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 MAR 4 T!83 
 
 L161— O-1096
 
 RUSTUM KHAN; 
 
 FOURTEEN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENT 
 
 THE SHAH BHAG, 
 
 ROYAL GARDENS AT AHMEDABAD. 
 
 BY 
 
 THOMAS HENRY OTTLEY, Lieut. H.C.S. 
 
 The passions in the human mind are still the same ; 
 Go ! seek then where you will, you'll find but man. 
 In what do Afric's tawny sons, or Persia's slaves, 
 Or Asia's endkss multitude of castes and men, 
 DiB'er from ourselves? But in the form of character. 
 Which reason, acted on by education, custom. 
 Climate and religion, bids anger, hate, revenge, 
 Aye, e'en the kinder feelings, when indulged, assume." 
 
 Translation of a paper found in a Mosque at Bejapoor 
 
 IN THREE VOLUMES. 
 
 VOL. I. 
 LONDON : 
 
 PUBLLSHED FOR THE AU^THOIJ, 
 BY W, SAMS, BOOKSELLER TO HIS MAJESTY 
 
 1, ST. James's street. 
 183L
 
 Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2009 with funding from 
 
 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/rustumkhanorfour01ottl
 
 
 v./ 
 
 LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. 
 
 THEIR MAJESTIES 
 
 Have graciously condescended to honor tlie Author, in be- 
 
 comiuff Subscribers. 
 
 s 
 
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 Yanington, William, Esq., Swaffham
 
 PREFACE, 
 
 After a distribution of some hundreds 
 of prospectuses, and several advertise- 
 ments in the papers, doubtless '' Rustum 
 Khan/' cannot have failed to excite, in 
 some measure, the curiosity and specula- 
 tion of those, before whom it is now placed 
 for perusal. Of its merits as a production 
 of literature, it does not become the Au- 
 thor to say a single word, but in vindica- 
 tion of its faults he may ; for where is that 
 tame individual who would not rise with 
 energy in his own behalf. At all events, I 
 am not one of the slumbering class, either 
 supinely inert, or too retiring : for these 
 are qualifications little according with the 
 grasping nature of the times, and wholly 
 unable to cope with the exigencies of 
 
 A
 
 11 PREFACE. 
 
 the moment. Before I enter into an elu- 
 cidation of the nature and intention of the 
 work^ which, doubtless, my readers will 
 thank me for having explained to them, 
 I would give a brief history of what has 
 induced the madness, which leads a subal- 
 tern, in '^ these piping times of peace," when 
 scaling ladders are in stores, from want of 
 other employment, to place his foot upon 
 the nearest and most insignificant step of 
 that very dangerous one, which leads you, 
 at once^ to the top of the w^all of the critic's 
 fortress. As far as the very summit, I 
 know^ you are permitted to mount, as if 
 imperceptibly, only to ensure you a severer 
 fall, when, in placing your leg confidently 
 over the breast work, a kind friend gives 
 you a lift the wrong way : and thus far in 
 the secret, I should not like to be taken 
 by surprise , and would, in offering a thou- 
 sand pages for public scrutiny, beg those 
 who w^ould exercise such authority, to con- 
 sider what I say, and be just and generous. 
 Few who exercise the pen can also wield 
 the sword ; and as I, who am more apt at
 
 PREFACE. Ill 
 
 the latter than the former, would be happy 
 to overlook their unguarded posture, if 
 opposed to me, is it unfair to ask them 
 to deal with me by my own measure ? 
 
 Having been gazing (until the sounds of 
 music became more familiar than pleasing 
 to my ear) upon the small crowd around 
 the regimental band, which was playing 
 close to my bungalow, at a frontier station, 
 were a paucity of European residents, ren- 
 dered each and every one a person of some 
 importance, or a matter of disgust to others, 
 in proportion as his conduct in society 
 was of a lively or repulsive character, — 
 I threw myself back in my arm-chair, in 
 my porch, and there enjoyed a cigar, 
 whilst my eye scanned the hills in the dis- 
 tance, which were now, in September, clad 
 with the brightest verdure, and most luxu- 
 riant foliage. The fort of Sattarah, up- 
 reared itself before me ; the main bastion, 
 built out from the natural escarpment, 
 which is the bulwark of this place of 
 strength,— bade my thoughts revert to war,— 
 a2
 
 IV PREFACE. 
 
 the tiled roof of what is now termed the 
 palace, sheltered with lofty trees, but which 
 was, formerly, the prison of the Rajah of 
 this place, when the power of an usurper 
 was universally acknowledged by all, but 
 those whose forces could control it, con- 
 vinced me, how uncertain our lot is in this 
 world, as the former captive now reigns, 
 having shaken off his fetters, whilst his 
 oppressor, by the watchful scrutiny of a 
 well-organized guard, is limited in his wan- 
 derings as much as in his freedom. 
 
 Lost in a train of thought, idle in my 
 ideas, and courting the most luxurious 
 posture of quiet, I was soon lost to all be- 
 fore me, and, doubtless, had my servants 
 been near at hand, they might have heard 
 those rude murmurs which accompany a 
 sound repose, and are generally rewarded 
 by the school-boy, whose slumbers are 
 thus disturbed by a school-fellow, with the 
 unceremonious intrusion of a candle into 
 the mouth of the offender. My dreams I 
 cannot recollect ; for before I had sufficient
 
 PREFACE. V 
 
 time allowed me to condense the fliglity 
 phantoms and imagmary landscape into a 
 picture, the sudden crack of a hunting- 
 whip, accompanied with '' Yoicks, yoicks," 
 aroused me, at a moment's notice, to feel 
 the smart which the lengthened thong 
 of this formidable persuader had, in passing 
 across my legs, left behind it. I seized 
 one of the goblets of water which was 
 cooling close by, enveloped with strawy 
 and hurled it at the retreating offender ; 
 but like a rabbit in a wood, whose mo- 
 mentary spring across the pathway defies 
 the activity or prowess of the sportsman, 
 to give effect to his aim, whilst the in- 
 tended prey is before him, he clapped 
 spurs to his horse, cleared the roadway, 
 plunged among the guava trees, which 
 formed an avenue up to my house, was 
 lost to my sight, and the inoffensive mis- 
 sile fell to the ground, and was broken in 
 pieces. 
 
 The band having in the meantime been 
 marched to the lines, the company had
 
 VI PREFACE. 
 
 dispersed, and were now again seen cross- 
 ing the brigade parade ground, on their 
 return, after an airing, as is the custom. 
 The ladies in their monchiels, the dons in 
 their vehicles, the subs on their horses, 
 now leaping a ditch, now charging a 
 friend, or now putting a host of female 
 attendants, in charge of the rising gene- 
 ration, to flight, in their hurry after a 
 Pariah dog, whose sagacity and speed de- 
 fies even the prowess of my old friend W., 
 whose well known accomplishments of 
 making a lame horse go, and bringing a 
 wild hog to bay, are the theme of ad- 
 miration. And now starts Dick of Derby 
 on his new purchase, whose trembling 
 limbs, he being an invalided charger, can 
 scarce, at the first onset, lengthen out a 
 foot, against that raw-boned poney of the 
 ensign's, celebrated for pulling up and fix- 
 ing himself at a halt, whether the rider 
 desires it or no. '' Well done, Dick," for 
 he decidedly had the best of it, was just 
 bursting into utterance, when one of his 
 Highnesses elephants coming in sight, away
 
 PREFACE. Vll 
 
 he started, and left me to conjecture when 
 and how he would return. '' Luckily you 
 pulled up, Long Jack," I exclaimed, as I 
 saw a certain well known tandem, only 
 carrying four, making the best of its way 
 to the bed of a nullah, which bounds the 
 parade ground upon its farthest extre- 
 mity, having quitted the high road at the 
 pleasure of the horses, and already within 
 a stone's throw of the threatened danger. 
 Aye, aye, colonel, thought I, you are a 
 little older than that colt you are mounted 
 on ; look out, for he does not seem to ad- 
 mire the palanquin coming towards you. 
 At this moment, the brigade major took 
 off his hat, as he approached the com- 
 mandant, to give him a friendly recogni- 
 tion, — waved it, — round goes the charger,— 
 the compliment, like many others, though 
 well intended, fails in its intention, — and to 
 my horror the colonel is prostrated. The 
 whole scene now gathers into one spot ; 
 some express their sorrow, others cannot 
 dissemble sufficient, for I am sure that is 
 the smile of satisfaction I see upon the 
 countenances of the two to the right;
 
 Vm PREFACE. 
 
 aye, let me see, so they are the very two 
 who got the reprimand for hunting a fox 
 into a well, and thereby polluting it in the 
 eyes of the natives. God bless me, here 
 comes a palanquin. I suppose the old 
 boy's leg is broken ; but no, it can't be 
 though, for his favorite horsekeeper is, 
 as usual, giving him a lift into his sad- 
 dle, as his rotundity spoils his activity. 
 God preserve me, how furious he looks, 
 spurring hard and reining in at the same 
 time, whilst holding by the mane, and roll- 
 ing in his saddle like a ship at sea : — ^^ Good 
 for the education and mouth of a young 
 horse, is it not?" I exclaimed, —turned round 
 for an answer, — but no one was near me. 
 How provoking ! 
 
 " Qui, hi," I roared out. '' Qui, hi, 
 Hurumz adehs. Koee ne, is there no- 
 body in attendance whatever. Qui, hi, boy, 
 Itherow, come here, for here they come in 
 a crowd." " Did master call," said my ser- 
 vant. " Yes, I did, Mahommed." '' Not 
 at home, gone to S. — No, went out on 
 horseback two hours ago, not returned.
 
 PREFACE. IX 
 
 If they want brandy and water, or beer, 
 and cigars, I have got the key, you know, 
 and I do not care if you abuse me a little 
 for having it. — No, no, can't afford it 
 any longer, might as well keep a tavern, 
 as regards the quantity drank in my house 
 without its advantages, that of immediate 
 payment." Now came a roar, '' Long 
 Tom, where are you, lumbo,* we are 
 thirsty." '' Here, Mahommed," said a 
 third, " Where's your master ? — " Out at 
 Lieutenant G.'s." — " No," said the querist, 
 '' he is not, I have just been there." Try 
 him upon the other tack, thought I, as I 
 was peeping through the Venetians of my 
 bedroom. " He has been out these two 
 hours upon horseback, Saheb." — "Why how 
 can that be, I saw all his horses walking- 
 out." Then shut your eyes in future, thought 
 I, or may the opthalmia deaden your sight. 
 " No, no, Mahommed," said this knowing 
 sub. ; " your beard must grow a little longer 
 before you can take us in. We'll in." Here 
 
 * Lumbo — A familiar term of salutation used towards 
 
 r. 
 3* 
 
 A3 
 
 the author, meaning — long.
 
 X PREFACE. 
 
 they all dismounted, and demanded some 
 cigars and grog. " This/' said my servant, 
 " you cannot have ; for master has, of late, 
 got so much of the miser, as to carry his 
 keys with him." — " That won't do, old fel- 
 low ; out with them at once," said a noisy 
 griffin, '' or trust me we will find them. 
 Now let us begin to spend the evening. 
 Here let us order our horses home, and 
 wait until master comes." '' No, no ; let us 
 look about for him, for you see his book 
 is open here, and you may depend upon it 
 our appearance scared him, like W.'s at- 
 tention to the colonel, oh, what fun ! did 
 to his horse :" and he led the way to 
 the bedroom. '' Here he is : holloa, old 
 boy, how are you ? What, ashamed to see 
 your friends ? How's the fever ? what says 
 old Pills? — more calomel and less Hodg- 
 son ? Oh ! never mind ; we'll take the 
 latter, you the former," and a burst of 
 laughter ushered in the host. Ere long 
 I was president : some took tea, for which 
 they were properly quizzed ; others wine 
 and water, which was proclaimed a sorry
 
 PREFACE. XI 
 
 mixture; whilst the far greater portion 
 of the self-invited guests now filled their 
 glasses with brandy and water, and emptied 
 them in a moment after. The whole room 
 was in a cloud of smoke, as thick and 
 heavy as I might expect my bill to be, at 
 the end of the month. This, however, did 
 not in any wise disturb my usually serene 
 disposition ; although every ten minutes 
 brought anotlier locust, in the shape of a 
 jolly sub., whom neither the certainty of 
 death, nor the dread of fever, could limit 
 in his potations of grog, and uncompro- 
 mising habit of smoking. Conversation 
 now began to grow most lively ; in fact, 
 increased in proportion to the liquor swal- 
 lowed, as is the case always at a dmner 
 party ; and how far the evening would have 
 gone to increase my expences I know not, 
 had it not occurred that an opportune fire 
 in the regimental lines set the drum going. 
 The long roll burst unceremoniously upon 
 our hearing; and who could delay, without 
 the chance of a reprimand ? Many were 
 fearful of being distinguished in orders
 
 Xll PREFACE. 
 
 with an appropriate eulogy ; others were 
 more inured to such compliments, and 
 threatened to remain ; but upon these cu- 
 riosity acted, and I soon had my room to 
 myself, as, being in sick quarters, I could add 
 a " non sequitur" to the imperative calling 
 of that melodious instrument of martial 
 music. 
 
 It was not long ere the adjutant of the 
 regiment came up to inform me how many 
 muskets had been destroyed. Being some- 
 what communicative, although an absent 
 man, he endeavoured to picture to me the 
 results of the fire, in the confusion and 
 hurry it occasioned; but his mind, bent 
 upon many subjects at once, and not clearly 
 understanding any, it was too confused a 
 narrative to be embodied here. The most 
 forcible thought which came to his recol- 
 lection, was the absence of a Manilla from 
 his mouth ; he, therefore, seized the box 
 left by the late visitors at one angle of the 
 table, made a choice, threw his legs upon 
 the green baize, and puffed a cloud.
 
 PREFACE. XIU 
 
 '' What did you do/' said I, '' at the 
 meeting of the members of the Union Hog 
 Hunt ? Any more receders, or have they 
 fixed upon a field day ? and if so, when and 
 where, that I may be out of sick quarters 
 in time. It's very salutary, you know, a 
 change of air ; is it not ? and old Pills, 
 doubtless, when I have succeeded in get- 
 ting a little carnation at the tip of his nose 
 with Neufchatel, or, I may treat him with 
 Carbonel on such an occasion, may be 
 outwitted ; at all hazards I must try." 
 
 " True, and so do," said my friend ; 
 " and, by way of a help, for I am always 
 the adjutant in what I do, recollect I would 
 advise you to have him to an evening party, 
 for he loves, when he has not to pay for it, 
 a cup of good coffee. Besides, you can 
 then gradually introduce the subject ; and 
 Pills is a droll one in truth, and not so 
 easily played upon. By heavens, the Hog 
 Hunt is upon its last legs. Such bicker- 
 ing as there was this morning ; it almost 
 threatened to kindle up into a duel. This
 
 XIV PREFACE. 
 
 man left, and the other dissuaded ; one 
 swore, and the other joked ; another was 
 for a field day ; whilst the treasurer de- 
 clared the funds to be insolvent, Paddy 
 was for making them do ; but this was 
 impracticable, as the balance of the credit 
 side exhibited a debt. Droll enough, you'll 
 say; but so it was. As for seceders, they 
 thickened upon us. There was old What's- 
 his-name ; he said he was no huntsman. 
 Old Scrupulous found his means insuffi- 
 cient to advance six shillings a month. 
 Old Selfish did not see why he should be 
 called upon to furnish sport for others, 
 when his duties hardly admitted of his 
 ever leaving camp. In fine, there is no 
 hope of continuing it, unless done regi- 
 mentally. And then, again, the Cricket 
 Club ; it is also on the decline : so many 
 have been unjustly bowled out, or the sides 
 are so unequal, and the weather so hot ; 
 that it must, like the rest of our amuse- 
 ments, sink into disrepute. The bats and 
 balls are also worn out, the brigade parade 
 ground must not be cut up, the finances
 
 PREFACE. XV 
 
 are at the lowest ebb, and doubtless, ere 
 long, we shall require new wickets. Who 
 can stop, says one, a ball bowled by the 
 adjutant? or who is to run after one struck 
 by the quarter-master ? and who likes to 
 interpose himself as a stop to what, if it 
 strikes him, may fracture a limb ? No, 
 Tom, it is all up now ; we must take to 
 gardening or pigeon-shooting, or depend 
 upon the accidental cropping and docking 
 of a raw pony for amusement. As for the 
 library, it never can boast of a new publi- 
 cation ; and the Bengal Hurkaru, the only 
 paper worth reading, is voted to be dis- 
 continued, because here, again, it can't be 
 afforded. There is not a single pair of 
 boxing gloves in camp ; and as for my foils, 
 the only ones within a circuit of three 
 hundred miles, they have been so often 
 mended, that the armourer declares he can 
 weld them no more." Here he paused, 
 and relit his cigar. " Well," said I, " then 
 old Pills gets none of my generous liquor ; 
 for, in this case, sick quarters are the best 
 that can be inhabited. I am not, believe
 
 XVI PREFACE. 
 
 me, over anxious to march round, and sa- 
 lute the commanding officer every day in 
 the week, to the tune of the British Grena- 
 diers, and the Quick March, in that old 
 fusty piece the Battle of Prague. No, 
 never, for it only leads to a day's drill at 
 the sword exercise in the mess-room, for 
 a bad salute, or elicits a grin of disgust 
 from the bystanders. Wait ; a thought 
 strikes me ; I'll write a novel ! Let me see, 
 what shall it be — Zenghis, the beloved; 
 no, that's effeminate : the warlike ; no, 
 that's to unpromising : neither will do. 
 Eastern love, or the manners of the age 
 we live in, — " 
 
 " We starve in — you should say, old 
 boy," said my guest. " What with clipping 
 and cutting, we shall soon know starva- 
 tion, believe me. Why, last month, my 
 mess bill was twice my pay ; and if Bal- 
 lumjee had not softened down his refusal 
 to lend me 2000 rupees, into the loan of 
 500, my servants would have lived upon 
 air, unless their credit exceeds their mas-
 
 PREFACE. XVll 
 
 ter's in the bazaar. But a novel ! Yoicks, 
 a novel !" and he drew back his legs, again 
 extended them, upset the plated branch 
 candlesticks, broke the shades, (which, by 
 the bye, were not paid for) and, throwing 
 his chair off its balance, fell back, sweeping 
 with his arm, cigars, tumbler, and all, upon 
 the floor, where he remained in a fit of 
 laughter, repeating '' a novel ! a novel !" 
 over and over again, unable to rise, and 
 unwilling to attempt it. 
 
 "What the deuce ails you, man?" I 
 exclaimed, as I relit the candles, which 
 Mahommed in vain attempted. " Get up, 
 confound you ! or I swear I'll douse the 
 coujah* of water over you. What is there 
 so very wonderful in writing a novel, that, 
 even at the very mention of it, you break 
 every thing within your reach, except your 
 thick, invulnerable head, which I suppose 
 I shall have to do for you in the end. 
 Now, get up at once." 
 
 Coujah. — A vessel for cooling water in.
 
 XVlll PREFACE. 
 
 '^ No, not a bit of me. A novel ! a novel ! 
 Well may I be surprised when I hear you 
 assert such a thing. Why, the critics, 
 man, would have — but wait till I am on 
 my legs again, the posture most adapted to 
 an orator. The critics, I say, would have 
 such a dish to feed off, as seldom, if ever, 
 fell to their lot before. Why, Tom, they'd 
 cut you up right and left, with ' Here's a 
 sentence for you ;' then they would make 
 a quotation, ending their remarks with 
 ' pack of nonsense ; not a single thought, 
 either expressed or understood.' " 
 
 '^ All very true, Mr. Adjutant," I re- 
 joined ; '' but I cannot help that, and shall 
 be only very glad if I can contribute to 
 some of the monthly magazines, in fur- 
 nishing the editor a handle to lay hold of. 
 What can exceed a good stiff, well-written 
 critique, such as the one you shewed me 
 the other day ? It helps an author on in 
 correcting his style. But, joking apart, I 
 shall make the attempt : so, here goes. 
 Mahommed, sheaey cullum kargus," and
 
 PREFACE. XiX 
 
 pens, ink, and paper, were instantly pro- 
 duced by my servant. *' But now," I 
 continued, "joking apart, what is your 
 opinion? Does not this country offer some 
 novelty, for an English reader to be amused 
 with?" 
 
 " That it does, old boy ; but can you 
 describe it in a manner suitable and 
 appropriate? There is style wanting, you 
 know, to keep up with the advancement of 
 literature; your buts, althoughs, and ifs, 
 must not be too numerous, but the whole 
 narrative present a chain of communicative 
 language, without any clumsy links being 
 apparent; to which I would liken a suc- 
 cession of broken phrases, and endless 
 string of parenthesis." 
 
 " All this I am fully aware of, and will 
 try to avoid. If I fail the first time, per- 
 haps the second may succeed." 
 
 " True," rejoined my guest. " That 
 much new information may be granted.
 
 XX PREFACE. 
 
 who can deny? For instance, if I was 
 relating in London, to a party of fire-side 
 travellers, that I rode out to a pic-nic, in 
 Bill's Nibs, they would stare at the ex- 
 pression, and could not get on without 
 explanation. Again, if I said the coolie 
 brought this, and my begarrie that, or my 
 ghorawallah led my horse to the door, 
 which, from custom, I, doubtless, in my 
 relations, should name them as, why, I must 
 set to, to unravel the mystery, and perhaps, 
 being an absent man, forget what I had to 
 say; which makes the person look very 
 foolish, when the company is all anxiety, 
 and the feigned cough is a delay insuffi- 
 cient to recal the intended story to recol- 
 lection. Upon these grounds, I think, 
 Tom, you had better make the attempt, 
 as it will save me trouble on my return 
 home ; for if any of my friends pester me, 
 I shall have a book to refer them to." 
 
 " And so I will, believe me," I replied. " So 
 here goes. — ' It was on a stormy night,' — 
 No that won't do ; what have you written ?"
 
 PREFACE. XXI 
 
 " ' Drenched with rain.' Quite a simi- 
 larity of ideas, a kind of sequitur to what 
 you have ; so whilst you are at the first, I can 
 manage the second volume." "Fire away 
 then," I continued. " A weary traveller 
 having ascended a mountain pass/' "and 
 whose garments were thoroughly soaked," he 
 added, saying, — " There's another palpable 
 hit. Oh, Sir, it will do. Trust me for the 
 third volume. Was seen toiling slowly" — 
 " His horse fatigued," I read aloud, " as well 
 as himself," my friend repeated ; " and only 
 persevere, Tom, the thing will do, I see." 
 Here he swallowed his grog, called his horse- 
 keeper, roared out " The novel — here goes 
 — on a stormy night — what is it — will do 
 any thing in my power to assist you — only 
 command me — good night," and off he went. 
 
