next day in the +jungle near the forest bungalow the party shot a couple of tigers, a +tigress and her cubs.</p> +<p>In later years the Maharajah became famous for his shoots and many +and varied were his adventures <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1534" +href="#xd20e1534" name="xd20e1534">103</a>]</span>and experiences. One +year he was in camp with a large party and they were out one afternoon +after buffaloes. A fine bull was driven out of a patch of thick jungle +and faced the guns with defiance in his eyes. He was a grand target and +the Maharajah’s finger ached to pull his trigger, but courtesy +forbade him and he generously, as always, left the fine prize for his +guests. But, one after another, each missed his shot and the noble bull +charged past into thicker jungle. As the line of guns attempted to +follow, one of them spied a leopard up on a tree looking thoroughly +scared. This animal had evidently been disturbed by the commotion in +the forest and had been so terrified that it had climbed into a tree +for shelter; and there, on a branch, poor “Spots” fell an +easy prey to the sportsmen.</p> +<p>One of the strangest adventures that the Maharajah had was when, +returning to camp one evening, he was informed that one of his largest +and best elephants, “Kennedy”, had got stuck in quicksand. +In many parts of Assam there are quicksands and quagmires. This +particular one chanced to be in a <i>nala</i> (stream). The elephant +had refused to cross the partially dried-up stream. <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1541" href="#xd20e1541" name= +"xd20e1541">104</a>]</span>Instinct had warned him through the tip of +his trunk that danger lurked there, but his <i>mahout</i> (driver), +anxious to get into camp after a hard day and knowing that across this +stream was a short cut, had forced him. They had advanced but a yard or +two when the huge animal began to sink, and the more he struggled and +strove to extricate himself the deeper he sank. The Maharajah hastened +to the spot as soon as he heard of the catastrophe, for +“Kennedy” was a fine and valuable elephant and a steady one +for <i>shikar</i> (shooting). At the sound of his master’s voice +poor “Kennedy” looked towards the bank, and the Maharajah +saw that great tears of anguish were rolling down the poor +beast’s face as he bellowed in an agony of fear. The Maharajah +directed the men who had gathered around the scene to fell some +saplings, which were conveyed to the <i>nala</i> by some smaller +elephant and pushed into the quagmire towards “Kennedy”. +The poor entrapped animal seemed to understand that efforts were being +made to rescue him, and he obeyed his driver’s now soothing voice +and held himself still. At last, the combined labours of men and +brother-elephants provided a safe footing of submerged saplings and +branches; and “Kennedy” pulled himself out of the +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1553" href="#xd20e1553" name= +"xd20e1553">105</a>]</span>treacherous sand and was escorted back to +the camp with great rejoicings.</p> +<p>Not long after this “Kennedy” distinguished himself in +another way, but this time evoked the displeasure and not the pity of +his good master. An engineer, named Ashton, had charge of the +<i>feilkhana</i> (elephant stables) and had once severely punished +“Kennedy”. After the manner of his kind, the elephant bore +the memory of the outrage in his heart and waited the opportunity to be +revenged. One morning the camp was astir for a shoot. The guests stood +ready outside their tents and the elephants were waiting to carry them +into the forest. Suddenly “Kennedy” charged at Ashton, who +stood a little apart from the group, and flinging him to the ground +began to roll him under his feet. The Maharajah, with wonderful +presence of mind, immediately ordered “Debraj”, a larger +and more powerful elephant than “Kennedy” and his rival in +the <i>feilkhana</i>, to the rescue. “Debraj’s” +<i>mahout</i> ordered him to charge at “Kennedy”, and, +urged forward with voice and prong; “Debraj” did so with a +good will. When “Kennedy” saw his ancient enemy charging at +him, he forgot his grudge against Ashton, and, considering that +“he who <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1566" href= +"#xd20e1566" name="xd20e1566">106</a>]</span>fights and runs away lives +to fight another day”, he bolted, with his trunk in the air. +Ashton was picked up from the dust very much shaken by his rolling and +fright but, to the astonishment of every one, in no way injured.