Tara: A Mahratta Tale

by Meadows Taylor

  CHAPTER XLII.

  The great Hall of Audience in the Citadel was only used on stateoccasions of ceremony. It formed part of the oldest division of theroyal residence, and was built, as report had it, after a model inTurkey or Persia, in both of which countries the founder of thedynasty, Ibrahim Adil Shah, had resided. But as no such model is knownto exist, it is more probable that one of the Turkish architects whomhe had invited to his camp, and to whose Europeanized skill and tastemost of the noble Saracenic Gothic buildings of the city owed theirorigin, had designed and executed the whole under the direction of hismunificent patron.

  The "Ark," or Citadel of Beejapoor, is a fortress in itself, and thearea is surrounded by a beautiful stone wall, having heavy bastions atintervals, and a fausse braye, also with bastions; both being protectedby a broad wet ditch. The main entrance is by a causeway, defended bya gateway, flanked by bastions of great strength. The whole of theinterior was laid out in palaces, under various denominations, andpublic buildings, such as the courts of civil and criminal justice, thetreasury, the military and revenue record offices, and the like, andthe great Hall of Audience, which now concerns us.

  A broad road from the second gateway led nearly through the centre ofthe Citadel, as you entered, to the Maidan, or plain of exercise. ThePalace of the Seven Stories, and the buildings connected with it, layon the left hand, and the "Sunget Mahal," or Palace of Assembly, withother heavy blocks of building, public and private, to the right. Allthese palaces, at the time of which we write, were interspersed withcourts and gardens; but the space before the great Hall, called theMaidan or Plain, was kept exclusively for the assembly, inspection,or exercise of royal troops on particular occasions, and also as thewaiting-place of the "sowarees," or retinues, which attended those whovisited the palace on ordinary business.

  The hall itself was a very noble building. It stood upon a lowbasement, beneath which were crypts, probably used for archives, oras magazines; and was entered by flights of steps, which led intocorridors at each side. The front was entirely open, consisting of oneimmense Gothic arch, ninety-two feet in span, and of proportionateheight, and of two narrow lancet-shaped arches of corresponding height,one on each side, which opened on the side corridors.

  The interior consisted of one immense room, unbroken to the roof; butupon its south side, and partially also east and west, there wereprojections built upon cloisters, which contained rooms and galleries;especially to the south, where there was a closed latticed balcony,where the ladies of the court might sit and look on at ceremonies ofreception or rejoicing, and where the King might receive the petitionsor salutations of the people without inconvenience. Above thesegalleries and balconies was another story, with open turrets at thecorners, and suites of apartments above. As the building stands now, amere shell, bereft of roof and floors, and with all, except its noblearches and cloisters, crumbling gradually to decay, it is a noble andimpressive structure, and enough remains to estimate what it must havebeen when perfect.

  A busy and interesting scene it was, even to those concerned. Aseach "sowaree" arrived at the entrance steps, it was met by a numberof "chobdars," and mirdhas, or attendants, bearing massive gold andsilver sticks, or clubs covered with chased silver or gold; dressedexclusively in white muslin, wearing small circular turbans, flattenedout at the sides, muslin tunics, tight to the waist, and descendingthence in thickly-gathered robes to the feet, which gave them theappearance of petticoats. These men attended officers of higher rank,who were, in fact, chamberlains, and whose duty it was to conductthe various visitors to the presence of the King, to proclaim aloudtheir titles, and to marshal them to their seats. Without, the royalAbyssinian and Dekhani guards prevented violence among their retainers.

  Once the broad corridor at either side was reached by the visitorsthere was no further interruption; and though the war of struggle,gibe, and quarrel, peculiar to such an assembly, came hoarsely andwith a stifled sound through the arches into the hall:--within, therewas a decorous, if not, indeed, a solemn and impressive silence. Menspoke to each other hardly above their breath; and the soft murmurarising from thousands of such half whispers ascended and seemed tofloat tremblingly among the balconies, and up to the lofty roof of thebuilding.

  The King had early taken his seat. The musnud, or royal throne, wasunder the centre of the balcony before mentioned, upon a dais, raiseda step above the general floor of the hall. There was no decorationvisible upon it; and it consisted of a wide cushion and pillows,covered with white muslin, supported at the back and sides by a railingof wood, covered with plates of gold which, indeed, appeared as if ofsolid gold. On the right hand of the King, who was dressed in simplewhite muslin, with a single gold ornament in his turban, sat the PeerBundagee Sahib, the religious instructor we have before mentioned; andat the back of the rail the Secretary, with two young nobles, whosehereditary office it was to wave over the King the jewelled Morchas, orfans of peacock feathers.

