Tara: A Mahratta Tale

by Meadows Taylor

  CHAPTER XVIII.

  Entering another small court, in which there was a stone porch formedof pillars connected by arches, supporting a dome in the shape of halfan octagon, projecting from a side-wall, which served as a privateplace of audience--Fazil passed through a farther door into one of thelarge exterior courts of the mansion, which contained an open hallcomposed of a triple row of pointed arches covering a large space.Generally, it was filled with the better classes of horse-soldiers;Silladars, or cavaliers who rode their own horses and sat there whennot on duty; also by the officers and men of the young Khan's ownguard: and occasionally was used by his father when were held greatceremonies, festivals, or rejoicings in the house.

  On the three other sides of the court were arches or cloisters,slightly raised from the ground, in which lounged or slept soldiers ofall classes, on duty or otherwise, generally collected into groups,playing at chess, or pacheese, or cards, singing, or telling stories.Just then, however, most were idle; for the lamps, which stood inniches in the centre of each arch, had not been lighted. The large hallwas nearly empty; but in one corner a group of Karkoons, or clerks, satwith a large brass lamp in the midst of them, occupied with accounts,and making fair copies of letters to be despatched by that night's post.

  All the men assembled here were strictly the retainers of the house;for the guard of troops belonging to the King had another post in adifferent court, and were comparatively few in number. Afzool Khan'shousehold force, or Paeegah, as it was called, was supported out ofroyal estates, granted or assigned for the purpose. It belongedstrictly to the royal service, but the men looked to their own lord foremployment and maintenance, followed him to the field, and were forthe most part hereditary retainers, with no claim upon, or expectationfrom, royal favour. Such was the condition and constitution of thegreater portion of native armies at the period of our tale, and such itcontinues to be in native states where troops are maintained.

  Fazil Khan was the idol of his men, both Moslems and Hindus. Hismartial exercises had begun early, and he had proved an apt scholar.Any of the men who particularly excelled in the use of a particularweapon had, in turn, the young noble for his pupil; and in all fieldaccomplishments necessary to the soldier and gentleman of thosedays, the young Khan was well skilled. No doubt these, and his dailysystematic exercises, had developed a frame always strongly knit; andhis broad deep chest, round muscular arms, and thin flanks, amplytestified strength and activity.

  On horseback with the Mahratta spear or matchlock, it was no hyperboleto say that, at full gallop, he could pick up a tent-peg driven intothe ground with the former, or shatter one at a fair distance witha bullet from the other. Such martial accomplishments never fail togain the respect and attachment of an inferior soldiery; and whento these were added a disposition open and cheerful, somewhat hastyperhaps at times, but in reality generous and affectionate,--a heartyfrank manner, which few could resist, and a countenance, not strictlyhandsome, but which expressed all this and even more,--it will not bethought strange, that the young Khan should have become a universalfavourite with his retainers, and the especial darling and idol of afew.

  Chief, perhaps, among the latter, was Bulwunt Rao Bhoslay, who heldrank in the Paeegah as Duffadar, or leader of a small "duffa," orsubdivision of men. He was a Mahratta of good, nay, originally noblefamily--a Silladar, or cavalier who maintained not only his own horsebut five others, with which, mounted by dependants of his own, he hadoriginally visited the capital and joined the service of Afzool Khan.

  Him, had the young Khan selected as his especial instructor in the useof the sword; for at the annual festivals and games before the King'spalace, Bulwunt Rao's feats of slicing betel-nut on the ground, cuttinga lime in two on the palm of a man's hand, or a ripe guava on his head,were unrivalled; and their yearly repetition was looked for by thepeople with great interest, and always rewarded by hearty acclamations.