 And thus commenced the present under- 
 taking, although my friend has not made 
 any such felicitous hits, since I recom- 
 menced with the intention of publishing 
 my ideas, as characterized the evening in 
 India which I have described.
 
 XXll PREFACE. 
 
 My return to England, gave my friend 
 the adjutant's arguments additional value. 
 I found that few indeed, comparatively 
 speaking, were at all acquainted with what 
 an Indian life developes, and that in the 
 course of common conversation, so much 
 explanation is necessary, that I was in- 
 duced to believe, what I could present 
 might be of some value. I have no pre- 
 tension to any thing but a patient perusal, 
 and let my reader, in following my de- 
 scriptions of scenes, draw his own conclu- 
 sions from them, bearing in mind, that 
 each particular one is intended to describe 
 some one of the emotions of the human 
 mind, as they exist in the native of India, 
 where education, and society of a nature 
 suitable to temper a dread of revenge, or 
 restrain the hand of passion, have been 
 wanting, and where force usurped the 
 place of justice, and '^ might was right," in 
 the days in which the Mahommedan hero's 
 adventures occurred. 
 
 Wherever an Eastern phrase is encoun-
 
 PREFACE. XXm 
 
 tered in the following pages, read it, as 
 you would any other, without attaching 
 any very peculiar emphasis or sound to 
 particular letters and syllables, as I have 
 spelt such words as compose it, just as 
 fancy dictated and the sound appeared 
 most to resemble that of the original it is 
 intended to represent. 
 
 Sincerely grateful for the most distin- 
 guished favor granted me by their Most 
 Gracious Majesties, in allowing my work 
 to be forwarded to their librarian, and for 
 the kind patronage I have received from 
 those whose names are upon my list of 
 subscribers, 
 
 I remain. 
 
 With all respect, 
 
 T. H. O. 
 
 12, Sloane Street, 
 2Sth March, 1831.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN, 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 A STORM AND SHELTER. 
 
 With the dawn of day the tempest began to 
 moderate. The angry billows, crested with foam, 
 which had lashed the sides of the patamar* 
 during the night time, threatening to over- 
 whelm whatever came within their yawning 
 
 * Patamar, an Indian vessel, with very sharp bows, 
 slanting mast, and high stern. It hauls extremely 
 close to the wind. Burthen from fifteen to seventy or 
 eighty tons. The sailors invariably keep them in a 
 very bad and unserviceable state ; one in which the au- 
 thor left Surat, in 1824, had a piece of block tin nailed 
 over a large hole in her bottom. 
 VOL. I. B
 
 '2 RUSTUM KHAI^. 
 
 troughs, by degrees subsided as the day-light 
 increased. The sweeping blasts of the mid- 
 night hurricane ; the raging sea, summoned at 
 their call, had alike suspended their terrific 
 strength, and were again almost simultaneously 
 lulled into repose. Confidence was renewed 
 within the breasts of the affrighted crew, 
 and-unavailing prayers and superstitious vow^s 
 were superseded by active exertion. The sai- 
 lors no longer continued either to rave aloud, 
 or to sit in moody silence, as they had done 
 during the darkness of the preceding night, — 
 when, as either actuate^ by hope, they called 
 blessings on their patron gods, or goaded 
 by despondency, hurled curses numerous a,nd 
 revolting on their offending heads. A little 
 bustle gave animation to their former care-worn 
 countenances ; whilst, at lengthened intervals, 
 a boisterous laugh at the conclusion of a jest, 
 or unrestrained tokens of joy at their surprising 
 deliverance, tended yet further to heighten 
 their smiles, and bring back their wonted sere- 
 nity. The native Indian is a mixture of ex- 
 tremes, ever gay, or always sad, — elevated to 
 the highest pitch, or proportionably irrecover-
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 3 
 
 ably dejected for the time : chamelion-like, with 
 each ray of the sunshine of prosperity, or the 
 darkness of adversity, they assume a different 
 shade of character, yet more various, if possible, 
 than the colours assumed by this extraordinary 
 animal. The terrors of the ocean — the bois- 
 terous gale, and sudden squall — alike, in their 
 angry moments, bear down the spirits of an 
 Indian sailor ; and the most precarious hours 
 of a mariner's life, the time of storm and tem- 
 pest, too generally, in hastening on, witnesses 
 from those exposed to its violence, even when 
 on the brink of destruction, nought but the 
 indulgence of sorrow, as insincere, perhaps, as 
 unavailing. Or perhaps, again, the victim, 
 when engulphed in the bosom of the mighty 
 deep, is received into it in a state of abject in- 
 difference, or with revilings against his God 
 upon his tongue, whether in the case of a 
 mussulman or an idolater. 
 
 Timid in the extreme was the tindal* and 
 
 * Tindal, the navigator and head man of the patamar, 
 whose authorit}^ over his crew is very limited. He de- 
 pends solely upon land-marks to guide and direct him 
 in his coasting voyages. 
 
 b2
 
 4 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 liis associates, with whom I sailed on the pre- 
 sent occasion. I had a knowledge of this 
 awakened in me on a prior occurrence. When 
 quitting the harhour of Bombay, we had struck 
 on the reef opposite the light-house, where, 
 from want of their exertions, we might have re- 
 mained for ever, for neither hand nor foot could 
 I prevail on them to stir, in furtherance of our 
 rescue, which, in the end, was solely effected 
 by the efforts of my servants. When the storm 
 came on, from the effects of which we were now 
 recovering, this, like the phantom of a mur- 
 dered friend, rose at once, to banish any confi- 
 dence I might otherwise have been inclined, 
 in the terror of the moment, to indulge. The 
 hurricane came on as sudden as unexpected ; 
 its raging violence swept all before it ; whilst 
 the infirm and shattered vessel reeled to her 
 side, as each blast, in sweeping past, gave her 
 a portion of its irresistible strength ; — now 
 righting for a moment, and now again plung- 
 ing her cadgan-built* gunwale into the ocean, 
 
 * Cadgan-huilt gunwale. — A portion on either side 
 of these vessels, is left without any planking, to admit
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 5 
 
 she continued, like a drunken man, her efforts 
 to preserve her balance. The main-sail, clum- 
 sily fastened, could not be lowered, and we 
 were indebted to the fury of the winds for being 
 disencumbered of it. 
 
 Yet, with all these frightful truths before 
 them, of the certainty of their fate, not a soul 
 offered any assistance, or even seconded my 
 efiforts. Useless as they might have been, I 
 hojDcd a good example would have a corres- 
 ponding influence, in producing energy ; but, 
 no, — I had to contend against an apathetic 
 indifference, never to be mastered. All remained 
 deaf alike to my entreaties or menaces; blinded 
 by despair, in fate alone they trusted, yet if an 
 adverse one, they sought by invocations to 
 arouse their slumbering idols in their behalf, 
 or by vows to soften the rigours of their ven- 
 geance. x\nd yet the wind continued, to their 
 amazement and horror, as violent as before ; 
 whilst each succeeding wave, as it bore us vio- 
 
 of the cargo. When all is on board, this is filled in with 
 cadgan, the dried leaf of the cocoa supported by bam- 
 boo framincr.
 
 6 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 lently onwards, or cast us drifting to the lee, 
 yet towered higher, and presented a more 
 surgy crest, than its predecessor. The noise of 
 human voices — the screams of females, for each 
 of my servants had one, and several two — the 
 kicking of my horses below — the fury of the 
 elements — and the creaking of the tottering 
 mast, as we laboured onwards, raised a confu- 
 sion beyond description. Passing flashes of 
 lightning lighted up for a moment the scene 
 before me, whilst steering the vessel with an 
 inexperienced hand, I continued to pilot her 
 as chance directed, or the wayward fancy of the 
 winds impelled. The dark gloom of despair 
 sat furrowed on each brow ; energy was para- 
 lysed ; and my own mind was fast mingling 
 with the hopelessness of my situation, the bitter 
 idea of the inutility of human aid. 
 
 " Would to God !" I mentally exclaimed, 
 " that the tindal had been long since engulphed, 
 or rather, that I had turned back when freed 
 from the reef near Bombay, and proceeded by 
 land;" and then again I blamed the local 
 government for a want of proper caution, in 
 providing such vessels for their servants and
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 7 
 
 officers, proceeding on duty : now my thoughts 
 turned, with furious wrath, against the idle, 
 profligate, useless crew : and now again, almost 
 thrown down by the pitching and tossing of 
 the vessel, I endeavoured to maintain my sta- 
 tion at the helm, whilst yet the planks held 
 together. Whither I was steering I knew not. 
 The night was dark beyond compare, and not 
 a star shone in the firmament. Whether we 
 were going northward or southward, or in a 
 westerly or easterly direction, could not be de- 
 termined, having no compass to steer by. At 
 sunset our position had been determined by 
 the tindal, and those acquainted with the dif- 
 ferent landmarks, on the shore, lit up with the 
 last parting rays of the sun, to be some eight 
 or ten miles up the gulph of Cambay, which 
 yet increased the danger of our situation, as 
 the gulph affords but little sea-room for scud- 
 ding before a gale, and its passage in the best 
 of times is more than intricate, from the nu- 
 merous sand-banks and sandy shoals abound- 
 ing throughout. 
 
 The tides are rapid in the extreme, and the
 
 8 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 bore* which accompanies its flow, awful to hear 
 at a distance, but still more dangerous to en- 
 counter, should the vessel, with the ebb, have 
 been left embedded in the mud. Hour after 
 hour passed on ; with hope renewed, I rallied, 
 but only with each succeeding heave and pitch 
 again to indulge despair. The long-bending 
 mast at length broke away from the cordage 
 which had hitherto sustained it, and fell over- 
 board with a crash jwhich seemed the knell of our 
 destruction. My affrighted horses, unconscious 
 of that fear which stifled the screams of the 
 human travellers, broke loose from their con- 
 finement, and fought with animated fury, un- 
 heeded by my servants, all of whom were en- 
 gaged in clearing the ponderous log from en- 
 
 * Bore, a rush of water, accompanying the influx of 
 the tide. Near Cambay, the vessels lay embedded in 
 mud, until the bore, in passing, floats them at once. 
 If, in making this port, you cannot with one tide reach 
 it, it becomes necessary to regain, if possible, the mouth 
 of the gulf; otherwise, with the returning tide, the 
 vessel might be swamped. The noise which accom- 
 panies the bore is heard at a distance of several miles.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 9 
 
 cumbering the lee of the vessel. The side of 
 the patamar sustained considerable damage, 
 although, to what extent, we then neither 
 dared nor desired to be made acquainted. 
 Thus each moment yet further added to our dis- 
 may, and closed by degrees the door against all 
 hope. " Let go the anchor !" I roared in ac- 
 cents of thunder : the tindal remonstrated, and 
 Mahomed, my servant, was ordered to beat him 
 into silence, and obey my commands. Each of 
 my household now hurried to the spot where 
 the anchor was placed, and in a moment a 
 frightful splash convinced me my dependants 
 had done their duty. Instantly quitting my 
 hold of the helm, she swung round to the force 
 of the tide, and brought us safely to ; although 
 the cable, old and rotted in appearance, strained 
 to its utmost, seemed miraculously to have with- 
 stood the shock for the moment, only to aban- 
 don us again to the mercy of the wind and waves 
 in another. Such, however, to make use of an 
 eastern phrase, was not written on our fore- 
 heads ; or rather, our fate was otherwise or- 
 dained, and we continued to hold during the 
 night-time, until relieved from the irksome 
 B 3
 
 10 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 darkness and threatening danger at "the dawn 
 of day." 
 
 " Saheb,"* said my horsekeeper, who des- 
 cended to the bottom of the hold to quiet the 
 horses, and again fasten their head and heel 
 ropes, " all is at an end, the vessel is filling 
 with water, Array ! array ! f where is my wife, 
 what will become of us ? Array ! array ! what 
 shall we do ? Where is my son Kalloo, bring 
 him to me ? Oh, bring him to me, Oh, bring 
 him to me." The women now recommenced 
 their piercing shrieks, as if new calamities had 
 furnished fresh vigour to their exclamations. 
 And yet, not one of the crew, seemed at all 
 awakened into a sense of his awful situation. 
 My station at the helm, hitherto prevented my 
 appealing to their feelings in a more sensible 
 mode than by expostulation, but now I was at 
 liberty, and the fear of drowning silenced all 
 scruples. Seizing a bamboo, I commenced 
 
 * Saheb, — always used in addressing an European ; 
 equivalent to Sir. 
 
 f Array, array, — an exclamation of surprise, fear, 
 joy, &c.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 11 
 
 Stumbling from one end of the vessel to the 
 other, laying' unmercifully upon every thing I 
 encountered in the \vay,which offered the slight- 
 est appearance of a human being, but nowhere 
 could I meet the infatuated tindal. Nothing 
 daunted by miscarrying at first, I at last found 
 him, and laid on him with unremitting violence, 
 (in spite of his assurances of setting to baling 
 immediately, and doing any thing to please 
 master,) until the baling commenced, when I 
 only applied the philosophic rod, as each or 
 any deserved it from laziness. Experience 
 told me that shipwrecks with all their horrors 
 are too generally experienced in untoward 
 weather, with an Indian crew : and I believe 
 it is more the want of energy on the part of 
 the crew, master, and sailors, than the violence 
 of the weather, to which they ought to be at- 
 tributed. I cannot depict all the miseries 
 borne up against during this night, the various 
 expedients resorted to, and calamities sustained ; 
 or the fluctuations from confidence to despair, 
 from hope to desperation, originating with the 
 momentary calms after the violence of the
 
 12 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 blast, or the approaching hissing of the coming 
 gusts. 
 
 The welcome light of day came on, the ocean 
 lay around, still considerably agitated, — the 
 wind yet blew strong, but had become more 
 steady, and a happy termination to our voyage 
 was to be anticipated. Under such auspices, the 
 sunken spirits of the crew rallied ; the cheer- 
 ing prospect gave them renewed vigour, and as 
 the favourable weather yet further increased, 
 they momentarily shook off their panics, and 
 displayed some reliance upon the value of 
 their labours. All was activity and bustle ; a 
 jury-mast was erected; a portion of an old sail 
 bent upon the bamboo used for fathoming, but 
 now converted into a yard, usurped the place 
 of what the winds had despoiled us of, and was 
 sufficient to ensure our progress. The anchor 
 was weighed ; the cry, " Array Ullah ! array 
 Illah ! array, array, Illah ! zor se puckur !* re- 
 
 ^ Array Ullah ! Oh God \— Array Illah! Oh God ! 
 —Zor se puckur, lay hold of it with strength. — These 
 are exclamations which accompany the weighing of the 
 anchor, setting sails, &c. ; and answer to the nautical 
 " music" for which our own sailors are proverbial.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 13 
 
 sounded on all sides; whilst the craft, cleared of 
 the water she had made, and the leak kept 
 under, rode lightly onwards. The tindal re- 
 sumed his fair weather station at the helm, a 
 little crippled with chastisement : this, how- 
 ever, he soon forgot, and now, buoyed up with 
 hope, took every advantage of the breeze, and 
 favoured her expedition. Thus we ran along 
 the gulf at a steady, but slow rate, scarcely 
 averaging as much, with all our means of ex- 
 pedition employed, as we had done each hour 
 previous to anchoring — yet this little was satis- 
 factory, as the men one and all assured me we 
 were in our right course. The first burst of 
 sunshine tended to confirm our hopes — land 
 appeared in the distance.* The line which it 
 at first displayed, was scarcely sufficiently 
 marked, for an inexperienced eye like mine. 
 As a large mass of floating billow passed us 
 now and then, I considered I discerned it, but 
 a full hour elapsed ere I could place any steady 
 reliance upon my sight. As we yet nearer ap- 
 proached, the tops of the date and cocoa 
 
 * This coast is particularly flat and low.
 
 14 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 abounding on the shores of India, formed a 
 light and airy fringe, above the surface of the 
 'ocean, and now again, they yet stole above the 
 horizon ; and as soon as we weathered the only 
 remaining headland between our situation and 
 the port we were making for, every trunk be- 
 came visible: the cottages, embedded in the 
 grateful shade of the lengthening groves, now 
 rose upon the sight ; the curling smoke of 
 the expiring embers of midnight fires, mingled 
 with the scene, — until, after hearing the lowing 
 of cattle, and faintly distinguishing the forais 
 of human beings attending the plough in the 
 distance, we entered the creek, which forms 
 the harbour of Tankaria, and ended our peril- 
 ous voyage. If, during our progress onwards, 
 our features had lost by degrees all traces of 
 our former sorrow and fatigue, without being 
 marked with any particular joy, our landing 
 was an occurrence too worthy of sentiment, to 
 be passed by unheeded. The tedium of a four- 
 teen days' voyage, with the coast in sight 
 always at some part of the day, and the last 
 night's imminent peril, gave a warmth to our 
 feelings ; whilst the narrow escape we had had
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 15 
 
 from a watery grave, quite obliterated the stre- 
 nuous exertions on our parts, our misfortunes had 
 called for. The unexpected manner in which our 
 difficulties had terminated, gave an overpower- 
 ing impulse of gratitude to my mental feelings, 
 insomuch so, that when the tindal made his 
 salaam, accompanied with the usual demand 
 for a bonus above his bargain, I forgot, for- 
 gave all, and lent a healing balm to the im- 
 pressions of the bamboo, in a buckshish* of a 
 few rupees. Let those who have escaped such 
 a night of danger as I did, appreciate my mo- 
 tives. 
 
 The crazy patamar, with her sharp bows and 
 high stern, roughly carved, and coated with 
 red paint, dismasted and broken-sided, her 
 planks sown together with cords, or rudely 
 nailed to her beams, — lay immured in the deep 
 mud of the creek we had anchored in ; and 
 from which the tide had in part receded. The 
 widely extended beach lay in melancholy mo- 
 notony around me : where I stood, not even a 
 blade of grass, or moistened knot of sea-weed 
 
 * Buckshish, — present.
 
 16 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 grew, to soften the bright and glaring reflec- 
 tion of the noon-day sun, which played over 
 the surface of the deeply heated sand. But 
 this was no time to waste in making observa- 
 tions on the adjacent country, which, in its 
 barren appearance seemed to offer little to a 
 weary traveller ; and it was equally useless to 
 gaze upon the Government Custom House, 
 which beaconed me to shelter and protection. 
 My horses and luggage were yet on board, 
 and sad experience had taught me to place 
 little, if any, reliance upon the spontaneous 
 exertions of the best or worst of Indian ser- 
 vants. To superintend the whole was my only 
 hope of getting any thing done, — a task disa- 
 greeable enough at all times, without the aid or 
 inconvenience of a tropical sun to augment it. 
 What with the exhaustion and fatigue of the 
 preceding night, and continued labours of the 
 day, I became wearied to distraction. In the 
 disembarkation of my horses was centered all 
 my anxiety, as they had become restive from 
 confinement, and, doubtless, the affray that 
 happened between them previously, had not 
 allayed any of their usual fiery disposition . For
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 17 
 
 several hours before we landed, they had been 
 continually neighmg and roaring, as if sen- 
 sible of the near approach to land. The bad 
 tackle provided — the danger of the jury-mast 
 breaking down — the stupidity of my servants, 
 and utter ignorance of the crew in adjusting 
 such harness as well as ropes and blocks, 
 which formed the apparatus for raising them 
 from the hold and lowering them to the bed of 
 the creek, — all tended to raise my alarm, and 
 fret me with anxiety. Thus were two hours 
 spent, during which time my voice had become 
 perfectly hoarse in directing the operations, 
 with '' now haul away — now lower — clear his 
 feet — lower again — ease him off — to the right — 
 now to the left — now cleverly, and down he 
 lights." What with kicking when first lifted 
 off their legs, and then again struggling in 
 the mud, I never anticipated to have had one 
 serviceable for at least a month or more, espe- 
 cially my favourite Yaboo, whom I had kept 
 until the last, that he might have the benefit 
 of experienced hands. The tackle broke away 
 in lowering him, but luckily he sustained no 
 injury whatever. Mounting him accordingly,
 
 18 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 I dashed on towards the inviting shelter which 
 the house* some hundred yards in the distance 
 served as a heacon to. But let my reader 
 pause, before he considers me as comfortably 
 housed as at an inn, for such accommodations are 
 only to be found in India in the proportion of 
 angels' visits — " few and far between." It was 
 true I had escaped from the enervating and 
 injurious heat in open exposure; but what a 
 sorry and comfortless apartment presented it- 
 self for my convenience 1 the earthen floor was 
 cleanly swept, it is true ; but not a single chair 
 was there on which to seat myself, not an iota 
 of furniture, no couch on which to bask, no 
 host to minister to my wants ; no bell to ring 
 for attendance, and if there had been, there was 
 no one to attend my summons ; whilst the ab- 
 sence of a well-stored larder to appease my 
 hunger, or a well-spread cold collation, were 
 insufferable deficiencies, and when they were 
 to be made up I knew not. Not even, (it being 
 
 * On landing, the first house in view at a distance, 
 is the Government Custom House, at which travellers 
 are allowed to rest a day or two.
 