  Farther again behind, among the arches, closing up the entrance to thecloisters, and leaning against the pillars, were servants bearing theKing's weapons, the Aftabgeeree, or sun-shades, the royal umbrellas,and the private guard of slaves, mostly Nubian eunuchs.

  Like the monarch's seat, the whole of the floor was covered by quiltedcotton carpets, over which white muslin was spread; so that, with theexception of here and there a coloured scarf or waist-belt, and anoccasional turban ornament, the whole of the persons seated wore thesame character of dress as the King, with little variation. In somerespects the assembly had a monotonous appearance; but, on the otherhand, the effect was chaste and solemn, and agreed with the plainundecorated character of the building.

  The privileged attendants, however, who were allowed entrance withtheir masters, and who stood in files behind them against the wall,were dressed in the brightest and gayest colours which could bedevised. Here were tunics of satin and cloth-of-gold, brocaded turbansand scarfs of the richest materials, mingled together in the greatestprofusion; and this brilliant array, in which all hues seemed to blendwith a strangely gorgeous harmony, formed a powerful background inrelief of the white dresses, and white coverings of the floor.

  Then beyond, the eye followed the graceful outline of the vast archagainst a deep blue sky, flecked with light clouds. Below, it restedupon the plain, where, in the quivering heat, which gave a tremulousmovement to the atmosphere, stood the serried masses of royal troopsand sowarees, comparisoned elephants and led horses, litters and theirbearers--all in the glowing colours which we have already seen from theQueen's balcony; and with bright arms and armour, which flashed andglinted in a thousand sparkles as the wearers moved.

  The Secretary and the Peer had noted, carefully and jealously, thenames of the several nobles and sirdars as they were announced by themirdhas in attendance--presented their customary nuzzurs or offerings,according to their rank, and were conducted to their places; andevery now and then one or other whispered to the King, as neutralor suspected persons passed, or when the appearance of a well-knownloyal friend gave assurance of support. Still Afzool Khan's place wasvacant, and that of the Wuzeer. It was true the latter could not yet beexpected, but his son might at least be present; and the double absencecast a gloom over the King's face, which he could barely conceal.

  "I had counted upon Afzool Khan and his son Fazil," said the King,mournfully, to the Peer, "but you see they have not come. We might notexpect Kowas Khan without his father; but I had thought Afzool Khanamong the truest of my people--what think ye?"

  The Peer could give but little consolation. He, too, had expected theKhan, and had had no doubts of his fidelity; so also the Secretary; buthis unaccountable absence disturbed them both.

  Just then the lady Lurlee's escort, entering the open space, wheeled upamong other troops, and the leader, Raheem Khan, dashed at speed to thefoot of the basement, made his reverence to the King, and followed hismen to the position they had taken up.

  "Ah," cried the Peer, joyfully, to the King, "those are Afzo
ol Khan's'sowaree'; the old Khan and his son are not far off now, Shookr-Oolla;"and he looked anxiously to the side entrance, in the hope of seeing himadvance with his son from the archway in the corridor. Others came on,but neither appeared.

  "What hinders Afzool Khan?" said the Secretary to the Peer, after awhile; "who is detaining him?"

  "Send and inquire," said the King.

  "Go," said the Peer to a mirdha in attendance, "and see if Afzool Khanbe in the corridor; if not, go to his officer and inquire where heis,--not as if our Prince had asked, but from me." The King, to whomthe man looked for orders, nodded assent, and he departed and returnedspeedily.

  "I examined both corridors, and he was not in either, Huzrut," he saidto the holy man, "so I went to Raheem Khan, who tells me he has comewith the Khanum;" and here his voice dropped almost to a whisper,"that Afzool Khan hath been at the Kotwal's, at Jehandar Beg's, sincemorning, and it is particular business, as both he and his son havebeen in private consultation with him since sunrise."

  The King had leaned over the rail to hear the detail, but he had notnoticed the first part of the message; and as the man receded among theattendants behind, looked from one to the other of his friends, butcould gather no consolation from their faces.

  "It is but too true, my lord," said the Secretary sadly; "we need notexpect them; for the Wuzeer's son, with a heavy body of horse andfoot, has just gone to the Kotwallee--he was seen with them not longago passing the fort gate. Jehandar Beg is not come, and it is clear tome that they have garrisoned the Kotwallee, and will defend it till theWuzeer arrives, when they will declare revolt. Sending a party here isbut a blind."