</p> +<p>During one of his shooting expeditions, the Maharajah and his +companions decided one night that they would go out on foot at the very +break of dawn and see the animal world in the jungle; and they were +well rewarded for their adventurous spirit. In a glade of the forest +they had a magnificent sight of a large herd of bison peacefully +grazing in the dewy grass. They could hear tigers and bears passing +back through the jungles to their dens in the deeper forest, and as the +men stood there admiring the grand heads of the bison a monstrous tiger +passed along quite close to one of the party, the Maharajah’s +brother-in-law. On the bank of a river they came upon a nest of young +pythons. The guests thought it was a curious mound; but the Maharajah +recognised the reared heads of the young snakes and told his friends +what the heap was. When they came closer, they could see that the long +slimy bodies were all twisted together; and with an uncanny feeling, +the sportsmen watched these <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1570" +href="#xd20e1570" name="xd20e1570">107</a>]</span>serpents uncoil +themselves from each other and glide away and disappear through the +grass.</p> +<p>Once, after a long and fruitless day in the jungles, the Maharajah +decided he would try his luck stalking some deer that he spied on the +opposite side of a narrow strip of jungle. He accordingly left his +elephant and began to creep through the long dry bramble-choked grass +with his rifle in his hand. As he pushed his way through the thick +jungle he fancied he heard an animal breathing and then something +crackled. Intent on the deer before him, he concluded that he had +broken a twig or a branch with the end of his rifle and pushed on. As +he emerged from the thicket on the opposite side from where he had +entered, he came face to face with a group of shepherds. They stared at +him in amazement and then, recognising him as their Maharajah, fell at +his feet in rapturous joy. Accustomed as he was to demonstrations from +his people, their abandon struck him as something unusual, and he was +about to question them when they exclamed: “<i>Hoozoor, +Dharmabatar</i>, (Your Honor, Royal Master,) how did you come in safety +through that jungle?” He smiled at their wonderment and was about +to chide them gently when they <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1577" +href="#xd20e1577" name="xd20e1577">108</a>]</span>continued: “An +immense tiger has just slain one of our cows and dragged it into that +very jungle from which Your Honor has emerged.” The Maharajah now +understood that the sound he had heard as he pushed his way through the +jungle was the tiger enjoying a feed of his kill, and he felt thankful +that he had not stumbled directly upon it. Like the keen sportsman he +was, he signalled his elephant and, mounting it, secured the feasting +tiger with an easy shot.</p> +<p>One cold season, the Viceroy was enjoying a shoot on the +Maharajah’s estates. One evening, as they were dressing for +dinner, there came through the stillness of the restful air the +“twitter” of a tiger. Do many of my readers know what the +“twitter” of a tiger is? It is a sound the Monarch of the +Jungle makes and it is just like the twitter of a bird;—in fact, +some declare it <i>is</i> only the twitter of a bird. Well, on this +particular evening, the tiger must have been passing quite close to the +camp, for his “twitter” was clear and unmistakeable. The +Maharajah, with his usual courtesy, immediately bethought himself of +his guests, and invited Their Excellencies to come out into the open +and listen to the novel sound. They did, and very <span class= +"pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1584" href="#xd20e1584" name= +"xd20e1584">109</a>]</span>pleased and proud they were when they heard +the tiger’s “twitter” clearly and distinctly through +the gathering shade and stillness of the darkening night.</p> +<p>The shooting camps were invariably pitched on the bank of a river or +stream. One evening, two of the servants crossed the shallow stream in +front of the camp to enjoy some fishing. They found a suitable place +behind a mound and here they sat quietly watching their lines. The +afternoon hours passed swiftly and the sun was nearing the horizon when +their attention was simultaneously drawn to a sound above their heads. +Looking up, to their horror, they saw an immense tiger just above them. +One of them shivered with terror and, clutching his companion, said in +a hoarse whisper: “Our hour has come.” The other whispered +back: “Keep perfectly still and quiet.” Breathless, the two +watched the huge tiger descend the bank and pass majestically to the +edge of the water where he stopped to quench his thirst. It seemed to +the two trembling men that it took the Lord of the Jungle fully half an +hour to drink his fill. Then, as slowly and impressively, the tiger +turned from the stream and ascended the bank. When he reached the top +<span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1588" href="#xd20e1588" name= +"xd20e1588">110</a>]</span>he stood there, gazing before him either as +if admiring the scenery or contemplating a meal off one of the men. The +pair scarcely dared to breathe and wild schemes of taking to their +heels to gain the centre of the stream and swim down the river shot +through their brains. At last the tiger slowly turned away from the +river and disappeared into the forest. Then, after some time, the +frightened servants hurried across the stream back to camp, and told +the Maharajah of their terrible experience. The footprints of the +animal corroborated their story and their asseveration that they had +seen a very very big tiger.