  Bulwunt Rao was worthy of his young lord's confidence. Daring andresolute, he had already led Fazil Khan into the midst of some sharpcavalry affairs with the Moghuls, and brought him forth safe, whilehe himself had been wounded several times in protecting him fromsword-cuts. Wily, yet full of energy, if there were any necessityfor action, open and frank in his manner, he had early won his younglord's affectionate regard, which he very heartily returned, while herejoiced, with all a soldier's pride, to see him growing up as manlyand true of heart as his boyhood had promised.

  Fazil's arrival among those assembled--so suddenly, and at an hour whenhe usually withdrew to the zenana and his studies--caused no littleexcitement among the men, and they eagerly crowded round him for thenews which he might have to tell them.

  "What tidings hast thou for us, Meah Sahib?" cried a fine beardedfellow of his own tribe of Pathans, also a favourite. "May thy prestigeincrease! but there should be something by thy look,--a march againstthose zenana dogs of Moghuls, or a fray over the border againstGolconda."

  "A hunt of Moghuls!" echoed several. "What better sport, Meah? Thereare some pickings of Delhi gold to be got in their waist-bands andpockets."

  "And what has my lord for his servants to perform?" asked Bulwunt Rao,now advancing with his usual easy yet deferential manner. "Speak butthe word, and we are in our saddles directly. Shall I order the Nagarato be beaten, and cry to horse!"

  "Not so, Bulwunt," said the young man, taking him aside; "what I haveto say is for your ear alone. Come into the private court and listen."

  "For me alone, Meah?" returned Bulwunt Rao, laughing. "What brawl haveyou fallen into? whom have you slain to-day, sir?"

  "Let us all follow if ye are going out," cried several others; "don'tleave us behind."

  "We have had nothing to do for a month," added one.

  "And our swords have lost their edges, Meah," shouted several.

  "Peace, all of ye," exclaimed the young Khan; "let no one follow us.This is no fighting matter. Am I wont to plunge into street brawls,Bulwunt Rao?"

  "We were none of us with you, my lord, to-day," cried several, "and itis not safe for you to be alone in the streets in these times."

  "I had others of the King's, and was quite safe," returned Fazil; "butcome, Bulwunt, if you are fit to listen to me; I only fear that ganjapipe of yours is at fault, and your brain is hardly clear. If not, Ihad as well hold my tongue; yet I had rather trust you, old friend," hecontinued seriously, "than any other."

  Fazil's altered tone and manner had their effect upon his companion."Wait for a moment, Meah," he said, "I will join you instantly;" and sosaying, he ran quickly back to the spot where he had left his carpet,seized a brass vessel of cool water, poured some into his hand anddashed it upon his face, then swallowed several rapid and deep gulps,and returned. "Now, I am fit to listen to the words of the holy Krishnahimself if he were on earth; therefore speak on, Meah Sahib, and beholdyour servant ready to think for you, or to fight for you, as youplease!"

  "Ay, there is some soberness about you now, Bulwunt," said the youngman; "less redness about the eyes, and they are looking straight outof your head, instead of rolling about in it. Now, can I trust you notto prate of this matter before the people yonder, or over the ganjapipe----"

  "Nay, Meah, be merciful, and pardon me for once," said Bulwunt, closinghis hands and putting them up to his forehead; "the ganja has grown onme, but not to the discredit of my faithfulness, Meah; and when I smokeI never talk. Now, say on, I will be silent as death."

  Fazil proceeded some paces through the court without replying to hisretainer, and tried the garden door, but it was fastened inside. "Wemust be content here," he said. "Go, shut the door, we shall at leastbe safe from interruption."

  "In the name of all the gods, Meah," said Bulwunt Rao, as he returnedand sat down on the step of the porch beside Fazil, "what hast thou tosay to me? Why all this need of caution? Has the Wuzeer revolted, orwhat?"

  "Silence," returned Fazil, "hear me. In one word, you are aMahratta--is Tannajee Maloosray known to you?"