 EUSTUM KHAN. 19 
 
 some Hindoo festival or village marriage, days 
 of equal solemnity, feasting, and inconve- 
 nience, to one in my condition) — could I find 
 any one to hold my horse, so that I can justly 
 assert, my situation was one of little real com- 
 fort, although it embodied some v^^hich only 
 could be appreciated w^hen compared to actual 
 suffering. Shelter I obtained, and that was 
 all on which to allay hunger, thirst, and fa- 
 tigue, yet was I cheerful in the absence of any 
 expedient with which to better my condition : 
 I received, " bad's the best," with patient en- 
 durance and contentment. Such is often the 
 case in India ; indeed, I may say, on duty or 
 on pleasure, an every-day occurrence ; and com- 
 pelled, as an Indian traveller is, to carry about 
 with him on his marches, all the necessaries — 
 mark me, not luxurious appendages of easy 
 life, — all must be centered in himself : what- 
 ever accommodation he can get he must owe 
 to his own activity, presence of mind, active 
 23reparation, or keen perception, which enables 
 him to turn the worst to the best advantage. If, 
 therefore, any mistake should arise on the part 
 of servants, proverbially apathetic, doggedly
 
 20 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 obstinate, and often self-willed, as regards the 
 direction to be taken : or if two villages of the 
 same name (a frequent occurrence) are in the 
 vicinity, the traveller is left oppressed with 
 hunger, unattended, and in a situation little 
 removed from that of helplessness. What can, 
 may I ask, be more harassing or more beyond 
 the power of remedy, than, on arriving at the 
 appointed halt, to find no vestige of your house- 
 hold or attendants after a sharp ride of eighteen 
 or twenty miles, commenced with the dawn, 
 and hurried through to avoid a scorching heat. 
 Or again, when on the road, galloping at the 
 instigation of hunger, and when not yet within 
 six miles of your destination, the sun momen- 
 tarily getting "hotter and more hot" — to be- 
 hold at the further end of a village, your bag- 
 gage halted, the bullocks straying here and 
 there, in quest of a morsel, which is denied 
 yourself, and your servants either busily en- 
 gaged in performing their ablutions in the bed 
 of the tank, quietly smoking their calleoons,* 
 or engaged in altercation with the patell or 
 
 * Calleoons, pipes.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 21 
 
 head of the village, as useless and conveniently 
 deaf as the idol in the adjoining pagoda, con- 
 cerning begarries* and guides, without whom 
 no further progress ean possibly be effected. 
 
 And then how does it end? you have to 
 thrash the patell, collect the cattle, turn out, 
 after a severe hunt, the men you require— who 
 are secreted almost beyond finding, and finally 
 linger on to your appointed ground, covered 
 with the dust raised by the cattle's hoofs ; then 
 sit down to a hastily and badly cooked break- 
 fast, without any appetite whatever. The first 
 station, either military or civil, your road leads 
 through, is the'focus of complaints ; from which, 
 if you gave credence to all the learned karcoon 
 of the village has written, in detail of calami- 
 ties sustained and tyranny displayed, you might 
 conclude the head man was assassinated, and 
 the village at least depopulated ; a reprimand 
 ensues, as certain as possible, and your vexation 
 overpowers all your sophistry and patience, f 
 
 f Begarries, a class of people always ready for hire, 
 answering to our porters. They are a most hard-work- 
 ing set of men. 
 
 * I must here remark, that it often occurs, that com-
 
 22 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 Meditating upon all this, and leaning through 
 the window, T commenced playing with my 
 horse. My attention was, however, principally 
 directed, now to the village in the distance, and 
 now to the half-hidden masts of the small craft 
 anchored around and ahout the place of my 
 disemharkation. It was for succour I was 
 looking, and often did I long my horse could 
 have taken a bet with me on the subject, as I 
 was inclined to back the cupidity of the vil- 
 lagers finding me out first, against the chance 
 of attention, even to their personal comforts, 
 bringing my servant first to my aid. For some 
 time, nothing occurred to ameliorate my for- 
 lorn, my fatiguing condition, until a groupe 
 arrived from the quarter of the village, among 
 whom the patell, and an aged brahmin* in 
 
 plaint and reprimand are synonimous. An European 
 is often denied even a hearing. On one occasion, an 
 officer, on duty, proceeding with all activity to join the 
 forces in the province of Cutch, struck a person who 
 refused him guides, because it was his duty to provide 
 them, and, without whom, the government interest 
 must have been abandoned — yet he got a reprimand. 
 
 * Brahmin, one of the sacerdotal order of the Hindoo 
 population of India.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 23 
 
 charge of the collection of the customs at this 
 bunder,* were numbered. Many coolies,t some 
 bearing wood for fuel, others grass, and several 
 in search of a bvnthen, brought up the rear of 
 the embassy. The deputies were civil and 
 obliging', — a trait which seldom characterises 
 such august personages; so that, with their 
 aid, I was soon made more comfortable, had 
 consigned my horse's bridle to another, collected 
 my servants, got together my much damaged 
 kit, spread the linen on the sand to dry, an^ 
 ultimately got some refreshment. 
 
 It must now be explained, that the period of 
 the hot season was fast drawing to a close, 
 when these occurrences had their origin ; that 
 the object before whom a hastily killed, roasted, 
 and served up fowl, — the whole arrangement 
 performed in half-an-hour, — was placed, was 
 an officer on his way to join his regiment. One, 
 I may say, who was thoroughly acquainted 
 with the nature of marching in the monsoon 
 or rainy season ; for I had, on one or two oc- 
 casions, been exposed to heavy rains, sub- 
 
 * Bunder, port. f Coolie, the same as hegarrie.
 
 24 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 jected to delay, kept hours without a meal, had 
 slept in wet apparel, lost all traces of my bag- 
 gage and cattle for hours, and had in the end 
 to pay for repairs of kit, supply the place of my 
 dead horse, when money was scarcely to be had 
 — and wound up this chaos of evil with hours, 
 days, and months of reflection in a sick bed ; 
 until, from too frequent repetition of the latter, 
 I have at length been forced to visit my native 
 home; and gaze upon society and fashion, 
 without being enabled to mingle in the giddy 
 dance, or festive midnight hour. Can it be 
 matter of surprise, then, that my conversation 
 with the Brahmin, even in the earliest moments 
 of our acquaintance, should revert to the near 
 approach of the much dreaded monsoon ? and 
 as these learned people either are judges of the 
 weather, or always pretend to be, I was in 
 hopes of gaining much information. The near- 
 est route to the city of Ahmedabad,* in Guze- 
 rat, was what I most desired to be acquainted 
 
 * Ahmedabad was formerly the capital of the pro- 
 vince of Guzerat ; it attained to great splendour, but 
 is now. rapidly declining. For further information, 
 vide " Hamilton's East India Gazetteer."
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 25 
 
 with ; as it was my object to avoid the station 
 of Baroda, where a large subsidiary force is 
 quartered, near the capital of the Guickwar's 
 dominions. To pass this was by no means ne- 
 cessary, I had been led to understand, if I took 
 the most direct route, and I could scarce think 
 of venturing within the power of the influen- 
 tial kindness of my friends there, when, to de- 
 lay, was to heap ills innumerable upon myself, 
 and positive inconvenience. Not only in adopt- 
 ing all diligence, and the least frequented 
 route, did I perform my duty, but by this self- 
 denial of indulging in society, I threw aside 
 a chaos of evil, personal risk, and pecuniary 
 loss. The decision was prompt ; all the neces- 
 sary preparations were made ; promised buck- 
 shish added speed and activity to the lazy, and 
 rendered the mercenary more diligent than 
 usual. Bullocks for pack carriage, carts for the 
 more heavy baggage, coolies for camp-case and 
 crockery, begarries for couches and chairs, were 
 engaged for the direct and nearest road ; guides, 
 ready to start at a moment's notice, were or- 
 dered ; the patell and Brahmin satisfied with a 
 recompense ; and ere sunset, my baggage and 
 voi. I. c
 
 26 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 servants had started, escorted by a small party 
 belonging to my regiment, in waiting here to 
 protect some mess stores, of genuine liquors, 
 European preserves, and other good things, as 
 far as head-quarters. As these articles had 
 formed part of the cargo of the Ruparrel pata- 
 mar, in which I was so nearly lost, 1 attached 
 these soldiers to watch my own baggage, as- 
 well as that belonging to the general commu- 
 nity of which I was a member. The head-quar- 
 ters of the regiment was at a frontier station, 
 three hundred miles from the port, and the 
 w^hole way infested with Bheels* and others, to 
 whom opportunity of plunder is the beacon to 
 attempt the most daring and expertly-managed 
 robberies. 
 
 * Bkeel, — a member of a particular sect of Hindoos, 
 famous for the daring and dexterity of their robberies.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 27 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 MARCH — GOSAYEN* — DURRUMSOLLAHf — VIEW — 
 ACCIDENT — GOSAYEN's TALE. 
 
 My bed and chair alone, of all my kit — and 
 horsekeeper, of my establishment and followers, 
 — remained behind, after the foregoing prepara- 
 tions. The servants, at starting, shewed symptoms 
 of dissatisfaction at being so immediately des- 
 patched onwards after landing : but, as the night 
 season is the most opportune for marching, during 
 the hottest months of the year in India, and my 
 object was expedition, I saw little obstacle in 
 their resentment, to prevent me from putting into 
 execution measures as unpleasant to myself as 
 
 * Gosayen, — wandering enthusiast and devotee Hin- 
 doo. 
 
 f BurrumsoUah, — a place appropriated in almost every 
 village for devotees and travellers. 
 C2
 
 28 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 to Others. After a few hours' hastily snatched 
 rest, I suited my departure accordingly ; and the 
 first nine miles of my journey were completed in 
 the quiet stillness of a moonlight night. A few 
 paces in front of me strode on a hardy Bheel, 
 whose occupation was to serve as guide to travel- 
 lers ; as a remuneration for which, certain immu- 
 nities were, I believe, granted him, on the part 
 of government. His clothing was scanty in the 
 extreme ; nothing but a dhotie or waistcloth 
 covered any portion of him. His frame was thick- 
 set, his stature short, whilst his agility and speed 
 on foot were alike astonishing. On him, for 
 some time, I bent my chief attention, lest he 
 should abandon me in an unguarded moment. 
 But when suspicion was lulled by his willing 
 behaviour, T was enabled to make more general 
 observations. Although thin in the extreme, his 
 muscle rose in proportion to his active life. His 
 step was firm and nimble, although the sandy 
 roads, parched up with the intensity of the sum- 
 mer heats, offered but a frail and slippery surface 
 on which to tread. With a Bheel bow and ar- 
 rows in the left hand, he remained prepared to 
 resist attack from man or wild beast ; his shield
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 29 
 
 hung suspended from his left shoulder, upon his 
 back ; a quiver occupied the place upon the right 
 one, whilst his eye incessantly scanned every sus- 
 picious portion of the highway our progress deve- 
 loped ; but more particularly such as were better 
 known to him from traditionary accounts, as 
 mostly selected for the perpetration of robbery and 
 murder, as offering brushwood for concealment, 
 or low underwood intercepting pursuit, and open- 
 ing into a country intersected with ravines, as 
 numerous as intricate. Happily, however, our 
 own mistrust was our sole tormentor on this occa- 
 sion : on we passed, through lanes, under the 
 overhanging boughs of trees, and down steep ra- 
 vines, without any opportunity occurring for the 
 exhibition of my prowess, or his fidelity, until a 
 village, appearing a little on the right-hand, pre- 
 senting one broad mass of shade, except the side 
 of the stucco covered pagoda, which was lighted up 
 with moonbeam. Wehadno^v traversed five miles. 
 Here I exchanged this companion for another of 
 much the same description. These guides are 
 designated Bomeyahs, their duty, to proceed with 
 the traveller as far as the nearest village, when, 
 an exchange being summoned from his rest, a
 
 30 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 relief takes place ; and the guidance and safety 
 of the traveller is transferred from the former to 
 the latter, who, in case of an accident or misfor- 
 tune befalling, would be responsible. If a rob- 
 bery only, the village would be bound to trace 
 satisfactorily the thieves to another village, or to 
 make good a part or the whole of the damage 
 sustained. 
 
 All care and caution soon quitted me, and the 
 first hours of my inland journey were spent in 
 contemplating the rich and various scenery in 
 light and shade around me, as successively deve- 
 loped to my view, now partially shadowed, as the 
 moon was veiled by a cloud, and now again burst- 
 ing forth, mellowed with the moonbeam, and the 
 brightest star-light. What a contrast to the pre- 
 ceding one, when angry winds and darkness 
 reigned undisputed ! The false dawn came at 
 length to cheat me, a sight I had seldom, if ever, 
 witnessed before, or perhaps my companions had 
 caused it to pass by unheeded. The approach of 
 morn was momentarily expected, and, ere long, 
 matured from a feebler light into the glorious 
 burst of day. The avenue of trees my way now 
 led through lengthened its vista; object after ob-
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 31 
 
 ject by degrees began to emerge in the distance, 
 until the whole landscape around in its various 
 delineation of wood and grove became distinctly 
 visible. My guide was exchanged at an indiffe- 
 rent collection of huts grouped together near a 
 spot of fertile cultivation, extending along either 
 bank of a scarcely perceptible stream, in the bed 
 of a nullah. Here I was enabled to slake my 
 thirst with a draught of new and delicious milk. 
 The high-cast arab I was mounted on, took a le- 
 freshing mouthful or two from the stream as I 
 crossed it ; he snorted, neighed, and curved his 
 crest, seemingly alive to the delight of these cool 
 invigorating moments. By turns he displayed 
 every symptom of restless impatience to get for- 
 ward, now champing his bit, and now tossing 
 about his head. Now again certain of the way 
 before him, he pranced, curvetted, and lengthened 
 out his paces, anxious to exchange the continued 
 walk for the gratification of a trot. As I now 
 had the village full in the front, conspicuous 
 from the majestic group of neem trees which 
 overshadowed the houses, with only one track 
 leading to it, I dismissed my guide and cantered 
 on. The light, playful action of my steed, as we
 
 32 IIUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 bounded over the country, quite refreshed me; 
 the active vaults and successive plunges required 
 'dexterous horsemanship, and soon divested my 
 limbs of those cramped and benumbed feel- 
 ings, engendered by the toilsome pace we had 
 lingered on at during midnight. But it would 
 not do to continue this speed up to my very halt- 
 ing place, consequently, when within a few mi- 
 nutes' gallop of the village, I pulled up, to allow 
 my horse time to cool a little before I dismounted, 
 and delivered him over in charge to his groom. 
 Confinement on board had much reduced him in 
 condition, and this slight exercise, speaking com- 
 paratively, was irksome to him, and heating in 
 the extreme. 
 
 Winding round the banks of a circular tank, 
 in which little water now remained, I discovered 
 on the opposite side of it a human being, as my 
 imagination figured the spectacle, lying under 
 the shade of the peelow tree, much resembling the 
 weeping willow of my native country. Curiosity 
 tempted me to approach the spot, and humanity 
 made me linger there. Stretched upon the ground, 
 covered with flies, and nearly naked, I found one of 
 those wandering Hindoo enthusiasts, a Gosayen.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 33 
 
 Either from a love of laziness, or contemplating- 
 the forbidden pleasures and excesses of a roving 
 life, or perhaps, not to be uncharitable, from a 
 conviction of its future utility, he had deserted 
 friends and home ; and now, when incapable of 
 stirring, lay by the way side. His emaciated 
 frame, — the bones covered with nothing but the 
 skin and muscle, bespoke him a prey to some 
 violent disease, to which he was about to yield ; 
 whilst his filthy condition, and forlorn situation, 
 without a friend or companion, yet further aggra- 
 vated this scene of distress- He lay stretched 
 upon his back, the morning sun lighting up his 
 face ; his eyes were shut ; his Shasters, or religious 
 volume, was compressed between his hands, which 
 weakness forbad his raising from his breast, where 
 they reclined ; whilst his countenance betrayed, 
 in lieu of sorrowful expression, a patient resigna- 
 tion to the lot about to overwhelm him. My foot- 
 steps, for by this time I had dismounted to proffer 
 my assistance, awoke him from the state of le- 
 thargy his misery had brought upon him ; his 
 eye kindled into the expression of life for a mo- 
 ment, but with his already wasted strength, he 
 was only able, after most strenuous and appalling 
 c 3
 
 34 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 efforts, to articulate faintly. The dim hazy eye 
 once more succeeded, and sank inexpressive far in 
 its socket: the sharpened features and entire pros- 
 tration of strength, were, at the same time, symp- 
 toms of approaching" dissolution too clearly and 
 well defined, to admit of any doubt as to the 
 result of that struggle between life and death, of 
 which I only witnessed the more momentous 
 events. His wretchedness unnerved me at first : 
 by degrees recovering, I addressed him, offering 
 that which I had little hope he would accept, — my 
 services towards his recovery. He gazed at me, 
 more as if directed to the spot by the assistance 
 of his hearing, than by the aid of his sight, and 
 replied in a faultering broken tone, staring wildly 
 here and there : " I am dying ! I am dying !" he 
 exclaimed, " the hand of fate and power of death 
 is upon me : what can the help you offer avail 
 my cause against the Omnipotent .? The delirium 
 of my fever might be abated, or a draught of 
 water mitigate my sufferings, but such is not for 
 me to seek." He paused again, whilst his coun- 
 tenance lighted up with a smile :— " Yes, yes ! but 
 think not that I repine. The severe and volun- 
 tary trials I have imposed upon myself, in my
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 35 
 
 career in this woiicl,will now meet their correspond- 
 ing reward ; so that death is only a removal from 
 the miseries of this existence, to the certain enjoy- 
 ment of what this sacred book" — he tried to lift 
 it, but could not — '' holds forth as a recompense 
 in the next. It" — and his voice rose at the pro- 
 nunciation — "is my only hope, and how truly 
 has it solaced me in these trying hours !" 
 
 The firmness of his manner astounded me. 
 Fainter and more faint became his voice, as he 
 repeated portions of his Shasters with his yet re- 
 maining strength. Again the voice was hushed, 
 but the lips quivered with the effort to speak ; — 
 the eyelids gradually closed over his vacant, 
 glazed, and inexpressive eyes, — his breathing 
 became thick and confused, — ere long all was 
 over ; the hand of death had claimed its long- 
 watched victim ; the frailty of our mortal tenure 
 was once more proved; and the Gosayen, ere 
 I quitted, was a cold and stiffened corpse. 
 
 It was too much : the reflections this scene 
 awakened in my mind, the conclusions which 
 forced themselves upon my notice, the unbend- 
 ing firmness, and complete reliance of this ido- 
 later upon what he considered sacred, might.
 
 36 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 to many of an opposed religion, have been of 
 essential service. Anxious to obliterate the sen- 
 sations thus called into action, I hurried from 
 the spot, and plunged once more into the 
 society of the living world. Once more I re- 
 gained the road, neared the outskirts of the 
 village, saw the dependant state of man delineated 
 in the busy scene before me ; — the farmer labour- 
 ing, the herdsman driving his numerous cattle 
 forth to pasture, w^ere among the first objects fa- 
 miliar to my sight, that I gazed upon. The droves 
 of cattle, in regard to numbers and variety, are 
 truly surprising to behold, and held a claim 
 upon my attention. The sullen, slothful, heavy- 
 looking buffalo, herded with the lighter bullock, 
 seemed more than ordinarily loathsome in ap- 
 pearance, from the striking contrast, whilst the 
 incessant shouting of the herdsman, and frequent 
 application of his staff, necessary to induce these 
 unwieldly animals to urge forward towards the 
 common pasture, bore proof to their generally 
 apathetic disposition. It must be understood 
 that the coombie* of Guzerat, who generally 
 
 * Coomhie — A race of cultivators, so styled in these 
 provinces.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 37 
 
 superintend and manage the cultivation of the 
 country, have a particular aversion to slaughter 
 any animal, especially cattle. Those worn out 
 in agricultural pursuits and laborious toil, be- 
 come pensioners, and graze with the general 
 herd, and all are allowed the privilege of falling 
 by a natural death, even when, from being maimed, 
 it would be charitable to kill them. Those deformed, 
 at the time of birth, even, are allowed to live 
 on : — and this exists in, or on the borders of, a 
 province where, not many years since, every fe- 
 male child was sacrificed at the time of its na- 
 tivity. Such is the force and power of custom 
 over minds untutored, and unable, from judg- 
 ment, to draw just and proper conclusions. If, 
 therefore, the seasons are pretty free from any 
 contagious disease among the cattle, the rains 
 abundant, and pasture plenty, these droves an- 
 nually increase and multiply to a degree both 
 surprising and bearing little accordance with the 
 few inhabitants contained in the dirty reed-built 
 villages, from which, in the midst of clouds of 
 dust, they may be seen daily emerging. 
 
 Banyans,* pilgrims, horsemen, travellers, and 
 
 * Banyans — Merchants.
 