</p> +<p>During one of the shoots, the <i>shikaris</i> (native sportsmen) +brought news that a rhino had been seen in a certain jungle. The guests +were much excited and a beat was organised for the next day. The +morning dawned and all set out and were soon posted to their various +positions. The front “stop” guns were on the bank of a +river. The Maharajah was in the beating line. When about half way +through the piece of jungle he noticed that one of his brother guns +looked disappointed. He accordingly asked “What’s +up?” The guest answered that he thought that a large animal had +broken back. However <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1596" href= +"#xd20e1596" name="xd20e1596">111</a>]</span>nothing was discovered and +as it was mid-day a halt for lunch was considered desirable. A spot was +soon selected and the signal given and the lines broke up. Just as the +foremost elephants were about to kneel to permit their riders to +dismount, there arose from the “stop” elephants a cry of +“Tiger”. In the jungle, quite close to one of the +“stop” guns, a tiger was enjoying a feed of a wild pig; and +as the elephant turned to join the others, he almost trod on the tiger. +In a moment the line was re-organised, but the surprised tiger, finding +itself surrounded by foes, turned tail and ran down the bank of the +river. The stream was nearly dry and the bed was very shingly, and as +the startled tiger picked its way gingerly across the pebbles and pools +of water it looked like a stranded cat. It had not progressed very far +when a well-directed shot laid it low; and with this unexpected prize +the party sat down to lunch in excellent spirits. As rhino generally +fight shy of elephants, they did not think there was much use +continuing the beat after lunch. So they decided that they should make +tracks for home and have general shooting. General shooting means that +there is no beating line. A long <span class="pagenum">[<a id= +"xd20e1598" href="#xd20e1598" name="xd20e1598">112</a>]</span>straight +line of march is formed, and each gun elephant is in between the pad or +beating elephants. The Maharajah was almost the last gun in the line. +Nearly all were out of the jungle when his keen and practised eye +noticed a small pad elephant jib at something as they passed through a +piece of jungle. “Did your elephant refuse to come +through?” he questioned the <i>mahout</i> of the small elephant. +“Yes, Maharajah, he smelt something in the jungle,” the man +replied. “Beat this piece of jungle”, the Maharajah quickly +ordered the pad elephants with him. They beat it and drove forth a +rhino which fell dead to the Maharajah’s gun. Before His Highness +had time to take up his other rifle, a second galloped out of the +jungle and charged straight at the Maharajah’s elephant. The +elephant spun round to avoid the furious onslaught and in the meantime +the Maharajah managed to raise his gun and, getting in his shot in +spite of the gyrations of the elephant, laid out rhino No. 2 in grand +style to the applause of his companions.</p> +<p>Coming back to camp in the dusk one evening, the Maharajah, who had +wonderful eyesight, thought he saw a tiger lying still in an open +field. <span class="pagenum">[<a id="xd20e1605" href="#xd20e1605" name= +"xd20e1605">113</a>]</span>He raised his gun and whispered to his +<i>mahout</i>. As they came nearer, the tiger—for tiger it +was—raised itself to its feet and prepared to spring at the +elephant. Too late! Snap went the Maharajah’s trigger and the +royal beast lay dead.</p> +<p>These are but a few of the shooting adventures of a +sportsman-Maharajah who has gone on the long journey from life to the +greater life beyond, but whose memory lives in the annals of Bengal as +a keen and successful shot.</p> +</div> +</div> +</div> +<div class="back"> +<div class="transcribernote"> +<h2>Colophon</h2> +<h3>Availability</h3> +<p>This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at <a class="exlink" title="External link" +href="http://www.gutenberg.org/">www.gutenberg.org</a>.</p> +<p>Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Distributed Proofreading Team +from page images provided by the <a class="exlink" title= +"External link" href= +"http://www.archive.org/details/BengalDacoitsAndTigers">Million Books +Project</a>.</p> +<p>Project Gutenberg catalog page: <a class="pglink" href= +"http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/10928">10928</a>.</p> +<h3>Encoding</h3> +<h3>Revision History</h3> +<ul> +<li>2004-02-03 Added TEI tagging.</li> +<li>2010-01-16 Revisited.</li> +</ul> +<h3>External References</h3> +<p>This Project Gutenberg eBook contains external references. 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