  The question
seemed for an instant to stun the faculties of the hearer.He passed his hand dreamily across his forehead and eyes, and, pausing,seemed to gasp. Fazil thought it might be a sudden dizziness--theconsequence of the strong narcotic he had been smoking--and was aboutto ask him, when Bulwunt Rao spoke.

  "Tannajee Maloosray! Meah? Do I know Maloosray? Ay, truly, Khan; as thewild dog and the wolf, as the wild boar and the tiger know each other,so do I know Tannajee Maloosray. The destroyer of my house, the usurperof my possessions, the plunderer of my ancestral wealth. Yes, there isa feud between us which can be washed out only by blood. Listen, Meah,"continued Bulwunt Rao, and he got up and walked rapidly to and fro:"hast thou time to hear a short story about Tannajee?"

  "Yes, speak on. I am listening."

  "I was a youth," continued Bulwunt, "younger than you are by severalyears, when Maloosray aimed his blow at my family. My father was dead;had he lived, Tannajee dared not have done it. My uncle, Govind Rao,was a timid man, looking only to the farms and to money-making while helived. At last he died also. But he left another brother, Ramdeo, whomwe loved much, and he took care of us all. My younger brother, SeetaRam--why speak of him, Meah? he would have been as beautiful as thouart--and some of the women and myself, all lived together in the oldhouse. They came at midnight, Tannajee and a band of his Mawullees. Ido not remember much, Meah; but look here;" and he took off his turbanand showed a deep scar on his shaved head. "That is what I fell from,under a blow of his sword. I don't think," he continued dreamily, "thatI have been quite right in my brain since, but it does not matter.

  "Next morning there were seven stark corpses in the house, and greatpools of blood. My uncle, my grandmother, two servants--how can I sayit?--yes, my mother and my little brother, and my mother's sister, whowas a widow. One blow of a sword had killed my brother and my mother.He was in her arms, and had clung to her. Enough; who could have donethis but Maloosray? There is not a sword in all Maharastra which couldhave struck such a blow as that was--but Maloosray's.

  "When I recovered consciousness in the morning, the women thatremained, and some servants, were wailing over the dead, but they werebarely alive from terror. Neighbours however came in, and some of ourtenants and servants, and the place was cleaned up. In the eveningthere were seven piles made near the river for the seven corpses, andthey were burned. My wound had been sewn up by the barber, and I wascarried to perform the last ceremonies, and I then swore upon theirashes to revenge them, and I will yet do it. Now, by thy father's salt,tell me what thou knowest of that villain Maloosray, and how his namecomes into thy mouth?"

  "And was nothing done for justice, Bulwunt? Was justice dead in thatcountry?" asked Fazil, deeply interested.

  "Justice!" echoed Bulwunt Rao, "justice! Ah, Meah, what can the poor dofor justice? All the wealth of the house had been plundered. Maloosrayhad brought a hundred of his brethren in that Durora, and he hadpromised them the plunder. His object was my life, but the gods sparedit, and I came here to serve the King, till--till Tannajee is dead, ortill I kill him, Meah! That is the only justice I want: that, and theland he took from me. I thought to tell thee all some day, and now Ihave said it; but, by thy soul, tell me how Maloosray's name is knownto thee, and why?"

  "Should you know him again, Bulwunt, if you saw him?" asked Fazil.

  "Know him, Meah--among a thousand--among a thousand. It is years sincewe met; but, before that quarrel with my father about the land, hecame to us often, for he was my mother's relative. He hunted large gameon our hills, when I went with him, and I was a great favourite ofhis. Most of the sword-play I know, he taught me. Know him? Yes. Thatnight I, a stripling, crossed swords with him. I had wounded one of hismen, and he heard the cry. He had been seeking for me. What could Ido, Meah, a weak boy, among a crowd of screaming women? Yet I crossedswords with him; and there are few alive who would dare to do so.Forget him? No, I should know him among a thousand. His eyes, Meah, hiseyes! Hast thou seen them?"

  "Nay, I have not seen them yet, Bulwunt; but I think I know where he isto be found," returned Fazil.