 38 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 fakers* passed me in succession on the road, 
 each bestowing on me either a salaam, curse, or 
 mere look, as he came up, until I alighted 
 at a caravanserai, or rather durrum soUah, at- 
 tached to a pagoda, over which a grateful shade 
 was preserved by the thickset foliage of a banyan 
 tree ; which, in return, received from the tiled 
 roof of the buildings around, a support for 
 some of its numerous pendant suckers ; many of 
 which, again, amongst the first thrown out by the 
 parent tree, had taken root immediately around 
 the main stem, so that, perhaps, when I again 
 visit this spot, they may mislead me, by rivalling 
 in their size the parent one. My morning's ride 
 had brought me clear of the more barren track 
 near the sea-shore of Tankaria Bunder, towards 
 the fertile portion of the country intervening 
 between that port and the north-western divi- 
 sion of Guzerat. The road I had traversed, 
 and that which yet remained for me to pass 
 over, possesses the most beautiful and striking 
 features of park and woodland scenery : beau- 
 ties abound in every direction, and to what 
 
 * Fakers — Mahommedan enthusiasts.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 39 
 
 Other than the bountiful hand of Nature can 
 we ascribe such romantic perfections ? for the 
 poor Hindoo, to whom his own exertions in 
 cultivation alone ensures a livelihood for him- 
 self and family, can afford little time, and has 
 less taste to bestow in improvements : — All is 
 Nature : — all, unless where a straggling hedge 
 of dried thorn, or green and fresh milkbush, 
 offers itself for the eye to gaze upon. The 
 wildness of arrangement, the grandeur spread 
 over the face of this country, the luxuriant 
 underwood, ever partially in blossom, and the 
 mighty forest trees, would at once solve the 
 doubts even of a sceptic upon the subject. 
 Gaze upon the efforts of man, and correspond- 
 ing effect throughout the landscape produced, 
 it may be pretty, yet can scarcely be called 
 majestic : so many tastes differ, that incon- 
 gruities exist; but in this portion of the world, 
 the arm — the power — of the Omnipotent, can 
 be traced throughout in uniformity and over- 
 whelming grandeur. Numerous and deep are 
 the beds of the water-courses ; many the na- 
 tural drains for the country in ravines, crossing 
 each other in varied angles, until they find the
 
 40 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 mighty stream which finally mingles with the 
 deep, and prevents the heavy rains from pro- 
 -ducing deluge. — Gaze but upon it, and you 
 will allow it to be as idle as useless to raise 
 any chimera, imputing to man's taste or in- 
 dustry the achievements of such pastoral 
 scenes. Well may Guzerat be styled the 
 garden of the Western Presidency ! — the cul- 
 tivator has the slightest labour compensated 
 with an ample harvest ; his agricultural uten- 
 sils are rude and uncouth in the extreme ; ma- 
 nuring but seldom, comparatively speaking, re- 
 sorted to, and yet, such are the fertile resources 
 of this rich soil, that it requires little more 
 from the hand of man, than to furrow up the 
 surface, sow the grain, wait the periodical 
 supply of water, and see the ripening crops 
 await his sickle. Yet, thus highly gifted, it 
 has its drawbacks : the climate is rendered pe- 
 culiarly obnoxious to the human constitution 
 from the virulent miasma occasioned by the 
 decay of the rank and superabundant vegeta- 
 tion : without this it is a land that might be 
 sighed for. The sportsman, the naturalist, the 
 farmer, and the painter, might each pursue his
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 41 
 
 occupation with pleasure or profit, whilst the 
 romantic Miss of sixteen, might sigh with love 
 in the evergreen groves of the mangoe tree, 
 mingling her plaintive note with those of the 
 bulbul or nightingale ; or, in less anxious mo- 
 ments, join the warbling of the choristers 
 perched above, whilst she struck the light 
 guitar in the rural halls, formed by the fantas- 
 tically shaped, and thickly spread, pendant 
 suckers of the banyan tree. But I am digressing. 
 Once more unto my tale. — I entered the build- 
 ing : at one corner my table was arranged 
 with as much neatness as time and circum- 
 stances permitted, or the owner desired. A 
 subaltern's breakfast-table, when on the line of 
 march, and I may even add, when in canton- 
 ments, seldom presents sufficient variety to re- 
 quire any procrastinated debate upon the quali- 
 ties of the dishes, previous to choice. The more 
 immediate task of satisfying hunger, if the climate 
 has left you any, is, therefore, soon completed, 
 ^vhere a newspaper is wanting to make you trifle 
 the moments away, or digest national politics as 
 well as your food. In the present instance, al- 
 though surfeited with leisure, I could only
 
 42 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 manage to kill a few minutes together with my 
 appetite. As my servant began to remove, I 
 ■passed on and seated myself under the protection 
 of the arched gateway built of stone, which served 
 as an entrance to the enclosure around the 
 temple and durrumsollah, directing my observa- 
 tion on one side to my horsekeeper grooming my 
 horse, and on the other to the tank beneath 
 me, in which the water had much receded, 
 owing to the summer droughts. Throwing 
 myself back in my surrattee arm-chair, and 
 erecting my feet on a stone placed horizontally 
 across tlie door-way, to prevent cattle intruding, 
 I enjoyed a cigar as well as the pleasing sight 
 of active bustle reigning everywhere in my pre- 
 sence, on the opposite bank, in the bed and water 
 of the tank,* and at the focus of attraction, the 
 village well. Full-grown females, in the prime of 
 life, those verging onward towards womanhood, 
 with their elegant robes waving in the wind, as 
 well as their children in their train, were actively 
 busied in filling their earthen, brazen, and copper 
 
 * Tank — Ponds. Applied generally to any accumula- 
 tion of water, in which there is no current.
 
 EUSTUM KHAN. 43 
 
 vessels with a sufficient supply of water for the 
 family consumption until sun-set ; others, again, 
 were washing their garments; some remained 
 seated in, and covered with, the water, until the 
 various portions of their only change, if it may 
 be termed, of raiment, was spread by a friend on 
 the bank to dry, or, perhaps, swung to and fro, by 
 two females, to hasten its so doing. Men, women, 
 and children were promiscuously bathing and re- 
 freshing themselves : amongst them, the Brahmin 
 was throwing water upon his head, or diving it 
 with incredible rapidity, at each moment, under 
 the water, now^ folding his arms, and now ex- 
 tending them. Ever and anon a traveller gave a 
 draught to his thirsting animal, whilst he him- 
 self, bared his arms, took ofi' his pugrie,* and per- 
 formed his ablutions. A moment after, a small 
 troop of Guickwar horsemen descended to the 
 water's edge, clad in armour, or dressed as fancy 
 directed, order being unknown to such warriors ; 
 one had a matchlock ;t another, two swords ; 
 
 * Pug tie — a long cloth, wound round the head. Each 
 caste has its own particular form. 
 
 f Matchlock — a species of fire-arm, long barrel, and 
 carries a very small ball.
 
 44 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 some, both, with the addition of a peishculz* in 
 his girdle ; whilst one, more daring than the rest, 
 'or whose fury was uncontrollable, and desire for 
 blood unappeasable, had each and all of these 
 murderous weapons, besides a brace of pistols. 
 Many an imprecation and continued jingling of 
 bells ushered into appearance a four-wheeled 
 rhutjt drawn by bullocks with painted horns 
 tipped with brass. The whole of this car was 
 canopied over, and the beauties my figurative 
 imagination painted to me as forming the load 
 for the fatigued animals, were carefully concealed 
 from view by red curtains, festooned above, and 
 closely seamed together. I could, I thought, 
 discern a peeping eye or two (it might be fancy, 
 or a spice of vanity) directed to the beholder — to 
 myself. Thus were they hidden from the gaze of 
 the curious, as they wound their way, jolting 
 along, down the bank ; the water's edge was 
 soon reached, and the driver, conceiving it pos- 
 sible to save himself the trouble of washing the 
 
 * Peischidz — a kind of dagger. 
 
 f Rhut — a sort of carriage or platform^, on four 
 wheels.
 
 EUSTUM KHAN. 45 
 
 wheels, commenced his journey through the cen- 
 tre. Now goading, now swearing, now screwing 
 the tails of the oxen, he made but slow progress, 
 when, shocking to relate, over went the whole 
 concern : the ladies were unceremoniously soused, 
 whilst the affrighted bullocks, tore off with 
 the vehicle, water splashing on all sides, and 
 every instant fraught with destruction. The 
 female servants who were in attendance, scream- 
 ed and beat their breasts, as from a distance on 
 the shore, they beheld the catastrophe. The 
 guards, in this hour of distress, were mute with 
 surprize, except one who drew his sword — whether 
 to sacrifice the maidens for exposing themselves, 
 or rather for being exposed, I cannot say ; — or to 
 immolate himself,it might have been : — the finish 
 of the business was, Mahomed my head servant, 
 myself, horse-keepers, and bearers, relieved the 
 distressed, and were rewarded with smiles of fa- 
 vour. The men were rude and surly, one imper- 
 tinent, who, although armed, received my blow 
 as kindly as it was meant, and did not again re- 
 peat his abuse, at all events in our hearing. 
 Much amused, I regained my former position, 
 from which I continued my observations. — Now
 
 46 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 came a Howclahed elephant, richly caparisoned, 
 and, without exception, the tallest I ever saw ; 
 'drawing his trunk full from the muddy and dis- 
 turbed water, he again threw it, not only over 
 himself, but over many within his reach. The 
 mahawut* reproved him, and as if sensible of 
 error, he discontinued. As one group of the vil- 
 lage females departed, another came up, so that 
 the contemplation of their beauty alone served as 
 a pastime to an indolent Sub ; whilst again, to 
 contrast their variety of form, step, and carriage, 
 with the infirmities of old age and decrepitude, 
 for many grey-headed females and white-bearded 
 sages, mingled in the scene, gave an additional 
 zest to my humour. There is an elasticity and 
 gracefulness about the native Indian women, 
 which, combined with their light and almost 
 fairy tread, is particularly striking; and yet they 
 are enabled to undergo fatigue, support calamity, 
 and bear such weighty burthens on considerable 
 journeys, as would rather prove them, for their 
 stature, herculean than effeminate. Where is the 
 country, thought I, that can, in its general popu- 
 
 * Mahuwut. — An elephant driver.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 47 
 
 lation, boast of so much easy manner and natural 
 beauty ? Where can the fair sex be more truly 
 prepossessing in appearance, than the gay, 
 thoughtless, and indifferent beings my gaze rested 
 upon, alike untrammelled with folly and fashion, 
 as unhampered in dress ; their wants few indeed, 
 and luxury unknown to them. The clear water 
 from the well, an unleavened cake, or curry of 
 wild vegetables, is their plain, but highly relished 
 dinner; and their thoughts, truly centered in 
 their family, they would bare their necks to 
 the destroyer to save a child. In lieu of the 
 many hours spent in visiting, riot, balls, masque- 
 rades, and operas, their time is passed, from dawn 
 till sunset, in useful pursuits, whilst early sought 
 sleep again nerves them for the exertions of the 
 following day. Nervous sensations have, in In- 
 dia, no where from whence consolation can be 
 obtained ; chymists' shops are not to be met with 
 at every angle you turn, nor is there a host of sur- 
 geons to assist the needy, or dress ghastly wounds 
 — and yet the females are happy, they need not 
 their children dressed the gayest of the gay : — 
 no, if blessed with vigour, it is all they ask ; and 
 in the hour of their birth, they need not the an-
 
 48 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 xious frieud to watch them on the pillow of 
 agony, or mitigate the trying time ; they have no 
 'palliatives to soften the rigours of their case — in- 
 deed I may say, from what has come under my 
 own observation of the unbending firmness of the 
 female character in India, that it must be seen 
 to be duly appreciated. Yes, fair sex, I admire 
 you, your patriarchal customs, and your patient 
 endurance of all you have to encounter. — The feet, 
 ancle, and waist of a fair Brahminee, and indeed 
 of almost all, is perfect symmetry, whilst the 
 hand and wrist are cast in a mould of elegance 
 far superior to that, from which, in other coun- 
 tries, these beauties are derived. 
 
 An old Gosayen from the interior accosted me, 
 just when I had arranged myself to perfection 
 for an hour or two's rest, requesting permission 
 to j^ass by, in prosecution of his daily demands 
 upon the villagers; to give which charity is 
 strictly enjoined upon all Hindoos, upon the 
 plea of these enthusiasts being so absorbed in 
 contemplating the Deity, that it would be a sa- 
 crilege to refuse them the means of ensuring their 
 own salvation. Thus, under the cloak of religion, 
 many obtain a sumptuous livelihood without any
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 49 
 
 exertion. "Ram Ram Saheb,"* said the old man, 
 "would you prevent a Gosayen from passing you ? 
 Array Baba Jee,t rise whilst I pass on." Still I 
 hesitated, although I could not but admire his 
 independent manner, so different from what is 
 generally experienced from a native. His coun- 
 tenance was weather-beaten, his frame lean and 
 lank, his limbs athletic, marked with many a 
 scar, indicating the use of firing for curing lame- 
 ness and sprains, and although advanced in years, 
 his body appeared robust; so that, doubtless, 
 when in the vigour of youth, untried by infirmity, 
 inured to constant exercise, and proof against ex- 
 posure, he must have been the pride and envy of 
 his mendicant tribe. A recollection flashed across 
 my mind of the dead Gosayen, whose corpse, ex- 
 posed to the rapacious attacks of jackalls and 
 beasts of prey, was too revolting an idea, and 
 urged me to disclose the occurrence to the old 
 man. Besides I wanted employment, and felt 
 inclined to converse, even with an object, who 
 
 * Ram Ram Saheb. — A Hindoo salutation. 
 f Array Baba Jee. — A kind of familiar and concilia- 
 tory manner of address, answers to — Oh, my son. 
 VOL. I. D
 
 50 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 would on other occasions have been driven from 
 my door. What better treatment do such re- 
 qmre when asking charity, in the prime of life, 
 unhurt by disease, and whose occupation neither 
 benefits thedr fellow-creatures, nor perhaj^s them- 
 selves? 
 
 My tale finished, " Array, array," exclaimed he, 
 " and is he then dead? this I must confess is rather 
 sooner than T expected. Let me acquaint you, 
 Saheb," continued he, " that I have shared with 
 him my daily portion for the last fourteen days. 
 At first he profited willingly of the sustenance I 
 procured for him, but latterly nothing could pre- 
 vail on him to do so. What I had placed by his 
 side one day, if any remnant had escaped the 
 rapacity of the wolves and foxes, I removed the 
 next, and gave him a fresh supply. Often have 
 I entreated of him, to allow of my bringing him 
 to this sacred spot, to mitigate the rigours of his 
 sufi'erings ; but no ! the exposed and comfortless 
 situation he had chosen to place himself in, had 
 charms upon his mind, more powerful than my 
 persuasions to abandon it, and held him fixed in 
 his determination, either to recover or perish 
 there. ' Here I will die,' he would exclaim, ' if it
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 51 
 
 be God's will ; and I hope my trials will be con- 
 sidered, and my reward hereafter be greater.' 
 And such shall he obtain without doubt; wander- 
 ing from place to place, abandoning the comforts 
 of this life, subsisting solely on charity, visiting 
 holy places, are with us :" — here his voice was 
 accented, and he pointed to his own breast ; — 
 " voluntary penances in this life, befitting us for 
 additional pleasures in the next existence." 
 
 " But who," interrupting him, I inquired, "will 
 see his funeral obsequies performed?" 
 
 " That will I do," he quickly retorted, " although 
 it is not in the right of a Sonyassey* Gosayen, 
 and Fakeer, to expect such ceremonies. If the 
 essential essence of the soul be preserved, what 
 signifies the body } Devoted to austerity, pursu- 
 ing tedious and unknown journeys, without com- 
 panions, and through desert ways, liable to attack 
 from rapacious wild beasts ; who can watch the 
 dying moments of a devotee, or who pay the tri- 
 bute of respect to his remains." 
 
 As the old man was well acquainted with the 
 Hindoostanee language, I was enabled to coax him 
 
 * Sonxjassey. — Another class of religious mendicants. 
 d2 
 
 / /RR/iDV
 
 52 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 into conversation gradually, by introducing ques- 
 tions, and feigning surprise at his answers. His 
 leathern scrip was now laid aside ; the scowl, which 
 once mantled on his brow at the earlier period of our 
 acquaintance,softened away into a smile ; the usual 
 animosity of sectarians was banished by my con- 
 descending manner, and the gift of a rupee, for the 
 use of the Durrumsollah, and gave my new-made 
 companion a strong claim, upon my attention, 
 whilst he recited the following story, in corrobo- 
 ration of his assertions. His sharp and piercing 
 eye glowed with animation, and was fraught 
 with intelligence. His recital was clear and dis- 
 tinct, whilst the tale itself lost nothing of its 
 interest by his being the hero, recounting the 
 exploits of his own countrymen in the cause of 
 religion, for vanity and egotism were as foreign 
 from his words and actions as from his heart. 
 
 " It so happened, some years since," he com- 
 menced, whilst seating himself on the ground 
 before me, " that I, in my younger days, fired 
 with enthusiasm, and called on by fate, relin- 
 quished all the pleasures of this world, forsook 
 my friends, renounced my relations, and deter- 
 mined on a pilgrimage to the far famed holy and
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 53 
 
 religiously sacred temples at Juggur Natha. I 
 had already been marked with the heated copper 
 stamp on my right arm, which indicates the 
 wearer to have performed his worship at the 
 temples of Dwarka. Besides this journey, I had, 
 with my parents, in my most youthful days, 
 visited the places consecrated to religion, on the 
 mountain of Aboo, steep, abrupt, and rendered 
 difficult of access from the numerous tribes of 
 robbers in the immediate vicinity, and the almost 
 impervious nature of the surrounding jungles. 
 So mercenary are these robbers that they respect 
 neither age nor religion, so that the devotee is as 
 certain to be spoiled as the rich merchant, unless 
 his staff and courage can protect him. I had 
 bathed at the fountain source of the sacred 
 Kistnah,* but when at last I heard of the pilgrim- 
 age to Jugger Natha, had the solemnity of the 
 ceremonies explained, and the necessity worked 
 upon me, of endeavouring to effect, in the cause 
 of my religion, this journey, to gain the great 
 rewards of an hereafter; I only considered my 
 former feats as of mean importance and character 
 
 * Kistnah. — A river.
 
 54 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 As I intended to be present at the Dole Juttra, 
 and the distance to be accomplished was very 
 great, I quitted this my native village at the ter- 
 mination of the monsoon.* Having rashly, and 
 in the excited moments of religious fervour, em- 
 barked in this undertaking, the various hardships 
 which delayed my progress, at first, were too much 
 for my youthful mind to combat in patient endu- 
 rance ; sometimes they rendered me wavering in 
 my counsel, at others made me relent my rashness ; 
 yet as I hourly surmounted difficulties, equal at 
 first sight to those, which, in succeeding them, 
 held me scared and at fault, my mind became 
 more determined, and nerved itself at length to 
 meet all opposition with fortitude. I knew well 
 my character would be enhanced, and my claims 
 upon the religious charity and reverence of my 
 neighbours be augmented, if I could but achieve 
 the accomplishment of such an imposing task as 
 I had voluntarily taken upon myself. Buoyed up 
 with such flattering prospects, my vanity worked 
 upon me, and my religion persuaded, so that what 
 with youth and strength, I was proof against all 
 untoward circumstances, until when near a marshy 
 village, the hand of disease threatened to arrest 
 * Monsoon. — Such is the rainy season termed.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 55 
 
 my progress, if not to terminate my career. I 
 was suddenly seized with fever, my eye-balls 
 burnt, my pulse beat high, my limbs now shook 
 with cold, my teeth chattered; then again, a 
 burning heat threatened to consume me, until the 
 perspiration, standing in huge drops on the sur- 
 face pf my devoted body, again somewhat relieved 
 me, whilst exhausting its strength to resist the 
 disease. Such was the violence of the delirium 
 which accompanied the first attacks, thati was kept 
 bound to the precincts of the Durrumsollah I had 
 rested at, for several days, whilst my fellow bre- 
 thren, whom chance directed there, tendered me 
 a portion of their daily food. Two hundred coss 
 of my journey yet remained for me to perform, 
 and scarcely sufficient time to pass over such a 
 lengthened tract of country. At length I set 
 forward, and travelled on in the holy cause, regard- 
 less whether I perished or not. To gain a glimpse 
 of the holy buildings, even if purchased with the 
 greatest sufi'ering, and attained to in my dying 
 moments, was all I cared for, and all I wished. 
 At times I relapsed ; at times recovered a little; but 
 in the end claimed my prize, and obtained it in a 
 successful termination to my journey.
 
 66 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 " Little interest occurs in my own part of the 
 narrative," continued the communicative narra- 
 tor ; " but it was as well, perhaps^ to acquaint you 
 with the manner in which I became a witness 
 to the calamities, horrors, and misfortunes, I am 
 about to relate to you. Before you can reach the 
 sacred place I was journeying towards, when yet 
 three days' march distant, the road is strewed 
 with human bones; the only visible remains of 
 those who have sacrificed their lives in an attempt 
 to gladden their sight with one glimpse of the 
 holy buildings, where the performance of the due 
 and proper rites is propitiatory in the eyes of the 
 Supreme Being, These traces of human destruc- 
 tion, after first presenting themselves to my view, 
 thickened as I went on ; and now the crowd of 
 pilgrims began to assemble around me : flocking 
 from all quarters in groups, and by single indi- 
 viduals. I soon found myself buried in one multi- 
 tudinous concourse of persons, attracted by the 
 veneration every true Hindoo attaches to the sa- 
 cred precincts of these temples. Many, amongst 
 this vast number, were at their onset oppressed 
 with age and disease. The old, unaided with 
 vigour of constitution, or muscular strength, to
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 57 
 
 contend against their hardships, were amongst 
 the first that fell by the way-side, to close their 
 eyes for ever. Those diseased, a prey to emacia- 
 tion and weakness, soon followed, yet not one, 
 whilst the slightest power remained to him, 
 relaxed in his endeavours to gain a foremost place 
 amongst the pilgrims on the approach. Many 
 again, who had left their homes in the vigour of 
 manhood, but uninured to fatigue from sedentary 
 habits, contracted fever and disease whilst march- 
 ing, and now, completely exhausted, fell in my 
 presence, amongst the sand hills, to furnish a 
 meal for wild beasts, and leave their bones to 
 %vhiten the sterile soil. Others again, were seen 
 harassing themselves in measuring the distance 
 with their whole length prostrate on the ground, 
 in which manner they had come many coss, ex- 
 posed to the burning heat or midnight dews, in 
 performance of a vow or voluntary j)enance, 
 exacted from them, to avoid an impending mis- 
 fortune, or to ensure recovery from sickness ; 
 others again, bearing pans of fire in the open 
 palm of the right hand, the arm extended to the 
 utmost perpendicular above the head, pushed 
 iieir way through the crowd, and strode manfully 
 
 d3
 
 58 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 on, alike disregarded by and disregarding others. 
 Many, crippled with the distance already travelled 
 -over, made but slow progress, now seating them- 
 selves to ease their wearied limbs, or cool their 
 chafed and sore feet, and now again, aided by 
 their relatives, or depending upon their staff, they 
 endeavoured to effect the little distance which re- 
 mained to cheat them of their hopes, and snatch 
 away their dearly purchased attempts. Amidst 
 the concomitant confusion, the hum of voices, the 
 groans of the dying, the shrieks of those trampled 
 upon, my eye rested upon one scene in particular, 
 which rivetted my attention, and made me halt 
 temporarily before the spot. I was as yet but a 
 novice in my profession, and unhardened, so that I 
 could not pass by the unfortunate without even 
 gazing at them, from apathetic indifference; and 
 I hope, whilst life yet remains to me, to cherish 
 the same sentiments towards mankind in general, 
 and may I never forget to grant my assistance if 
 it can avail any thing, towards the welfare or the 
 good cause of another. Groupe after groupe had 
 passed by the place before me and yet continued 
 to move, by almost sweeping me before them, and 
 yet not one tarried at the instance of either curio- 
 sity or charity.
 