  "And who are here to check it?" asked the King apprehensively.

  "Many, my lord," replied the Peer earnestly; "all the Dekhanies are mydisciples, and I will answer for them to a man. All the artillery arewith them. Fear not."

  The King looked inquiringly to his Secretary.

  "Yes, my Prince," he said, "fear not: we cannot wait for them; nothinggood ever came of vacillation or expediency. Bismilla! shall I ordersilence?"

  "Bismilla-ir-rahman-ir-raheem!" exclaimed the King devoutly, lookingup. "I am ready. Order silence," he said to one of the mirdhas.

  "Khamosh! silence!" cried the man in a loud, deep voice, which rangthrough the hall, and sounded strangely, interrupting the loosemurmuring chat which had prevailed before--"Khamosh!"

  "Khamosh!" was reiterated by all the mirdhas and chobdars stationedabout the hall, and by the attendants behind, and was taken up bythose in the corridors, spreading to the crowd without, and to thetroops--"Khamosh!"

  The silence that ensued was almost oppressive. In the hall itself,after the men had once more settled themselves in their seats, therewas not a sound or murmur. The struggles and gibes without ceased,and even the troops were still, save where a neigh, or the rattle ofcaparisons, as horses tossed their heads or champed their bits, brokethe stillness; or an elephant, clashing his bells, and being admonishedby his driver, lifted his trunk, and gave a short scream.

  It was the Secretary's office to open the business of the day, and justas he was about to speak, the chief of the eunuchs entered, bearingthe Queen's billet, and kneeling down behind the rail, while he spokeaside, covering his mouth, said to the King hastily--

  "It is a matter of life or death. If Afzool Khan hath any favour inyour eyes, O King, save him! there may be time."

  "This is some trick on thee, Daood," said the King sneeringly; "we knowwhere he is, and how employed. He is ours no longer, and hath left usof his own free will."

  "His wife and daughter are with the Begum Sahiba. Read that, and youwill know why," answered the man firmly.

  "Can it be true?" asked the King of the Peer, opening the note."Ya Khubeer, O!" he continued, after a pause: "this is wonderful!wonderful! O friends! and yet we had suspected our noble friend. But heis true; see, here is our royal signet to this; no doubt, no doubt."

  "What is it?" cried both the Peer and the Secretary in a breath, seeingthe King much excited.

  "Afzool Khan and his son are imprisoned at the Kotwallee, and preventedfrom attending. They must be brought instantly."

  "Imprisoned?" cried both together.

  "Yes, friends," continued the King, "there is treachery in this, forJehandar Beg and the Wuzeer are one, it is clear now, and we must actat once. Ismail Khan," continued he firmly, to an officer who stoodbehind him clothed in a shirt of mail, "go thou with two hundred ofthe royal guard, and some of the mirdhas, bring Jehandar Beg to thepresence, and with him Afzool Khan and his son."

  "I beg to petition," said the eunuch, "that some of Afzool Khan'sPaigah are here, who came with their mistress; they might as well go,if I might send them."

  "Of course," replied the King, "why not send the whole Paigah?"

  "Excellent," said the Peer; "take what are here with thee, Ismail Khan,at once, and send for the rest. Raheem Khan will not fail thee."

  "I am gone, my lord, and will take him with me; he is my son-in-law."

  "Ah, I had forgotten. Go; fear not; bring them safely and quickly,friend, for we have much need of their presence."

  "Ya Ulla Kureem!" said the Peer devoutly, looking up, "this is thydoing. O, dear old friend! thou art not gone from among us as we hadfeared. Bismilla, let us proceed! first with these letters of Sivaji's,then with the rest. Afzool Khan will be here by that time, and thepeople will rise to his call as a man. Inshalla! your poor servant,too, will do his best. Let silence be called again."

  It was necessary: for the entrance of the eunuch, the delivery of thenote, followed as they were by the withdrawal of Afzool Khan's men,and some of the royal guard, had excited no little curiosity in theassembly. Afzool Khan's absence had been regretted by some, rejoicedin by others, but noticed by all; and now that his men were sent away,the speculations that ensued were various as to the cause; and whilesome feared disclosures, others already rejoiced in the prospect of hispossible disgrace.

  "Khamosh!" again was cried by the same voice, which rungclearly above the buzz of conversation, and was taken up asbefore--"Khamosh--silence!"