  "Here, Meah? in Beejapoor? Tannajee Maloosray in the city?"

  "Yes, here. You are always rambling about the city at night, and knowall the mudud khanas; canst thou guide me to one Rama's shop--Rama ofAshtee? It is in the great kullal's bazar, and near a Hindu temple."

  "I know it, Meah; I know it well. Rama sells the best ganja inBeejapoor. Yes, I can take you there, but not in those clothes."

  "Not now. Let the night wear on a little; they will not be there tilljust before midnight," replied Fazil; "and we have to watch the temple,too. Is there one near Rama's, with trees about it? Some people meetthere first, and then go to Rama's."

  "Yes, Meah, there is the temple of Devi, in the plain beyond, among thetamarind trees; a lonely place it is, and Byragees put up there. Yes, Iknow it."

  "Then I am right," continued Fazil, "for I saw it myself to-day. Now,as Maloosray is desperate, should we not take some picked men with us?There is Raheem Khan, and----"

  "Men?--to take Maloosray?" cried Bulwunt. "O Meah, you are simple tothink it. Maloosray will have twenty, aye fifty, spies out, and oldRama is chief of them. One soldier a coss off, and Tannajee would bewarned. But why go, Meah?" he continued, after a pause. "I will take myown men and bring him. O," cried Bulwunt, speaking through his teethand to himself, "for one good chance and a fair field with him now!"

  "No, Bulwunt, I must go; it is the King's business," returned Fazil;"besides Persian may be spoken, and you do not understand it."

  "Persian, my lord? then this is a Moghul affair?"

  "I cannot say, friend," returned Fazil; "all I have discovered is, thatMaloosray will be in the temple, or in the mudud khana, and a 'Lalla.'There is no good, I am sure, at the bottom of it, and we must find outwhat it is. We know the Moghul emissaries are busy, and it is importantto check their plots."

  "And Sivaji Bhoslay's also, Meah, they bode no good; for my peoplewrite to me that he and Tannajee have leagued together, and----; inshort, they write foolish things, sir."

  "Bhoslay? that is your family name, Bulwunt," said Fazil, musing.

  "Yes," he replied, "and we are of the same house; but he is richand I am poor. And now people tell wonderful things of him; how theMother--that is, Bhowani, speaks in him sometimes, and he prophesiesgreat events. One thing is certain, Meah, Sivaji Bhoslay is no friendto Beejapoor, nor to any Mussulman; and if Maloosray has come here forhim, it is with some object which is worth the risk to discover."

  "Then they are friends?" asked Fazil.

  "Ay, Meah, as thou and I, and nearer still. Maloosray believes Sivajito be an incarnation of the gods, and would give his life for him. So,too, many another; and the people have begun to write ballads abouthim, which are sung in Beejapoor even sometimes, and they set one'sblood dancing. No wonder the people of the wild valleys love them; wildplaces, Meah, which ye know little of as yet."

  "Yes, it is worth the risk to find out what is doing. One threadof those dark intrigues in my hand and I am not my father's son ifI do not discover more," replied Fazil; "but you said we should bedisguised."

  The Mahratta thought for a moment. "What sayest thou, Meah, to becominga Hindu for the time? I could paint the marks on thy forehead. Nay,"he continued, as he saw the young man shrink from the idea, "they willonly be very temporary 'abominations,' as the old Khan calls them, andwater will remove them when we return."

  "Good," returned Fazil. "I will suffer 'the abominations' in the causeof the Shah and the faith. And, now, begone. I will come to thee here,after the evening meal, and we can dress unobserved. But swear on myneck, Bulwunt, no more ganja to-night."

  "No, no, Meah," returned the man, laughing, and touching his younglord's neck and feet; "I swear I will not touch it. We both need coolheads for this work, and I will not fail you."

  "Then go," added Fazil. "I will send Goolab to you when I am ready."