 EUSTUM KHAN. 59 
 
 " A family, consisting of a mother and her 
 infant, accompanied by her husband, had left their 
 home where peace and plenty reigned, in the 
 Mysore country, to come and pay their devotions 
 at the ever sacred Jugga Natha. Fatigue and 
 accumulated misfortune at length compelled them 
 to rest by the way-side, and during the short in- 
 terval of rest they had sought, the man had 
 already passed away ; the little offspring, scarcely 
 nine months old, diseased with the small-pox, 
 and emaciated in the extreme, seemed almost 
 lifeless for moments together, except when irri- 
 tated by the pangs it suffered ; it then cried and 
 screamed aloud. The mother beating her breasts 
 unmercifully, with her clenched fists, and weep- 
 ing at the death of her husband, with dishevelled 
 hair floating in the breeze, and torn garments, 
 worn out with fatigue and woe, was the very 
 image of despair ; whilst her maternal fondness 
 for her child, as it lay writhing in agony and un- 
 easiness before her, yet further increased her 
 misery. First gazing wildly on her husband's 
 corpse,andthen stealing a look at her helpless suf- 
 fering infant, she raved and weptaloud. Dashing 
 herself upon the earth with vehemence, tearing her
 
 60 . RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 hair, as if a stranger to all corporeal feeling, in in- 
 dulging her mental sorrow, she at last became ex- 
 haustedjlost all 230wer,and swooned away. When by 
 exertions on my part, she had sufficiently recovered 
 to collect her scattered senses, she brushed me 
 on one side, raised herself from her recumbent 
 posture, rushed to her infant, clasped it in her 
 arms, bathed it with her tears, and dried them 
 with her burning kisses, ere they had rested for 
 a moment on the child's cheeks. Now she offered 
 it the sustenance of its mother's milk; when to 
 her horror and amazement she discovered the spark 
 of life was extinguished. The torrent of anguish 
 which now overwhelmed the deserted widow, 
 who had lost both husband and child in one 
 luckless hour, cannot be described. The demo- 
 niacal actions, the fruits of maddening sorrow, 
 her bewildered look, her imprecations against, 
 mingled with demands for aid from, her deities, 
 drove me onwards towards my destination. Inclin- 
 ing with the fluctuations of the crowd, I hastened 
 on, followed by the unfortunate woman, still 
 carrying her lifeless infant, and rending the skies 
 with her voice of woe and lamentation. * Array, 
 will no one help me ? Oh my girl, my girl !' she
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 61 
 
 continued exclaiming, whilst she gazed upon her 
 dead child, and pressed it yet closer to her bosom; 
 ' will no one help me ?' Deaf alike to all around 
 them, and straining their heated eye-balls towards 
 the situation of the temples, myriads passed on- 
 wards. Shout after shout from those portions of 
 the multitude which were before us, rushed past 
 with every breeze, until at length having ascended 
 a low sand hill, from whence these had arisen, 
 we in our turn saw the dusky temples rearing 
 themselves in the distance, with the boundless 
 ocean in their rear. One and all who had thus their 
 hopes consummated, forgot in an instant their 
 sorrows, griefs, and pains, and raised their voices 
 in exultation. Judge my surprize then, when 
 the widow joined in the uproarious shout. The 
 same religious enthusiasm which gave rise to 
 her journey, and had in its effects loaded her with 
 accumulated misfortune, yet burned within her; 
 and whilst her heart bl^d at the dear sacri- 
 fices she had made to obtain her wish, the fulfil- 
 ment of her hopes, for the moment, amply repaid 
 her. 
 
 " Thus far is all I need relate," continued the 
 old man, " as the after portion of her life I had
 
 62 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 frequent opportunities of witnessing, and many 
 circumstances connected with her involve my 
 -own secrets. This was but one scene out of many; 
 doubtless, could my eye have scanned the whole 
 of the adjacent country, and penetrated into the 
 thickest of the multitude, I should have witnessed 
 many scenes equally terrific, in the severity of 
 the trials undergone, and praiseworthy in the 
 unbinding firmness of the opposition offered. 
 Now judge for yourself, how far less shocking 
 the case you recited to me becomes, on compari- 
 son with the one just brought before your consi- 
 deration. If you could collect, from the indivi- 
 duals of my wandering tribe, an account of what 
 each has seen in his pilgrimages, and suffered, 
 you would have condensed a chaos of nar- 
 rated evil, indicative of oar's being any thing 
 but an easy, indolent life, replete with pleasure, 
 as it is generally understood to be. But, Huk ! 
 Huk ! here is the mid-day sun above the horizon, 
 permit me to pass on." So saying, he leapt from 
 the ground, seized his wallet, put on his shoes 
 which he had removed, on seating himself, from 
 his feet, and I soon lost sight of him, after ascend- 
 ing the opposite bank of the tank.
 
 RUSTLM KHAN. 63 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 REFLECTIONS — EXPLANATION — THE SUTTEE* — SCEN- 
 ERY — THE PEACOCK — EXPECTATION AND SURPRISE 
 — OUR SITUATION, AND MAHOMED'S ADVICE. — VEX- 
 ATIONS AND REMARKS — DESPATCH AND BREAKING 
 UP OF MY ENCAMPMENT. 
 
 Out of sight and out of mind is doubtless the 
 opinion of the reader, but such was not the case 
 in reality. I could not help pondering upon his 
 woful tale and its import, and perhaps, had I not 
 witnessed in himself a further elucidation of what 
 his language went to confirm, I might have dis- 
 regarded his assertions. Many there are, doubt- 
 less, who are disinclined to credit the sum total 
 of a traveller's marvels; but my acquaintance 
 with the manners, customs and conduct of the 
 natives, but more particularly of the Hindoo, 
 
 * The Suttee. — The widow who burns herself.
 
 64 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 whose penances outvie in severity almost the en- 
 durance of human nature — had taught me to re- 
 'gard his statement in a far different light, and 
 when adopted at the instance of religious feelings — 
 whether of a right and proper character or not, 
 they cannot hut be respected ; more especially 
 when the blessed light of the Holy Gospel has not 
 yet been discovered to them. There is an enthu- 
 siasm, a fear of shame, a steady reliance on the 
 promises contained in their religious writings, 
 which makes them bid defiance to adversity, and 
 laugh misfortune in the end to scorn. Their sole 
 aim is to follow in the track of their forefathers, 
 endeared to them by the consecrated continuance 
 of ages, and kept before their sight in the example 
 of their fellow-creatures. Their customs, the di- 
 \ isions of caste, and dreaded punishment of ex- 
 communication for disobeying their mandates, 
 gain an ascendancy over their feelings, that would, 
 in most instances, render their subversion a se- 
 vere curse to those in whose life-times a change 
 of their laws should be enforced. And have we 
 not examples of the same feelings in our own 
 hemisphere and within our knowledge, even 
 where education has attained its very summit of
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 65 
 
 perfection, and a benign and blessed religion, 
 neither enjoining severities for endurance, nor 
 tiardsliips innumerable, tends to harmonize the 
 mind and inspire it with vigour. Humanity 
 would prompt us above all things, to see the abo- 
 lition of the self-immolation of the widow at her 
 husband's funeral pile ; but yet, in how many 
 instances, as their society is formed in the present 
 hovu', up to which these ceremonies, although not 
 upheld, have nevertheless been tolerated, would 
 such a deed, in lieu of proving a kindness to the 
 present generation, engender a curse, only to be 
 remedied by suicide. For on what, except the 
 murderous knife, can the untutored, accused by 
 their own customs, for which they have been 
 taught from early youth to cherish the highest 
 veneration, and for which they are now ready to 
 yield up life itself — on what else, I would ask, 
 will they look for aid, or for comfort ? Cases are 
 often adduced of force being used to constrain the 
 widow to act as her own murderer, and these are 
 urged upon the notice of those who have never 
 witnessed the people whose cause, it is hoped, 
 they may be induced to espouse : yet I must as- 
 sert, that, from what I have seen of the Suttee,
 
 06 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 I cannot myself bring forward such an act, in the 
 first instance ; but yet, if life is not momentarily 
 extinguished, on the burst of the flames, doubt- 
 less fright might, in the event of escape from the 
 pile, alter the widow's determination — and doubt- 
 less has done so. I have conversed with one in 
 1829, and every answer to my questions was a 
 sensible one, neither did she labour under the ef- 
 fects of a narcotic, nor was she intoxicated ; but 
 her mind was firm and unbending in her resolve , 
 although offers of support and even affluence were 
 proffered by the Rajah in whose dominions the 
 pile received its victim. Again, how often and 
 how strenuously have the servants of the Hon- 
 ourable East India Company endeavoured to dis- 
 suade the widow, from plunging, by her own act, 
 thus fearlessly into eternity — and what have been 
 the results ? She has of course preferred to abide 
 by her choice. Because the widow has been un- 
 able to cheat her own mind, deceive herself, or 
 satisfy her conscience upon the propriety of ac- 
 cepting the proffered offer ; and if such is really 
 the case, can you, by any other means, than by 
 gradually undermining the foundation of her be- 
 lief by education, force her to keep an existence
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 67 
 
 she spurns the idea of retaining ? Is it to be ex- 
 pected that her unenlightenedmind would not ra- 
 ther urge her to self-sacrifice, than to fall from the 
 pinnacle of sacerdotal respectability, when, to be- 
 come an outcast and a bye-word is the reward of 
 opposite conduct ? Even where education has 
 made the most favourable impressions, how diffi- 
 cult is it to stem the tide of adversity, by living 
 to cherish a knowledge of what has been and 
 what is ? In adding one to the many monuments 
 of Suttees, the widow dies surrounded with plau- 
 dits ; she knows her memory is to be preserved 
 lasting ; the finger of rapture, amongst her coun- 
 trymen, will be pointed to the spot marked as the 
 place of her self-martyrdom : — whereas, to refuse 
 this ceremony, is to be branded with infamy, to 
 remain without a protector throughout life, to be 
 clad in certain robes, shorn of her hair, and ba- 
 nished from her home for ever. Who, I may ask, 
 can, unless by education, tame the workings of 
 ambition ? 
 
 With the thundering vengeance of the Euro- 
 pean world around him, and ready to be dis- 
 charged upon his devoted head, could we restrain 
 one act of Napoleon, or dictate to him what
 
 68 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 his iiiiglity mind scorned to apj^rove of in the 
 hour of his ruling God, — Ambition ? And can an 
 order for the discontinuance of the Suttee, then, 
 be expected to ensure the object in view, of pre- 
 venting the unnecessary shedding of human 
 blood, unless other more congenial measures 
 should be devised, to aid its cause? — But I would 
 not willingly be misunderstood on this head ; it 
 is the method, not the intention, these remarks 
 tend to disapprove of, and in being offered, may 
 perhaps not be altogether unheeded by those who 
 cannot make personal observations, when I assure 
 them, I would willingly, had I the ability to do 
 good immediately in this cause, by other means 
 than I have hinted at, offer such for their consi- 
 deration as readily as I have these. 
 
 Such were my reflections as I gazed upon the 
 following scene, towards sunset, to the descrip- 
 tion of which I would direct the observation of 
 those, with whom the abolition of this horrid 
 ceremony, remains as a matter of argument ; and 
 who again have to decide upon the most efficaci- 
 ous method to carry the wishes of their country- 
 men into effect, and to paralyze the endeavours 
 of those who aim at self-destruction.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 69 
 
 It had come to my knowledge, during my halt, 
 that a Suttee was to take place in the evening, 
 and accordingly, amongst my other observations 
 on the adjacent land and its varied objects, I had 
 not failed to remark the busy preparations for 
 this awful ceremony. Beggarries, laden with 
 fuel of all descriptions, now cast down their loads, 
 received their payment in pice*, washed them- 
 selves in the tank, and hastened to the village, 
 to purchase food for their meal, or again add to 
 their hard-earned wealth, in profiting by a se- 
 cond hire, if attainable. Brahmins now came 
 and gave directions, and then as suddenly de- 
 camped : banyans, with dhubbers of gheef and 
 oil, and pounded resin ; others with dried hemp ; 
 many bearing cotton, — had by turns supplied 
 those with the necessary articles, to whom were 
 intrusted the immediate erection of the pile. 
 Two or three couple of oxen dragged onwards a 
 heavy log of dried timber, for the upper part or 
 
 •^ Pice — small copper coins. 
 
 f Dhubbers of Ghee. — The dhubber is made of un- 
 tanned hide, and of various sizes. Ghee is clarified 
 butter.
 
 70 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 roofing of the hut, to which the pile, when built, 
 assimilated, whilst many asses, laden with dried 
 cow-dung,* continued labouring between the vil- 
 lage and the scene of busy preparation. My 
 dinner intervened, to interrupt my further ob- 
 servation, and when I again returned, all was 
 complete. At a short distance a faint column 
 of smoke indicated the quarter from whence the 
 destructive element was to be propagated in fur- 
 therance of this idolatrous custom, equally re- 
 volting in absurdity and cnielty. The single 
 individuals, whom curiosity led forth from the 
 village, or whom a religious feeling and venera- 
 tion for this awful ceremony, had induced to quit 
 their usual occupation and repair to this spot of 
 blood and suffering, — soon gathered into groups, 
 as each recognizing his neighbour, or a valued 
 friend, became busied in pointing out whence, or 
 describing when, the Suttee w^as expected to come 
 forth, and present herself to the idle gazers. The 
 herdsman gathered his flocks together earlier 
 than usual, to take their evening draught, that 
 he might be present ; the banyan for once quitted 
 
 * Called Gohur.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 71 
 
 the verandah in which his wares were exposed, 
 to lose an hour and many a rupee. Devotees 
 were hastening on with joy, whilst the Brahmin, 
 with his expostulation, urged every despatch in 
 completing the arrangements. My horse re- 
 mained ready saddled at the door of the enclosure, 
 my servants were clad in their gayest attire, and 
 only waited my departure to quit the place and 
 follow ; whilst all but the sentry on duty had 
 my permission to absent themselves. " They 
 come ! they come ! " a thousand voices exclaimed : 
 " they come ! the Suttee ! behold the Suttee !" — 
 and soon the first burst of wild music floated past 
 me, hurried onwards with the breeze. Short 
 was the interval between my first excitement, as 
 the purpose of those hastening onwards, burst 
 upon my recollection in all the horrible certainty 
 of death, which I knew attended the widow; and 
 the appearance of the expected persons, as the 
 procession, headed by the Brahmins and village 
 chief, gently wound over the bank of the tank : 
 there was a silent manner mingled in the crowded 
 mass, such as reigns in the churchyard by moon- 
 light : it was like the tramp of a body of military, 
 moving on to the slaughter of their foes ; silence
 
 72 RIJSTUM KHAN. 
 
 mixed with awe, and yet no appearance of fear 
 or grief, so marked as to be singular. No sooner 
 ' did the widow perceive the i3ile, than she rushed 
 forward, bursting from her female friends, and 
 prostrated herself before the pile, now swelling 
 her smiles into a demoniac laugh, and now wail- 
 ing in the loudest terms, over the loss of him, to 
 follow whom into eternity, she was well pre- 
 pared. The train of females, in their various 
 coloured robes, the garments so arranged over 
 the head, as to conceal the features of the face, 
 when joined by the hand under the chin, came 
 slowly on, pensively sad ; and many among the 
 fair Brahminees might have, perhaps, sighed over, 
 or trembled at, the near approach of that awful 
 crisis, which might, ere long, be the test of her 
 own adherence to her religion, or the finish of her 
 sufferings. And now, one and all surrounded 
 the pile. After having gone through the neces- 
 sary ablutions, the priests, clad in white, ap- 
 proached the fair Brahminee, and acquainted her 
 all was prepared. Shouts again burst forth, and 
 yet these exultations were the prelude to a scene 
 of self-destruction. I shuddered at the thought, 
 and would have shut my ears against itself and
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 73 
 
 many echoes, as I would by speed and journeying 
 outstep the lengthening sounds of the funereal 
 peal, which announces the burial time of my long- 
 loved, much-valued friend, to be at hand : — and 
 yet — I know not why — I mounted, and was in a 
 moment at the spot, to gaze upon the scene more 
 narrowly. I kept a keen and searching eye upon 
 the widow, and could discern the utmost impa- 
 tience for the fatal moment. Her actions of 
 despair, when she looked upon her husband's 
 corpse, and wildly urged his fond name upon our 
 hearing, whilst vehemently dashing herself upon 
 the ground, made my blood chill within me, and 
 I longed to save her life, even if purchased with 
 the sacrifice of all around her. In this state did 
 I behold her, in the vigour of health, and 
 blooming with beauty, dauntlessly prepare to 
 separate from her children, relations, and kindred, 
 and advance without a faulter towards the dense 
 mass of heaped combustibles, destined not only 
 to consume the lifeless body of her husband, but 
 to receive herself — a voluntary victim. I could 
 have echoed to the boisterous roar around, — " O 
 Death ! where is thy sting ? O Grave ! where is 
 thy victory ?" The time drew on, and as yet the 
 
 VOL. I. E
 
 74 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 voice of kind commiseration is of no avail ; the 
 tearless eye, the absence of all fear and trembling, 
 is yet continued; and when I saw the joyous 
 manner in which this infatuated female beheld 
 the busy preparations for her martyrdom, in the 
 lighting of torches, soon to feed the insatiable 
 pile before her, I could not but admire her for- 
 titude of mind, and determination of intention. 
 I can affirm, it was sufficient to aw^e into venera- 
 tion for her character, the feelings of any one w^ho 
 beheld it : and where, when, and how, can such 
 enthusiastic souls be subdued ? If the results of 
 such uniDarallelled courage were to be the accu- 
 mulation of the w^ealth — the happiness, of her 
 family, — the enjoyment of luxury, or of every 
 earthly comfort, with a lengthened life, — I could 
 have guessed the widow's intention ; but with the 
 ghastly pile before her, and death, pointing out 
 the way, and she willing to follow it, it baffled all 
 my speculations to deduce any other conclusion, 
 than that of religious inspiration, as her monitor. 
 All entreaty to desist, on the part of the village 
 officers, both in the judicial and revenue depart- 
 ments, having failed; not to mention my own 
 exertions in the cause of humanity, an aged and
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 75 
 
 afflicted mother's tears, and the bitter sorrow of a 
 sister, being alike disregarded, by this unbending 
 female, we prepared to witness the worst and 
 only alternative — the ceremony of self-immola- 
 tion. Thrice round the pile the victim walked; 
 distributed after each circumambulation some 
 portion of her jewels, until all were disposed of, 
 taking them from off her person in haste, with her 
 own hands, as if scorning the delay : and then her 
 children were presented to her. The mother's 
 feelings here put her to a severe trial ; she lin- 
 gered for a moment, as, bending over them, she 
 imprinted her last kiss upon those lips she had 
 often kissed before, when in the pride of life. 
 Again she turned — the tear glistened in her eye 
 — a shudder seemed to shake her ; but, in a mo- 
 ment, recovering her serenity, she seized an ig- 
 nited torch, rushed into the interior of the pile, 
 gazed upon her husband's corpse, placed his 
 head in her lap, signalled a farewell to her friends, 
 and set fire to the nearest spot j whilst in every 
 direction from without, the fire was assisted, and 
 soon the crash was heard — the pile lost all form, 
 and became one mass of burning brightness. 
 The ceaseless beating of drums, winding of horns, 
 e2
 
 76 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 shouting of the multitude, aided with the echo, 
 and discharges of fire-arms, drowned any cries 
 that might otherwise have reached our ears, from 
 the widow, in her dying moments. 
 
 The space around was once more cleared ; the 
 inhabitants retired to their homes, whilst I pressed 
 onwards, to make my observations on the culti- 
 vated scene before me, and complete a circuit of 
 a mile or two. The heat throughout the day had 
 been intense, aided with the most powerful hot 
 wind I ever experienced. The village was to all 
 appearance at times covered with a misty vapour, 
 half exhalation, and partly formed by clouds of 
 sand, that with a passing shy tan* were hurried 
 upwards together, with the grass torn by its vio- 
 lence from the roofs of the houses it swept over. 
 The sun had scarcely sunken into repose, ere all 
 was hushed around. Before my return even, all 
 active bustle was relinquished. The trials of the 
 day had made a deep impression upon human 
 nature, and the nurture of rest was eagerly 
 sought. The howling of jackals, answered by 
 
 * Shytan. — Literally Devil, applied to those passing 
 afusts.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 77 
 
 the barking of the innumerable village curs, was 
 sufficiently annoying; but not another sound, no, 
 not the rushing of a leaf, fanned by a breeze, 
 intruded upon the calm stillness. 
 
 The hours between midnight and morn, so 
 propitious for marching, were not disregarded, 
 and when the day-light came to cheer me on my 
 way, and open the beauties of the landscape to 
 view, it was a far distant one to that which I had 
 beheld at the close of the preceding day. Accus- 
 tomed as I had been from my earliest arrival in 
 India, to gaze upon the rocky surface of the 
 Deccan, broken and divided by numerous and 
 deep ravines, this march was not without its in- 
 terest. The country through which my road lay, 
 might almost be compared in fertile abundance 
 to the luxuriant soil of Bengal, teeming with pro- 
 duce. The scenery around was of the most pic- 
 turesque nature: — advancing at times through 
 narrow lanes, bounded upon either side with 
 hedgerows of milkbush and briars, that shot far 
 above both man and horse, my view was circum- 
 scribed for the time, but then again, as these ter- 
 minated, I saw vast plains stretched before my 
 eye, thickly studded with mangoe, tamarind, and
 
 78 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 peelow trees, varied with the neem, and goon die, 
 which seemed to vie with each other in stupen- 
 dous height, mighty bulk, and thick-set foliage. 
 Divided and subdivided as the soil was into fields 
 and paddocks, the hand of industry was every 
 where visible, whilst the once uplifted earth, be- 
 fore the time of sowing, had now settled in fur- 
 rows, thickly bristled with stubble, and bespoke 
 the highly cultivated state of this province, and 
 abundance of its produce. The position of the 
 villages around, were generally upon some 
 gentle undulation, which sufficiently raised them 
 to become a marked object, had not the dense 
 shade preserved around and about it, from the 
 groves of trees, attracted observation. 
 
 Every now and then the approaching tramp of 
 my horse aroused the stately peacock from his 
 quiet and generally unmolested haunts, in the 
 thick underwood adjoining the hedges, or in the 
 concealment of a field of cotton trees. Where 
 Hindoos are so prevalent as in Guzerat, these 
 birds not only daily increase in numbers, but 
 from the kindness experienced at the hands of 
 these men, become completely domesticated in 
 their habits, and yet there is something in the
 
 RUSTUJVI KHAN. 79 
 
 approach of an European, whether in the dif- 
 ference of clothing, manner, or gait, I cannot say 
 which, terrifies them, for at the sight of one they 
 invariably move off with all the celerity of foot 
 that characterizes them. The Government have 
 deemed it advisable to lay an interdict upon 
 Europeans ever killing a peacock in their dis- 
 tricts, and common sense ought to dictate acqui- 
 escence. In several instances the feelings of the 
 natives kindling at such outrages, have urged 
 them to reap signal revenge upon the offending 
 parties, and human blood has, in consequence, 
 been shed on both sides, in an angry quarreL 
 Under my own knowledge, an European soldier, 
 who, with some comrades, was out shooting, 
 happening to kill a peacock, one of the sacred 
 birds of the Hindoo mythology, within sight of a 
 native, the whole village near which the occur- 
 rence took place was soon alarmed, a skirmish 
 ensued, which was terminated by the death of 
 the offender. Such is the result of wilfully or 
 erroneously opposing yourself to the fury of their 
 fanatical opinions; as useless as indecorous, when 
 such feelings are incorporated with their religion „ 
 May it serve as a lesson to those who may enter
 
 80 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 the military or civil service of the Honourable 
 Company, at a future date. If sport be the ob- 
 ject of him who will yet pursue this revered bird, 
 I can assure him he can reap but little, more 
 especially if thick underwood be the resort of the 
 broods he is in quest of, as he may be certain the 
 bird will never raise itself upon its wing, whilst 
 it can by swiftness, and unimpeded by the growth 
 of trees, evade its pursuer, or uselessly fatigue 
 him. 
 
 As I leisurely passed through the village, at 
 which this day's march was to terminate, before 
 I could reach my baggage, which had halted at 
 the further extremity, I was considerably amused 
 with the high state of expectation with which the 
 inhabitants awaited my arrival. The whole bazaar 
 was stocked with idle gazers ; the little children, 
 who, for aught I know, had been the most anxious 
 for my coming, no sooner heard the cry of 
 "Saheb ! Saheb !" than directing their attention 
 to the quarter these words were exclaimed in, they 
 caught a glimpse of me, as I wound round the 
 base of the village pagoda, and bore down upon 
 them ; " Saheb ! Saheb !" they repeated ; then fled 
 in every direction, roaring, screaming, overturning
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 81 
 
 the weakest in their flight, or themselves being 
 upset, by a recoil from a stronger party, against 
 whom this misguided haste had brought them. 
 All was hurry and scamper, until, when at a safe 
 distance, they ventured to turn back a glance 
 or two upon the much-dreaded stranger. The 
 women returning from the wells ensconced them- 
 selves behind such projecting pieces of brick 
 wall, as offered a retreat for the concealment of 
 their persons ; if not within their reach, or in 
 turning a corner, they came suddenly upon the 
 foe, their saree was quickly closed over their 
 face, and they, with less politeness, than inten- 
 tion of insult, turned their backs upon me, to 
 preserve a modest decorum, in hiding the features 
 of their face. The Banian, seated amidst his 
 heaps of grain, spices, tobacco and other com- 
 modities, in his thirsting after gain, scarcely 
 deigned to grant his attention for a moment, to 
 the busy scene of confusion, or to scan my per- 
 son. The Shroff, surrounded with copper coin, 
 and his money box placed before him, just 
 granted me a glance, as my shadow thrown upon 
 him, in passing, drew his attention from his 
 neatly written account book, covered with a por- 
 E 3
 
 82 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 tion of red stained leather. The herdsman, as 
 his flock met me, plunged into the midst, and 
 with shouts and hlows divided his cattle to either 
 side, to form a lane for my passage. The village 
 curs even were affrighted, they scampered off, 
 climbed the ruined walls adjacent, and then 
 turned to bark me welcome, or to bid me de- 
 fiance, staring fiercely at me, but again taking to 
 their heels if I dashed on horseback towards 
 them. The unfortunate asses, who, in this 
 quarter of the world, as well as in every other, 
 are hard worked and ill fed, having no regular 
 supply of food allowed them, alone remained un- 
 disturbed by any arrival, as if their difficult em= 
 ployment, in searching from amongst the rub- 
 bish for something to eat, made fear a stranger to 
 them, and kept their eyes bent upon the ground. 
 The loud baying of the village dogs became 
 fainter and fainter as I proceeded, headed by my 
 horsekeeper, in the direction of my tents. At 
 length I gained a view of my Beehoba * pitched 
 
 * Beehoba. — Literally without a pole. A small tent 
 used for sleeping in. It is supported at the four corners 
 ^'ith poles, over which the ropes pass.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 83 
 
 near a well, under the grateful shade of banyan 
 and tamarind trees, where, after a hundred yards' 
 canter I alighted, and found every thing prej)ared 
 for my reception. The wild, yet soothingly plain- 
 tive notes of the chaunt of the husbandman at 
 the well, urging his jaded bullocks to raise the 
 heavily laden waterskin, almost bursting, al- 
 though not new to me, was still pleasing. As I 
 sat at breakfast, the prospect before me was 
 delightful. My eye rested all the while upon 
 the bright green surface of an enclosed field of 
 grain, nurtured by irrigation. Beyond this, op- 
 posing a barrier of gloomy darkness and limiting 
 my view, a pan garden * offered a pleasing shade 
 to contemplate, and at this advanced period of 
 the hottest season of the year, these sort of in- 
 significant luxuries, for into such they can only 
 be augmented by the fancy, as they do not abso- 
 lutely contribute much to personal comfort, are 
 gratefully received, and most generally sought 
 after by the Indian traveller, if an experienced 
 
 - Pan garden. — The pan is cultivated as a luxurvo 
 It is a leaf in which the natives wrap up spices and eat 
 it, and is much sought after.
 
 84 EUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 one. The constant sounds of the water dropping 
 from the upraising bucket into the well, and the 
 jnelodious echo amidst the encircling grove, com- 
 bined with the pleasing rush of water into the 
 cistern which communicated with the further 
 extremities of this garden scene, by means of 
 small canals, were agreeable sounds; indeed I 
 was induced to fancy it rendered my situation 
 less irksome than the heat would otherwise have 
 reduced it to. Besides, the proximity of water 
 led me to erect my tatties,* which with ease 
 were kept moist throughout the day-time, and 
 formed, combined with the shelter afforded by 
 the pan garden, a sufficient barrier against the 
 superlatively annoying hot wind, which, with 
 every march into the interior, became more 
 parching and of greater violence. 
 
 Two more marches were in like manner com- 
 pleted. On each succeeding day after our dis- 
 embarkation, the heat had become more enervat- 
 
 * Tatties. — These are screens made of the roots of a 
 particular kind of gi-ass. They retain moisture, and shed 
 around, when wetted, an aromatic scent. The air in 
 passing through them becomes cooled.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. S5 
 
 ing. The night-time, however, was by far the 
 most vmcomfortable period of my existence. 
 Wherever the eye, hand, or foot rested, a burn- 
 ing heat prevailed. The hot wind, which con- 
 tinued until sunset, and through my tatties lent 
 a cooling breeze to my tent, was now hushed, 
 the exhalations from the heated ground, added 
 to the density of the atmosphere, and outmatched 
 in annoyance to me, the brighter glare and more 
 excessive heat of noonday ; there was no alterna- 
 tive to mitigate the endurance of this uncom- 
 fortable situation. With disturbed rest, after daily 
 fatigue, and scarcely able to draw a breath, I 
 should soon have lost all patience, and been re- 
 duced to despair, had not the knowledge of the 
 monsoon being at hand, been present to my mind, 
 to cheer me on in the difficult task of enduring 
 all without a murmui', and continuing my en- 
 deavours to support life by any means. Besides, 
 the heat, from which I chiefly suffered, was a 
 certain prognostic of the near approach of the 
 periodical rains. 
 
 On the evening of this my fourth day's march, 
 dark and heavy clouds preceded sunset, and the 
 glorious orb of day, ere yet it consigned us to the
 
 86 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 dusky hue of night time, tinged them with the 
 brightest hues of gold and scarlet with his 
 - parting rays. The mellowed shades, diversity of 
 form, and various colours which the clouds assumed 
 as slowly they emerged from the west, stretching 
 over the azure blue expanse of the heavens, 
 partly in masses and partly in detached frag- 
 ments, augmented the brilliancy of the fast 
 closing day. 
 
 This was a warning not to be disregarded, or 
 triflingly disposed of, as my object was, if pos- 
 sible, to reach Ahmedabad before the rains set 
 in. The first bursts of the monsoon, or rather 
 the storms which usher in the periodical supply of 
 water to cherish nature in these tropical cli- 
 mates, are most violent and irresistible. They 
 deluge for a time the country ; and the natural 
 drains are incompetent to relieve themselves 
 sufficiently quick to prevent the frequent inun- 
 dations that cities and villages, near the sea 
 shore, and on the banks of rivers, suffer from. 
 The river Mhye formed an intervening barrier 
 between the once mighty city I was journeying 
 to, and my present situation, sufficient to awaken 
 the activity of any traveller, as its passage
 
 EUSTUM KHAN. 87 
 
 under the favourable auspices of the summer 
 droughts was comparatively easy, and my lug- 
 gage could be conveyed across without the 
 necessity of either unloading the cattle, or 
 providing a boat. Whether slumbering in the 
 centre of its sandy bed, or rushing onwards to 
 pay its tribute to the sea in all the magnitude 
 and majesty of its wintry wrath, it crossed my 
 road, and must be passed : its rapid rise and 
 fall were not unknown to me, whilst the omens 
 of the evening at once convinced me that the 
 former, ere long, might give place to the latter 
 unfavourable tide, as my affairs were situated. 
 
 My old servant, to whom the nature of 
 marches during the rainy season throughout 
 Guzerat, or even any portion of the western 
 peninsula of India, was as familiar as his ac- 
 quaintance with his hookah,* which he never 
 parted scarcely from his grasp, (for even on the 
 road he might be seen inhaling the delights of 
 smoking as he went,) doubtless dreaded again 
 catching one of those generally fatal fevers en- 
 gendered by exposure at this period of the year, 
 
 * Hookah.— Fiipe.
 
 88 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 and therefore wished to shorten its duration as 
 much as possible by expedition. The last one 
 he had, brought, in its train of misfortune, the 
 loss of a tooth or two by mercurial salivation, 
 and rendered it necessary for him ever since to 
 dye the bearded ornament of his mussulmanic 
 physiognomy, or age might tell its unwelcome 
 tale. Dreading, doubtless, further ravages, and 
 perhaps more fatal ones, if adverse fate bound 
 him again to the bed of sickness, he came up 
 and requested permission to push on during the 
 night, until within ten or twelve coss of the 
 south-eastern bank of the river Mhye, where he 
 assured me a large village and good bazaar 
 would enable him to furnish a better meal than 
 had graced my table of late. 
 
 To crown, if possible, his efforts to convince 
 me of the utility of the proposed measure, and 
 as I had interrupted him once or twice to ask 
 the meaning of his language, he adopted at length 
 English, and proceeded : " If master will reflect 
 upon what his faithful servant, Mahomed, may 
 say, and he is very old man, then master's good 
 sense shew, that rain he all close coming, and 
 river Mhye he broad and veiy bad, dangerous
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 89 
 
 river, if not cross now not come cross perhaps for 
 many days, and damp and cold Durrumsollah 
 on the banks ; if master stay there will give bad 
 fever. This very bad country, Saheb not know, 
 much fever in this country. Master only give 
 order, then Mahomed go on all night and 
 during to-morrow day, then will get over river, 
 and nothing remain to signify." Although this 
 burst of eloquence, my reader will perceive, was 
 conveyed in a sj)eech rough and uncouth, and 
 little more explanatory than the adoption of 
 Hindostanee in the speaker's first advances at 
 explanation, it however received the jDolish a 
 rough diamond requires to determine its value, 
 from the sound and useful argument it con- 
 tained. It was true no river sufficiently large 
 to retard my progress would remain after the 
 passage of the Mhye was effected. I therefore 
 consented to the proposal, finished my cup of 
 tea as expeditiously as possible, replenished 
 my pocket pistol with brandy, put a bundle of 
 Manilla cigars into my hat, and bade him do as 
 he pleased. My bechoba was struck; fires, fed 
 with the dried grass refused by my horses, 
 lighted in several places to facilitate the actions
 
 90 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 of my diiferent servants, and soon all was active 
 bustle. The bullocks were reluctantly urged to 
 quit their food and brought up to the pile of 
 baggage; the sepoys composing my guard put 
 on their accoutrements as hastily as possible. 
 The naique* who commanded them looked to 
 their flints and examined their arms, whilst 
 each, with the mutual assistance of their com- 
 rades, adjusted their knapsacks to the bent of 
 the galling on their backs ; packed up their kit 
 and bedding, which I had conveyed at my own 
 expence with the rest of my things, to lighten 
 the load they had to march with ; and soon all 
 remained leaning on their muskets, attentive to 
 their leader, and only waiting for the word of 
 command " to march." Mahomed now paid 
 for his purchases, giving about half what was 
 demanded, which in the end was an ample 
 compensation ; now locked up the camp case, 
 then ordered the mussal to see all my boxes 
 safely packed upon the animals; now came to 
 me for orders ; now recommended this measure, 
 
 * Naique. — As used here, a rank in the native army, 
 corresponding with corporal in the British army.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 91 
 
 and then rushed at one of the coolies with his 
 clenched fists for having put the top of the 
 camp case downwards in placing it upon his 
 head. Again the delay of the horsekeepers in 
 packing up their head and heel ropes,* to be 
 included with cooking pots in one of the bur- 
 thens, called forth the old man's ire; whilst 
 something forgotten brought him once or twice, 
 or made him despatch messengers to the camp 
 again, after he had started. At length myself 
 and horsekeeper alone remained behind of all 
 those who, but an hour before, had crowded the 
 small encampment my halt had formed. My 
 time for starting was some hours delayed, in 
 order to allow my baggage sufficiently to ad- 
 vance, and render my arrival after a fatiguing 
 ride at my next journey's end worth my consi- 
 deration, in offering me a meal and shelter, 
 w^hich, at present, I could better do without. 
 How little had I anticipated being forced on 
 against my will, earlier this night than usual ; 
 
 ^ Head and heel ropes. — It must be understood, that 
 in India all horses have their hind feet fastened when at 
 their pickets.
 
 92 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 Still, however, I, as I would advise any other 
 traveller similarly situated, accommodated myself 
 to the exigencies of the moment, and could have 
 laid down upon the ground to rest, if not with a 
 contented mind, yet with one little ruffled. If 
 with momentary flashes of splenetic disgust, a 
 murmur rose upon the lips, the knowledge of how 
 much worse a fate might have attended me, 
 allayed my passion again, and gave me every en- 
 couragement to persevere in cultivating my desire 
 for sleep, by composing myself. If nothing else 
 either useful or ornamental is derived from asso- 
 ciating with camps and martial life, a certain sort 
 of passive indifference, often wanting elsewhere, 
 from constant exposure and knocking about, 
 forms a characteristic habit of a military man, 
 which but few other schools are able to impart. 
 Imperative as martial law is, and compulsory as 
 every order must be when on service, to ensure 
 subordination and couple success with endeavour, 
 an officer eventually contracts a habit of never 
 counting upon a moment as his own, and leaves 
 his actions of necessity to be swayed by others, 
 his seniors, upon whom the exigencies of the 
 service have alike a right to call, for the aban-
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 93 
 
 doiiment of every comfort, and the support of 
 every privation, whilst he follows the drum, and 
 has a pride in the performance of his duty. Being 
 myself a member of a military community, and 
 not exactly at the time I speak of, a griffin, I had 
 long since acquired the necessary lesson ; my 
 mind was accustomed to adversity, so that I was 
 able in this instance to bear with patience, what 
 a follower of pleasure would, doubtless, have 
 gi'umbled at, to give up my intended next day's 
 halt, a long proposed day's shooting, which the 
 country hereabouts furnished ample sport to en- 
 hance, and solely because the wind and weather 
 interfered with my pursuits, and the miseries of 
 an inland journey in the rains, upreared them- 
 selves to my imagination, to force compliance 
 upon my part. It is hard, I must confess, not 
 only to have fortune frown, but e'en to be the 
 sport of real or imaginary storms and tempests 
 when on dry land. Before I conclude this with 
 explaining, such is travellers' lot, I would enforce 
 upon the notice of the young and inexperienced, 
 my remarks of a military life, as a red coat in its 
 glittering appearance, often makes the soldier an 
 envied man, when a participation of his hardships,
 
 94 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 wounds, and disease, would soon dispel these airy 
 visions of glory and repose. The hastily pur- 
 ' chased commission by the embryo hero, often 
 leaves him disgusted with its possession, after six 
 months in quarters, or even, perhaps, two under 
 canvass.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 95 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 MAHOMED S CHARACTER AND DOGGEDNESS — A START 
 — COMING ON OF SOUTH-WEST MONSOON — A HALT. 
 —THE TRAVELLER LOSES HIS WAY — PERFIDY OF 
 GUIDES — DURRUMSOLLAH — STRANGER — A HINT UP- 
 ON QUESTIONS — NATIVE ARMY. 
 
 Mahomed, my head servant, was one of those 
 peculiar old fellows, who often assume more of 
 the master than the dependant, and can it much 
 be wondered at, when fifty is to be controlled by 
 seventeen, as is too often the case abroad. He 
 had been in my service ever since my earliest 
 onset in a military career, for I hired him from 
 the Bunder, not from a consideration of the many 
 characters he produced, but from a certain some- 
 thing in his appearance I liked ; for in India, 
 little dependance can be placed upon their certi- 
 ficates of conduct, as the native clerks are good
 
 96 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 imitators of hand writing, or at least, of such, as 
 being ignorant of the person or handwriting of 
 the signer, a novice can form no opinion of. He 
 considered himself a privileged being to do and 
 act upon certain occasions as he deemed fitting, 
 and best calculated for what he chose to construe 
 into as my motives, rather than strictly obeying 
 my orders, and this had often led to angry dia- 
 logues and severe disputings, for answer he would 
 at all risks, and as my passion grew hot and 
 furious, his age would step in to protect him. 
 Besides, he had been my first preceptor in point- 
 ing out the various manners and customs of the 
 inhabitants of the strange country I had come 
 to sojourn in. His broken English had often 
 served me during my griffin age; and my ignorance 
 of any other language doubtless enabled him to 
 cheat me handsomely in my purchases, for that 
 every Indian servant will do, although, if money 
 be entrusted to his care, none but the most de- 
 praved amongst them will ever think of misem- 
 ploying it, because detection must be immediate. 
 Now that I had become more habituated to my 
 situation, and afforded him a scanty harvest of 
 profits, he disputed with me the sovereignty
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 97 
 
 alone. On all occasions, he appeared little in- 
 clined to leave me entirely to my own guidance, 
 whatever might be the subject I undertook. 
 Habit had familiarized to his mind the necessity 
 of maintaining a control over my actions, which, 
 however little in accordance with my wishes or 
 my wants, I found extremely difficult to check. 
 And now for a fresh elucidation of his obstinate 
 endeavours to maintain a line of conduct 1 bade 
 him as uselessly desist from, as he pertinaciously 
 persisted in. He had gained me over to his pro- 
 posal of starting my baggage, and he now ex- 
 tended this license much to my annoyance, by 
 not halting it again until he had advanced ^ve 
 miles beyond the place appointed. It was in 
 vain upon my arrival there, I enquired for the 
 position of my tents, which I fully anticipated 
 were already pitched; No one knew any thing 
 about them. Some, indeed, had seen them jour- 
 neying on to the next village, but this I at once 
 determined as false, and only offered as an answer 
 to prevent further interrogatories. Yet I con- 
 tinued to elicit information tending to confirm 
 the fact of all having passed on ; and one thing 
 was certain, that I could find no vestige of them 
 
 VOL. I. F
 
 98 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 about the village I was wandering around ; so 
 that, having ascertained the probable distance 
 of the newly chosen halt, I bent my horse's head 
 towards that direction. A voice from behind 
 made me rein up for a moment. A man, 
 breathless from haste, running towards me, 
 and making his obeisances whilst at a distance, 
 neared me at last, said I had chosen the exactly 
 o^jposite road to the one my servants had taken, 
 and added, that the chief with the red pugrie on, 
 or, as he was termed, the butleer,* had left him 
 with instructions to guide me towards him. The 
 fellow was young and active, seemed anxious to 
 please, and by his swiftness on foot enabled me 
 to trot on without losing sight of him ; so that I 
 soon came up with Mahomed's intentions, into 
 which he had rather compelled than coaxed me. 
 I certainly had made up my mind to give him a 
 good rowing for his misconduct ; but a capital 
 breakfast soothed down my angry mood, and to 
 enjoy it warm demanded my instant attention 
 to it. Mahomed escaped, and I was of opinion 
 it was the best meal I had ever made, for my 
 
 * Butleer. — A corruption of butler.
 
 EUSTUM KHAN. 99 
 
 appetite was appeased, and my spirits renovated. 
 The baggage cattle, during this time, were dis- 
 cussing a full allowance of grain, and were also 
 favoured with some drugs to cheer up their 
 drooping spirits at my expence ; and again the 
 cavalcade moved forward. 
 
 Having lighted my cigar, the very best of 
 companions, neither requiring answers to ques- 
 tions, or interfering with the train of thoughts 
 the future calls for, or the past has given rise 
 to, I sat contemplating the appearance of the 
 weather, anticipating a trying journey ; and, in 
 fine, chewing " the cud of sweet and bitter fancy." 
 The whole horizon was enshrouded in dark and 
 gloomy masses of heavy clouds, towering one 
 above the other until they reached the very 
 centre of the heavenly arch. The last portion 
 of light azure blue was at length hidden from 
 sight ; distant thunder rumbled on the ear, 
 whilst now and then vivid flashes of forked and 
 sheet lightning lit up portions of the heavy 
 threatening mass they burst from, and dazzled 
 my eye. The wind was hushed, the foliage of 
 the trees no longer rustled, a gloom was spread 
 around, whilst the warbling choristers, who be- 
 f2
 
 100 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 fore had greeted my hearing with their various 
 notes mingling in one soft melody, seemed in a 
 moment gone, or silenced by fear, or frightened 
 to a distance. There was apparently a pause, 
 such as is known to the soldier as a moment of 
 anxiety before the battle. The elements were 
 collecting all their violence, whilst nature ap- 
 peared resting tranquil, and harbouring her 
 strength to withstand the struggle. My horse, 
 by this time, had finished his second meal of 
 grain, generally given at mid-day. My horse- 
 keeper had his orders, and accordingly he 
 brought him at once before me. It was my 
 favourite ; I knew I could depend upon him ; and 
 I felt certain, ere long, his courage would be 
 severely put to the test. As soon as I was 
 mounted, Lallah seized up my chair, put it 
 upon the crown of his head, covering his back 
 with that of his burthen, joined my horsekeeper, 
 and followed in my track, close at the heels of 
 my horse. We now crossed an irrigated field, 
 plunged into the high road, breaking through 
 the hedge of the enclosure at the most conve- 
 nient spot to ourselves, and soon lost all traces 
 of our late halting place. The more heavy
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 101 
 
 clouds continued to float above our heads, 
 threatening every moment to deluge us as we 
 proceeded, whilst the hot wind now no longer 
 annoyed us. The storm still gathering strength 
 as we went on, seemed to frown maliciously at 
 our attempts and hopes of gaining the opposite 
 bank of the Mhye, ere the river became flooded. 
 Presently, a grateful freshness was borne to- 
 wards us, upon the wings apparently of zephyrs; 
 an earthy scented gale succeeded to it, which 
 bore evident proof of some portion of the dreaded 
 rain having fallen at a distance. This further 
 tended to diminish my certainty of success ; and 
 when a breeze, strengthening every moment, 
 summoned the whole of the landscape woods 
 into motion, until the weaker trees bent to the 
 earth, and the stronger and larger ones seemed 
 unable to withstand its fury ; or again rushing 
 on with the distant roar and hollow murmur of 
 a cascade, heightened with the whistling twang 
 of the foliage, I gave ^up all as lost. Of a 
 sudden it gained the strength of a hurricane, 
 and hurrying thick clouds of dust before it, en- 
 veloped the whole scenery around in darkness. 
 " Lay hold of the guide," I roared, as my animal
 
 10-2 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 turned round to evade the thick dusty cloud 
 blown against his face ; " lay hold of the guide, 
 and make for the nearest village ; do not quit 
 sight of him." He was accordingly made pri- 
 soner, just in time sufficient to prevent him from 
 absconding; a rope was fixed round his arm, 
 and I held the other end of it. The once distant 
 thunder now gained upon us; peal upon peal 
 brought the threatened danger yet nearer, as 
 they successively shook the heavens, until they 
 burst in majesty above our heads, as if to awe 
 us into a knowledge of our mighty Creator's 
 power, and our own insignificance. Vivid 
 flashe.s of lightning shot their fiery forks, tipped 
 with the burning brightness of purple flame, in 
 every direction throughout the firmament. The 
 rain, after a time, commenced with large heavy 
 drops, now falling, and now again hushed for a 
 moment. The hope of reaching any shelter, in 
 time to avail ourselves of what it alone could be 
 useful for, that of preventing us getting fairly 
 wet through, fled, as the increasing rain, now 
 thickened into sheets of water, deluged the 
 whole country, not forgetting those who tra- 
 versed it» We, accordingly, in lieu of quitting
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 103 
 
 our direct road, resumed it ; and I alighted 
 about sunset at a village, where I had given 
 instructions to my servant to see a relief horse 
 posted for me. Here I learned that my baggage 
 was a full hour and a half in advance of me ; 
 so that, having ah'eady come half way, I might 
 yet have the good fortune to outmarch my 
 enemy, or, at least, come up with my servants. 
 As my horsekeeper proceeded to tighten the 
 girths of my saddle upon my fresh animal, I 
 held his rein, and began to inspect my holsters : 
 I dare say my reader is, or justly might be, 
 all conjecture, all anxiety, to know the reason 
 why. Holsters generally, he argues, are in- 
 tended for pistols ; and to this I readily consent 
 with my usual urbanity of manner, for I would 
 be understood as no disputant. There must be 
 danger upon the road the traveller is taking; 
 now is he not a clever fellow to be upon the 
 alert ? — ere long we shall have the sequel. But 
 where is it, he continues, as he turns over page 
 after page, searching for the word thief, with 
 all the eagerness of a Bow-street officer after 
 an original. " Why, I can find no battle, no 
 pinioned captives ; neither are there the slain 
 described, for the imagination to paint the
 
 104 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 corpses of, in bold colouring : nothing ! I declare 
 I am disgusted: why, there is nothing at all 
 about it. I think the author might have left 
 his pistols behind him," he roars forth in dis- 
 gust. And so I did, is my reply, to accommo- 
 date matters; and was only searching for a 
 cold chicken, and my brandy bottle, which had 
 usurped the place of the grim looking bell- 
 mouthed bull-dogs, sometimes deposited in my 
 holsters. Like all novices, a novice in cam- 
 paigning has yet to learn, perhaps, that food 
 for yourself is a far more useful companion than 
 bullets for your foes. This may perhaps account 
 for my disregarding my wet and comfortless 
 situation, and taking an inspection of my accou- 
 trements under a heavy and disagreeable rain. 
 The cream of a joke or story ought never to 
 be anticipated, reader ; so go on following me 
 through my storm, sometimes wringing my coat 
 tails for me, or, in sheer compassion, holding 
 an umbrella over my head ; for if you do not, 
 you may lose the description of what, however 
 trifling, may yet have an interest for you, if no 
 other than that of enabling you to kill time 
 before luncheon. 
 
 Somewhat refreshed with my hastily snatched
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 105 
 
 repast, I again mounted, and wandering through 
 the dirty and miserable village, the avenues to 
 which were choked up with ajQfrighted cattle 
 and half drowned sheep, I again exposed myself 
 upon a new charger to the violence of the wea- 
 ther, at this the first burst of the south-wester^ 
 monsoon. The day had closed in, and what 
 could I anticipate but some mischance in track- 
 ing my way through such difficulties as an un- 
 known country enveloped in the dark obscurity 
 of night and storm. To remedy as much as pos- 
 sible these evils, I had provided myself with a 
 double set of guides, upon whose fidelity I placed 
 every reliance, having, in my own estimation, 
 won the way to their hearts, as a vulgar saying 
 has depicted it, " through the medium of their 
 throats," by making them an ample allowance of 
 the country spirituous liquor, for which I paid a 
 mere nothing it is true, but which, with a Bheel, 
 often effects more than the display of money. 
 Besides I hoped to have awakened them into 
 exertion, by appealing to their mercenary feel- 
 ings, in promising ample reward in specie at the 
 end of the journey. The active promptitude 
 they displayed at my very onset, in mentioning 
 F 3
 
 106 RLSTUM KHAN. 
 
 every ravine which intersected my' road, novr 
 leading my horse by his rein across them, or head- 
 ing me, that I might follow in safety, repeating 
 the warning of " Cuma, Saheb, Cuma," beware ! 
 soon quieted all my apprehensions upon this 
 score. The cheering hope that every step led 
 me nearer to provisions, the sine qua non, and 
 shelter, the dulce, which I never doubted, ere 
 long, to combine in happy unison, rendered me 
 regardless of my unpleasant situation, and I con- 
 tinued smoking my cigar as we went on, with 
 perfect indifference. I was already wet through, 
 so what signified the rain, my horse was fresh, 
 which rendered distance of little consequence, so 
 that my spirits never flagged for an instant. The 
 brandy-bottle was constantly appealed to ; seaman- 
 like, I took a long pull and a strong pull; so 
 that, with it's balmy influence, I was prevented 
 from feeling chilly, and had little fear of taking 
 cold. Again, my cheroot was both companion- 
 like and exhilarating. Up to this moment, such 
 were positively my feelings, I knew it was of no 
 avail to sigh at what could not be remedied ; and 
 habit, by this time, had familiarized me with 
 these oriental luxuries, a drenched coat upon my
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 107 
 
 back, a journey before me, and a dark rainy night 
 to complete it in. 
 
 The storm was now apparently at its highest 
 pitch, and yet my progress was unimpeded ; until 
 my horse, scared by a vivid flash of lightning 
 which seemed to descend into the earth imme- 
 diately under his feet, and yet farther frightened 
 with the awful crash of thunder, that in an in- 
 stant followed, louder than the roar of a salvo 
 from a newly unmasked battery, stood firmly 
 planted like a rock, shook underneath his bur- 
 then, and positively refused to proceed any fur- 
 ther. The whip and spur he alike disregarded, 
 scorning to advance when urged by them, and 
 only replying to my attempts to move him, 
 through their agency, by kicking, snorting, plung- 
 ing, and rearing. To add to my dismay, I found 
 no trace whatever of my guides ; they had, doubt- 
 less, observing my indifference, for my eye sel- 
 dom rested oii them, divided at some favourable 
 spot, escaped in the pitchy darkness, leaving me 
 to my ruminations and wet apparel. It was im- 
 possible to conjecture how far I might have wan- 
 dered on without their aid ; yet, nevertheless, a 
 drowning man catches at straws ; I roared after
 
 108 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 the deserters, now denouncing vengeance, or 
 offering reward. As a stratagem, with each 
 flash of lightning I called to my horsekeeper for 
 my gun, declaring I saw them, in hopes, if hid- 
 den near, they might be induced to discover 
 themselves ; but no ! it would not do, the distant 
 echo alone fell back upon my hearing. The 
 coolie, Lallah, bearing my chair, came to mind, 
 and, with the idea, a faint glimmer of hope re- 
 turned, only to be again immediately extin- 
 guished, for it was apparent from what he said, 
 that he considered we had been seduced into a 
 bye-path by the j)ertidious guides, the termina- 
 tion to which I could not foresee ; nor had I any 
 chance of ascertaining in which direction I 
 ought to steer across the country to regain the 
 main road. My former light-heartedness now 
 gave way to the full measure of despair; uncer- 
 tain of my way, I regretted every pace my horse 
 advanced, whilst the indifferent, unsatisfactory, 
 and indecisive answers, so characteristic of a 
 native, and inherent in the nature of my horse- 
 keeper, as he returned them to my questions, 
 served only to increase my chagrin. What could 
 I not have done to him, what blows could I not
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 109 
 
 with pleasure have seen counted in lines upon 
 his back with a rattan, and what a horsewhip- 
 ping did I not wish to inflict upon the scoundrel 
 in my impassioned moments ; but I was forced to 
 relinquish all my sweet revenge, and reply 
 mildly, lest he should, in these times of adver- 
 sity, leave me, like the rest of my friends had 
 done. No, no, civility costs nothing, and may 
 give you a right to put some reliance upon the 
 endeavours of those it has been bestowed upon. 
 
 Onwards we toiled, still suffering ; but yet, al- 
 though our progress was but slow, my fancy in 
 its fertility whispered *' slow is sure." And so it 
 was essentially sure, as it was certainly leading us 
 astray from our object. A Bheel now overtook 
 our party, and was induced, by a present, to lead 
 us towards the nearest village he was acquainted 
 with, which he accordingly, be it said to his 
 honour, by my gratitude, did. At a far advanced 
 period of the night a few glimmering lights be- 
 tokened the position of the place he was leading 
 us up to. And ere long we obtained information 
 of a Durrumsollah, situated a hundred yards from 
 the house of our informant, whom we had aroused 
 from his slumber to ask, and who, with more
 
 110 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 civility than I expected, offered to show us the 
 way to it. Although confident in my own mind 
 ,that provisions could not be procured at this late 
 hour, not even milk, I must confess my situation 
 rendered shelter and rest most desirable. I ac- 
 cordingly alighted, and making my way over the 
 threshold of a low entrance, found myself at last 
 sheltered from the inclemency of the weather. A 
 square, surrounded by a corresponding continua- 
 tion of shed open to the inside, which forms the 
 court yard, is the general characteristic of these 
 buildings, — room and accommodation rather than 
 elegance and expence being considered, and in 
 such a one I took up my temporary residence, nor, 
 as luck would have it, was I long left to my own 
 thoughts. 
 
 At a distant angle of the building upon my right 
 hand, a traveller, it was evident, had taken up his 
 quarters. The reflection thrown around and upon 
 the walls, from the almost expiring fire, kindled 
 in the interior of this portion of the shed, rested 
 upon a shield, matchlock, and spear. I bent my 
 steps towards the inviting prospect, stumbling 
 over a heap of horse furniture and sadlery in my 
 way, and found a man squatted upon his hams.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. Ill 
 
 sitting close by the fire, his carpet spread under- 
 neath him, regaling himself with his hookah. I 
 accosted him, and questioned him regarding the 
 namejof this village ; as I was anxious to ascertain 
 my exact position, how far I had diverged from 
 the direct route, and discuss with my horsekeeper, 
 for you must at times descend to ask advice even 
 of the most ignorant, upon the best plan, for our 
 farther progress. 
 
 The stranger rose, gave me the Moslem bene- 
 diction, at the same time offering a salaam. The 
 usual inquiries after myself and my intentions, 
 coupled with language abounding in the plural 
 number, as a token of his respect, soon followed. 
 A first glance quite prepossessed me in his favour. 
 The gentle and willing manner in which the in- 
 formation I sought was conveyed to me, strength- 
 ened my hastily-formed opinion, whilst the noble 
 style of his language, a well digested mixture of 
 Hindoostanee, in its purest form, occasionally or- 
 namented with appropriate derivations from Per- 
 sian, at once bespoke him acquainted with more 
 than ordinary acquirements. During this time 
 nothing could induce him to remain seated, al- 
 though he, as well as my fatigue, compelled me
 
 112 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 to throw myself at once upon the ground close to 
 his carpet, which I strenuously refused to use for 
 jny accommodation, as I knew it was all the hed- 
 ding such travellers carry about with them, and 
 my dripping apparel would soon have rendered it 
 as comfortless to me as useless to him. 
 
 As he stood opposite tome, having replenished 
 the lire with fuel, I had full leisure to make ob- 
 servations upon his general appearance. He was 
 above the ordinary stature of the native Indians 
 in general, about five feet eight inches, well made, 
 erect in his gait, and his whole contour impressed 
 me with the idea of his being able to sujDport 
 fatigue. His chest was no less remarkable for 
 breadth and depth than for elegance of form, 
 whilst every limb hung loose about him, as if 
 accustomed to athletic exercises, and remarkable 
 for activity. His manly and easy gait, frankness 
 of manner, open and good-natured countenance, 
 scarred, and somewhat disfigured, — by the prowess 
 of his foes, or the hands of assassins, I could not 
 tell which, — broad shoulders and sinewy limbs, 
 made me conjecture him a soldier. Such a sup- 
 position, from meeting a person armed in these 
 districts, must not always be inferred, for few ever
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 113 
 
 go unarmed. Many bear a single sword, whilst 
 others again much impede their flight, (the only 
 substitute for courage they are acquainted with) by 
 absolutely burthening themselves with weapons. 
 The more I gazed upon him the more strong 
 became my suspicion that he was a soldier. In 
 removing his weapons from the spot, I first be- 
 held them in, he handled them with dexterity, 
 and his actions displayed him as well acquainted 
 with their use as their value. The hand of age 
 was upon him, for that in Indian climates pre- 
 cedes scarcely the age of declining manhood, as 
 reckoned in other colder atmospheres, yet his whole 
 contour bespoke the vigour of youth was not en- 
 tirely suppressed within him. His bust and frame 
 gave indication of how severe must be the struggle 
 of time to overcome him. The light beaming 
 eye, and arched eyebrow, the well-formed nose, 
 and high forehead of this individual, gave an in- 
 telligence to his countenance, which received a 
 becoming dignity from the noble growth of beard 
 which flowed in easy curls of fleecy whiteness 
 upon his manly chest. 
 
 The recital of my misfortunes, losing my way, 
 and forced to halt ere I had overtaken my bag-
 
 114 EUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 gage, which from his description was far distant, 
 found an attentive listener in the stranger. Be- 
 ' sides this, it served as a commencement to a 
 more general conversation than the mutual in- 
 terchange of coldly forced compliments, with 
 which I hoped to chase sleep away from my 
 weary eyelids. It would have been any thing 
 but prudent to trust myself to repose, in such a 
 plight as I was then in. Although I could not ex- 
 change my garments, I yet removed from me such 
 portions as I could spare, and held them to dry. 
 Throwing aside all restraint, and by a series of 
 questions, the most eligible methods of enticing 
 a native to easy confidence, I soon won him 
 over from his diffidence, and discovered him to 
 be a most amusing companion. It struck me, from 
 a knowledge of the military character, that to re- 
 vert to warlike topics of conversation, sooner than 
 any other plan, might lead to a developement of 
 the stranger's situation in life, and his present 
 occupation ; consequently, the successful opera- 
 tions against the fortress of Bhurtpoor, in offering 
 themselves as a pretext for introducing such 
 subjects as I wished, I gladly availed myself of; 
 for I only wish it were possible to give every one
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 115 
 
 a taste for eliciting information by inuendo, rather 
 than point blank questions. Now for instance, 
 is it not insufferably annoying in society, when 
 after much difficulty, you have brought the con- 
 versation to the very point you aim at, and are at 
 the instant, commencing a well wrought tale of 
 bloodshed; throwing out hints how much you 
 should have liked to have been there, to signify 
 your profession, &c. &c., to be at once frustrated 
 by the gentleman at the end of the table, with 
 the hooked nose, large ears, low forehead, and 
 piggish eyes, a worthy uncle, to whom you are 
 to be heir, if he likes the measure, putting the 
 question at once to you : " But you are a military 
 man, are you not, Tom?" Now the query itself 
 would be nothing, if you were not forced to 
 answer it, to gratify the old man's vanity, and 
 thus you are thrown out ; dare not go half the 
 length you otherwise would, for fear of incre- 
 dulous smiles, hints at the marvellous nature of 
 the tale, or allowances being made for your being 
 "one of the trade." Thus it is, that there is gene- 
 rally so little conversation, because, "are you, or 
 are you not," can only be answered by " yes, and 
 no," and admit of no gentle deceptions ; shall I use
 
 116 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 SO Strong a word to keep your friend in ignorance, 
 and prolong your own importance, as an " Un- 
 known," and his desire to unravel the mystery. 
 In doing which, after your departure, he again, 
 you see, in drawing conclusions from your hints, 
 has an opportunity of displaying his passion and 
 talent for logic. And thus you may he said, to 
 live and let live, an old proverb, hut not quite so 
 generally understood as it ought to he in society. 
 It would be as useless to hope to avoid a dis- 
 closure of yourself or profession, after appearing 
 at church in your full regimentals, or to disguise 
 being a married woman after wearing a ring of a 
 certain description, as to flatter yourself into a 
 belief of escaping detection, when opposed to a 
 point blank man, who, if you answer him surlily, 
 makes the cap fit you, or, if you incline to taciturn- 
 ity, has " silence gives consent," and a grin from 
 the company to floor you with. But, stop a mo- 
 ment, or I shall go on for ever, as an occurrence 
 of this kind has often made my blood boil within 
 me, and upon recollection yet continues to do so. 
 I had no sooner mentioned the taking of Bhurt- 
 poor, than the stranger seemed exultingly glad, 
 although it struck me, he evidently was not quite
 
 . RUSTUM KHAN. 117 
 
 satisfied with the truth of my assertions. Upon 
 a farther explanation of the matter, however, he 
 said, he firmly believed it, for if in our earlier 
 career in India, we had been enabled to with- 
 stand Tippoo and all his power, when his star 
 sat brightly at one moment only to rise again 
 with more splendour at another, as his intrigues 
 and ambition were crowned with success, what 
 could Bhurtpoor offer as opposition in these more 
 mature years of our successful arms. " No," he 
 continued, " all, all is now gone, and beyond re- 
 trieve ; each day brings us intelligence of the de- 
 feat of the Company's foes, obtained to, chiefly, 
 by natives of the very district, their victorious 
 arms subdue. Such is, I have heard, the effect 
 of discipline, wholly unknown amongst ourselves. 
 Severity of example, and the free dispersion of 
 wealth, gain us partizans, but more than such 
 stimulus as this is required to make an honest, 
 loyal soldier. Discipline, discipline," he repeated, 
 " what has it not effected in your native army — 
 has it not reduced to a coward, the assassin who 
 amongst us would have raised a bold and daring 
 front ; has it not, although as yet almost imper- 
 ceptibly, divested superstition of its power.?
 
 118 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 Has it not controuled the turbulent, and hur- 
 ried even the hand of the son against his 
 father, if such are the commands of his supe- 
 riors; and how many that enter your service, 
 the lowest of the low caste, the most depraved 
 amongst the dissolute, perhaps with murder on 
 their hands, or having left a wife and family 
 to starvation and disgrace, in passing through 
 the ordeal of your discipline, are, when age 
 and incipient infirmity have brought them on 
 your pension list, returned to their villages in 
 affluence, and to be a striking example of the 
 justice of their employers. 
 
 " Such, however, was not the case with my 
 forefathers. Or high, or low, or rolling in wealth, 
 or more than indigent ; fortune either favoured 
 their exaltation, or ensured their debasement, or 
 else, where, I may ask, would have been Beejapoor, 
 Hyderabad, Ahmednugger, Delhi, Ahmedabad, 
 and a thousand other lost sovereignties, which, to 
 mention the fall of, is to accuse those long since 
 gone, of negligence. But I must arouse the 
 Patell — excuse your slave for a moment."
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 119 
 
 CHAPTER y. 
 
 EFFECTS OF THE FALL OF BHURTPOOR — COMPARISON 
 
 KINDNESS— PATELL, HIS OBSTINACY USE OF A 
 
 BRIBE — FARTHER DESCRIPTION OF THE STRANGER 
 
 CONVERSATION PART FROM HIM, AND START TO 
 
 FIND MY SERVANTS. 
 
 The fall of Bhurtpoor, was no less pleasing 
 to mysetf than to him who had just addressed 
 me, although our feelings of delight arose from 
 opposite considerations. He saw in the family 
 reigning over the city of Bhurtpoor and adjacent 
 country, the descendants of those who had con- 
 tributed, in some measure, to the downfall of 
 Delhi ; whereas, I could only have sighed, with- 
 out religious enthusiasm to swell my murmurs, 
 over our former failure before that fortress, be- 
 cause it was always uj^on the lips of him who 
 scoffed at our power, and certainly tended much
 
 120 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 to attach truth to the widely circulated reports 
 of supernatural agency having directed the ope- 
 rations of that defence. I now firmly helieve that 
 as this extensive fortification has heen stormed 
 and taken, we have only to demonstrate our in- 
 tentions of attack in other quarters, and receive 
 capitulation . 
 
 How often, during our pilgrimage through 
 this life, it may be justly remarked, do we find 
 the most essential difference in character, man- 
 ners, and religious feeling, become compromised 
 by circumstances, more especially if they are 
 brought in contact by misfortune, or even un- 
 expectedly. There is in human nature, when 
 left to itself, a kind generous warmth one to- 
 wards another, that will more or less develope 
 itself as the pursuits of mankind leave room for in- 
 dividuals to practise it. We must expect that the 
 minds of men which are now on the rack to satisfy 
 a thirst for gain, now urged to employ every mo- 
 ment for the indulgence of ambition, or now hurled 
 into one excess to hide another, will be, of course, 
 sooner blunted by misfortune than those of the 
 female. Her sorrows, perhaps, chiefly confined 
 to her family, have some definable end, and she
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 121 
 
 has leisure often granted her to contemplate 
 them in adv^ance, and to seek aid in religion. 
 Besides, they leave a lasting impression of their 
 severity, because they are not immediately fol- 
 lowed by others, which cause intense excitement, 
 and lead the mind to forget the former ones, 
 in the eagerness to avoid those which succeed. 
 Such is always the case with man ; his exigencies 
 demand immediate decision, he must perhaps 
 crush others or fall himself; the time is short for 
 consideration, his brain is lired into madness 
 with despair,or heated with the brilliant hopes of the 
 future, which his imagination offers; and thus he 
 often acts contrary to the generous impulse of 
 his own character, and has eventually become 
 less remarkable for real kindness and charity 
 than the female. I cannot help thus far premis- 
 ing, what I have to say of the Mahommedan I 
 thus unexpectedly met, as the treatment I re- 
 ceived may appear inconsistent with the general 
 opinion entertained of this race of people. 
 
 The time has been, and that not long since, 
 when such a companion as I now was associating 
 with, when the Mahommedan with whom I had 
 just become acquainted, would have rather gloried 
 
 VOL. I. G
 
 122 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 in the wretched plight of a christian soldier, than 
 have offered him assistance. But the change of 
 character wrought by their exchanging the titles 
 of conquerors for that of conquered, by a nation 
 of foreigners and opposed religion, has pro- 
 duced throughout India a vastly different feeling 
 amongst all classes of the inhabitants. Their 
 wealth, splendour, and show, have alike vanished, 
 their thrones are now but footstools, and each new 
 generation has still less of magnificence and gran- 
 deur to dwell among. The christian now holds 
 the reins of government, uses moderation in his 
 measures, and consults more essentially the hap- 
 piness of those millions of souls committed to his 
 care — and, consequently, a people accustomed 
 from early life to flatter and fawn, and always 
 conducting themselves with servility, know not 
 how to emerge from that state of dependance they 
 are reduced to. Where before they would have 
 oppressed, when their sovereigns were " the 
 lights of the universe" or " the splendour of the 
 world," they now readily bend the knee. 
 
 " Saheb," said the stranger, " Vv-hat your slave 
 can effect in amelioration of your unpleasant situ- 
 ation, he will not be unwilling to perform. Al-
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 123 
 
 though if your dish was offered me, my religion 
 would forbid my touching its contents, the same 
 scruples are not, I am well acquainted, attached 
 to your persuasion. Would to God I had the 
 power to show you those attentions I could wish. 
 My short lesidence at Delhi, has given me an 
 insight into the customs your countrymen ob- 
 serve, and I can consequently proffer you a por- 
 tion of my cooked victuals, without, I hope, 
 offending. They are, truly, plain in the extreme ; 
 but as the rights of hospitality may with justice 
 be demanded of me in your case, allow me to 
 offer them, such as they are, for your considera- 
 tion, and I trust they may prove acceptable. 
 There is also my calleoon, which you can use, if 
 you will dispense with the tube or snake, and 
 draw your draught through the hole it fixes in 
 in the cocoa-nut. It is a shabby, horsekeeper 
 sort of pipe, but best calculated both for travel, 
 ling and my finances." 
 
 This was an offer by no means to be refused, and 
 I accordingly acquiesced most unhesitatingly. 
 
 " Let them be brought forward," said I, "at your 
 earliest convenience, and I make no doubt but 
 that T shall soon convince you how much I ap- 
 G 2
 
 1-24 RUSTLM KHAN. 
 
 l^reciate your kindness and sympathy for my lot. 
 If even, my religious persuasion, or a prejudice 
 i-n favour of any creed I may profess, was allowed, 
 upon ordinary occasions, any sway in the direc 
 tion of what it is, or might be lawful or unlawful 
 for me to eat, there would be some doubt of its 
 exercising any controul over my present appetite, 
 in this particular situation ; and may not a Ma- 
 hommedan entertain such feelings r I believe he 
 may, for he is not forced, when overtaken by un- 
 avoidable misfortune, to relinquish life in refus- 
 ing sustenance. But this is no time for talking 
 or choosing either, more especially the latter, 
 when I am wholly thrown upon the charity of 
 another, so well competent to assist me in my dis- 
 tress, as well as willing, both of which you are." 
 
 The old man, pleased with the remark I had 
 made, (for where can you find one wholly disin- 
 clined to listen to the voice of flattery,) now began 
 to exert himself in earnest. Rummaging amongst 
 his saddle furniture, removing now a large yellow 
 piece of cloth, and now one after another, a cloak 
 and cumlee, then a large square of cotton texture, 
 much resembling sail cloth, until he had reached 
 the fastening to which appended his stirrups, he at
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 125 
 
 length gained a communication with his pair of 
 carpet saddle bags ; he took therefrom some unlea- 
 vened wheaten cakes, coarse and brown in appear- 
 ance, but which doubtless would be found savoury 
 to the taste when hunger was to be the arbiter, and 
 like the president, on general occasions, have 
 the power of a casting vote. Having replaced 
 these again in rotation, beginning with the last, 
 and crowning the cushioned pile, a native fash- 
 ioned saddle, assumes, in appearance, with the 
 best and gayest of the stuffs; he advanced hastily 
 to the front of that part of the shed we occupied, 
 and ejaculated, with the uninterrupted exercise 
 of his lungs, which characterizes one determined 
 to be heard, " Here, you Merwan Khan, and you 
 too, Shaik Bungush, can't you hear me? asleep, aye, 
 I'll awaken you, if not by my own voice, with the 
 twang of a bamboo about y our shoulders. Merwan 
 Khan, Shaik Bungush, Array Ullah, in the name 
 of Heaven, where are you, why your fatigues have 
 a more drowsy eff'ect upon you than all the opium 
 your fondness for intoxicating dreams bids you 
 take, or could produce, where are you now, am I 
 never to be heard? I say never." 
 
 As his voice echoed throughout the building^
 
 126 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 two stout young Mussulmen vaulting from the 
 ground, in an opposite corner of the Durrumsollah 
 to our one, staring around them, and who, from 
 the imperfect light of the fire, on my reaching it, 
 had as yet remained undiscovered to me, started up 
 as if from an ambuscade, advanced hastily, having 
 recognized his call, touched the earth with the tips 
 of their fingers, raised their hands to their fore- 
 heads, bending forward at the same moment, and 
 now with folded arms awaited their master's 
 further orders. 
 
 " Why, you lazy Hurumzadehs," said the old 
 man, " it was in vain I summoned you to my 
 presence. You give yourselves up so entirely to 
 sleep, you will yet have to — like myself before you 
 are much older — acquire in youth the habit of 
 always sleeping with one ear at least awake on 
 duty, and a^ttentive to the wishes and orders of 
 your chief. Hear me ; if, when in camp, such 
 slumbers as yours awaited Khans and nobles, 
 wdiose situation ever so justly fulfilled, must 
 make foes from amongst the envious, and enemies 
 of the intemperate and ill-disposed, what caution 
 would the assassin require in performing his 
 deep laid plots for revenge ? None whatever, I
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 127 
 
 say ! for although I strained a voice, that has 
 been heard towering aloft midst the busy hustle 
 and clanging tumult of a hard-fought battle, you 
 slumbered on, as if the very owl had hushed its 
 shrieking cry, or the pee-wit gone to rest for fear 
 of disturbing you. Do not be again so lazy, 
 you Hurumzadehs,* or next time, in lieu of 
 threatening with the Bamboo, I shall awaken 
 you with it. Recollect, my sonsjf heed what I 
 say; it is the voice of reason that salutes you." 
 
 Indulging for a moment in thought, perhaps 
 as much intended as an opportunity of recovering 
 his breath, he added ; " You Merwan Khan are, 
 I believe, the youngest; hasten to the Patell, in- 
 form him a Saheb has arrived, and requires of 
 him some dry wood for fuel, and some milk, and 
 take my Lord's sycet with you for some ground 
 grain for his horse. If they at his house, are as 
 sleepy as you have been, you must exert patience 
 equal to mine, until you arouse them ; take no 
 excuse, but make him appear. Let expedition 
 
 * Hurumzadeh. — Base born, 
 f My sons. — A native is ahvays familiar with his servants 
 X Syce. — Horsekeeper.
 
 128 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 be an earnest of your endeavours. Be off : you 
 are dismissed. You Shaik Bungush, bring the 
 remnants of the pillavv * you cooked this evening, 
 and a platter to place these cakes upon. No, wait, 
 bring my brazen dish, and see you clean it well. 
 Here, throw more logs upon the fire. Perhaps 
 with these you can manage to appease your ap- 
 petite," turning towards me as he uttered the 
 phrase, " and dry your linen, as we have not a 
 change to give you the use of, Saheb." 
 
 Merwan Khan presently returned, in company 
 with the head of the village functionaries ; for 
 each, it must be understood, has its regulated 
 number, whose respective ranks have for ages 
 been determined, and to which much attention is 
 invariably paid. He was a little obsequious Brah- 
 min, whose countenance was the very symbol of 
 bigotry, avarice, and cunning. Often had I be- 
 fore experienced great trouble from these people 
 in procuring grass as well as other necessaries, 
 which it is their bounden duty to furnish travellers 
 with ; yet in no one instance did I ever hear more 
 
 * Pillatv. — A dish of meat and rice^ flavoured with 
 butter, and roasted sweetmeats.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 129 
 
 vexatious prevarication, or witness more deter- 
 mined opposition to my wishes than on this occa- 
 sion. The little callous ohstinate being, with his 
 carcoon, or village clerk behind him, bearing his 
 ink-stand, to whom I was introduced, and who 
 even forgot to remove his slippers, when he as- 
 cended from the court-yard to the shed, found a 
 ready excuse for not satisfying my demands, in 
 however plausible a shape I pleaded them. The 
 hour was unusual for such requests ; the whole 
 inhabitants locked in sleep (as others also were, 
 rejoined theMahommedan, until I aroused them, 
 which I suppose I shall have to do to your friends, 
 Mr. Patell) and the late unfavourable season had 
 put the villagers to the greatest stress to support 
 their own cattle, many of which had died of actual 
 starvation, which, I suppose," added the Mussul- 
 man, " you wish a stranger and his horse to do, 
 most merciful Brahmin. If I only had my way 
 with you all I would burn your houses about 
 your ears, you old bigot, and teach you how to 
 exercise the rights of hospitality, or remove you 
 from the possibility of having guests to insult, by 
 turning you loose upon the world bareheaded and 
 moneyless."
 
 130 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 The Brahmin, boiling with rage, yet not daring 
 to answer, disrespectfully, in my presence, con- 
 tinued : — " The heaps of iire-wood collected around 
 the villagers' houses, for want of a proper cover- 
 ing, had been rendered unfit for immediate use 
 by the heavy fall of rain ; the cattle had been 
 housed for hours, after having been drained of 
 their accustomed supply of milk, which he much 
 regretted." In short, although willing himself 
 to assist me in this extremity, how could he con- 
 troul the hand of fate, which was so unpropitious. 
 Could he argue against destiny, or what could he 
 do ? If I would explain he would obey. 
 
 When I remonstrated, and threatened to com- 
 plain to the proper authorities for his removal 
 from office, he placed the open palms of his 
 hands over his ears, looked insufferably placid, 
 shook his head, and was alike ignorant of the 
 language I spoke, and the meaning I intended 
 to convey to him. 
 
 But experience had taught me a never failing 
 specific with a native, in the shape of a bribe, 
 with which I hoped to quiet his scruples, and 
 turn his dogged indifi'erence into willing energy 
 in my behalf. To this I had recourse as a last
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 131 
 
 effort, in the way of verbose explanation of 
 my wishes, which, had it failed, might have 
 brought down upon him the full effects of 
 continuing to fret and play with a naturally 
 hasty temj)er, which had been thwarted for 
 many hours; and might have cost this object 
 of Hindoo respect and sacred character the suf- 
 ferings of a sound thrashing, for to such my 
 exasperation would have doubtless carried me. 
 Luckily, however, as its effects were favourable 
 in the extreme, I was spared the trouble of so 
 doing. 
 
 " If," said I, " you do not immediately pro- 
 cure for me the articles of firewood and milk, as 
 well as grass, which you are required by your 
 employers, as a duty, to do, I shall certainly 
 help myself." " And I am ready, with my fol- 
 lowers, to assist you," added the Mahommedan. 
 " It is not the first time I have assisted in 
 taming the obstinacy of these scoundrels. Why 
 don't you, Saheb, get a few hundred horse 
 quartered upon the village, as my forefathers 
 would have done, when, like locusts in a field 
 of vegetation, they would doubtless eat up every 
 thing appearing in view, and worth their 
 G 3
 
 132 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 having. Aye, Saheb, you are too kind to these 
 fellows. Look at that sword : if it could tell 
 you a tale or two, it might inform you how 
 better to argue than by words ; and if you could 
 only see all the obstinate asses it has served as 
 a monitor to, it would shew you how to leave 
 a lasting trace behind you." Interrupting his 
 enthusiasm in my cause, I continued: "as, how- 
 ever the lateness of the hour, and my fatigue, 
 may render this an unpleasant task, I am willing 
 to give you two rupees,* as a recompense for 
 your trouble, and to spare some to myself. 
 You hear my decision; take your choice, and 
 let me no longer be delayed." 
 
 The latter end of this speech was perfectly 
 intelligible ; and, in a few moments, my wants, 
 as well as those of my horse, were attended to. 
 Before this crafty specimen of human nature 
 quitted my presence, he gratuitously offered his 
 services to grant a further supply*, if necessary; 
 not omitting to enquire at what time I should 
 wish a guide in attendance, " and be my neck 
 upon it, but you shall find, Saheb, a faithful 
 
 * Rupee. — A current coin.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 133 
 
 one." Obeisances upon obeisances followed ; 
 and, thank God, I have never beheld him again, 
 either as friend or foe. 
 
 My meal, at length, was ready ; Shaik Bun- 
 gush had warmed the cakes with a slight heat, 
 added a little ghee to soften them, improved the 
 pillaw, separated the grains of the rice, which 
 had formed into one dense mass at the bottom 
 of the cooking pot; and, ere long, I was a 
 stranger to all the fretfulness, and other disagree- 
 able concomitants of a violent and unappeased 
 appetite. What more was wanting to complete 
 my satisfaction, add to my comfort, and restore 
 a harmony to my mind and body, was sought 
 for and obtained in some conversation with my 
 host, and puffs of smoke from my lighted cigar, 
 in opposition to his long and more laborious 
 draughts from his pipe. 
 
 As we gradually threw off reserve, I at length 
 went so far aS' to offer my brandy bottle to the 
 stranger, taking care not to hint at my having ever 
 placed my mouth to the neck of it, and assuring 
 him, that such a night as this demanded the use 
 of liquors. But no ! he strenuously resisted 
 my offer; yet, at the same time, he seemed, I
 
 134 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 thought, not dissatisfied with my politeness. 
 Gradually advancing in our disclosures, the old 
 man at length acknowledged, that although the 
 military profession had heen the chief desire of 
 his heart, and that, by which he had, for many 
 years, supported himself, he had been forced, 
 by misfortunes, to mingle many other occupa- 
 tions with it, during his long and varying life. 
 Nevertheless, I could discover .his martial feel- 
 ings were in no wise subdued, and had made 
 a deep impression upon his general character. 
 The bivouac was, apparently, no stranger to 
 him ; and experience had furnished him, doubt- 
 less, with anecdote, and vivacity of humour. 
 
 '• Habituated as you have been, friend," I 
 remarked, " to a military career, both in the 
 time of your youthful feelings, and in the more 
 mature years of life ; when the one has over- 
 rated, from the warmth of your enthusiasm, or 
 charms of novelty, the scenes you have wit- 
 nessed; and the other tended to bring them 
 within the scope of a fairer criterion to judge 
 by, you might, perhaps, be inclined to add one 
 to the many favours you have bestowed upon 
 me already, by gifting me with a page from
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 135 
 
 your book of knowledge, the accumulated worth 
 of years of experience ; far better than the 
 ravings of infirmity, or the theory of well in- 
 structed youth. You will, perhaps, favour me 
 with some tale, delineative of the more imme- 
 diate life and manners of your countrymen, in 
 their domestic mode of conduct, than any 
 information we foreigners are enabled to glean 
 from actual observation." 
 
 " True, " said my host ; " and I might be 
 inclined to accede to your proposal, were I not 
 convinced of this fact, that what would be most 
 interesting for you to hear, would be most 
 painful for me openly to relate, or give you a 
 chance of guessing at from my confessions. 
 " Excuse me, then, for having made the 
 request," I rejoined. "My only reason for asking 
 you was, from a consciousness that the nature of 
 your religious persuasions, and particular pre- 
 judices have, by diligent research, been long 
 since determined; whereas, the absence of 
 mutual ties of kindred feeling between your 
 nation and my own, (as well as all intercourse 
 being suspended in the inviolable sanctity of 
 your harems, not to particularize the insur-
 
 136 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 mountable barrier to a mutual interchange of 
 affection which exists between the Mahommedan 
 and Christian, in a religious point of view,) 
 has been the cause of a total failure in discover- 
 ing jour private feelings." 
 
 " All this is true," said my new acquaintance ; 
 " and, doubtless, the natural anxiety the Saheb 
 Loog* entertain, to become more intimately ac- 
 quainted with our particular manners, has been 
 augmented by the difficulties which have been 
 opposed, to check their daring perseverance in 
 their search after beauty, and a knowledge of 
 how the Mahommedan conducts himself in his 
 private life. Not only those that have existed, 
 but must yet continue to do so, if my country- 
 men wish to preserve that honour they have 
 once attained to ; and in relinquishing which, 
 more particularly at this moment, they must for 
 ever sink into disgrace and infamy. When once 
 constrained, by whatever force or power, to 
 throw open the way to curiosity, and then to be 
 no longer able to follow his manners and his 
 
 * Saheh hog.— The former means gentleman, the 
 latter, people, as used in reference to Europeans.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 137 
 
 customs unwatched, what will remain to the 
 Islamite to induce him to prolong the support 
 of life. No ! nowhere can you find, Saheb, the 
 Mahommedan, who would, up to this hour, wil- 
 lingly divulge, even to a friend, or confide to 
 any other but his own bosom, the secrets of his 
 harem and his family. And such I hope may, 
 during my remaining sojourn in this world, con- 
 tinue to be the case; as I shall then die, in 
 the enjoyment of that faith and of those cus- 
 toms, and have that secret mystery attached 
 to my actions, which it has been my pleasure 
 to dwell upon, and which has often gained me 
 respect; when, otherwise, I might have been 
 passed by unheeded, if not suffered from indig- 
 nities worse than withheld civilities. 
 
 " Under such circumstances, said I and to such 
 an extent, it would be as unreasonable to expect, 
 as impolitic for you to repose in another, such un- 
 divided and unrestrained confidence. And if any 
 other of your persuasion, who ought to have 
 inherited similar determination with yourself, 
 should make another of a different persuasion, 
 such a confident as your remarks tend justly to 
 disapprove of, 1 should as much reprobate him
 
 138 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 as you would. But what impropriety can there be 
 in relating any common incident which may have 
 come under your personal observation, delinea- 
 tive of general character, under a mask of 
 feigned rank and name ; even the scene of the 
 action may be so metamorphosed, as to elude all 
 search after the truth. Such is with us, (and we 
 are tenacious of our rights,) a general mode 
 adopted in the writings of the present day, and 
 whilst armed with these weapons, we preserve 
 youth from the snares of the impostor, we con- 
 vey much useful rebuke to the guilty party, who 
 is thus made aware that his actions are as far 
 from being guileless as unknown. It opens at 
 once the road to amendment, and the way to 
 avoid error. Thus is knowledge conveyed under 
 the pleasing form of fictitious narrative. 
 
 " And what more delightful mode could you 
 have determined upon. The history of my own 
 life would suffice for the purpose you have men- 
 tioned, Khodavind," he continued, " spent, as it 
 has been, midst scenes of battle, strife, and vic- 
 tory, or defeat, as the omnipotent hand of Allah 
 has been outstretched to save and to destroy. 
 What have I not experienced from the will of
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 139 
 
 fate ; and yet to recall these events to my recol- 
 lection, would be a bitter struggle for my feel- 
 ings to contend against. But still, with all these 
 disadvantages, acutely alive to the propriety of 
 concealment, and sincerely attached to my own 
 persuasions, I would sooner relate my own ac- 
 tions to you, than trust to the ear of a stranger, 
 circumstances relating to others, which they 
 may have wished buried in oblivion, when they 
 sought refreshment from the turmoils of this life 
 in the stillness of the grave. My association with 
 camp, and my intercourse with private life, has 
 developed much to my view, which I should as 
 soon have endeavoured to dive into, as to remove 
 the veil from off the face of my brother's wife, 
 — had I one ; but still I can prevent disclosing 
 them to others, and such shall be my line of con- 
 duct. What is past is gone, and I am unwilling 
 to give the past even a thought in the present 
 moment. So many years," he added, with in- 
 creasing warmth, " have glided by since the 
 Moslem rule and sway directed the fate of em- 
 pire, prostrating bigoted sovereigns before the 
 thrones of my forefathers to hear their fate, 
 and our victorious arms were the ready instru-
 
 140 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 ments of the propagation of the faith of Islamism, 
 that the present day is only fit to feed the appe- 
 tite of sorrow and repine." He paused. 
 
 " Why is it thus, friend ? Are not the quiet 
 peaceful times now, compared with the scenes of 
 tumult, oppression, and misrule of days gone by, 
 far preferable.^ Trace back to the disastrous 
 reign of Mahomed Toghluck Shah, when the 
 ancient capital was deserted, and Delhi was left 
 almost tenantless. Think of the numbers that 
 then perished, solely to flatter the vanity of a 
 monarch, and mingle their sorrows with his grati- 
 fication. Revert again to the blood spilt when 
 Nadir Shah, in all the zenith of his greatness, 
 sat an arbiter over the fate of thousands of souls, 
 who, in irritating him, gave him opportunity to 
 display that ferocity of character, and unbending 
 cruelty he was accustomed to indulge in, and 
 could gaze upon with serenity. And all that, oc- 
 casioned by the revolting treachery of those, the 
 weakness of an infatuated monarch, gave birth to, 
 and the absence of patriotic feelings fostered. Again 
 who so much tended to shake your mighty power 
 as Aurungzebe, although extolled as Aulum 
 Gir, or the conqueror of the world ; was it not
 
 HUSTUM KHAN. 141 
 
 him, who led to the eventual downfall of the 
 Beejapoor sovereignty, by w^eakening the King* 
 to gratify his own ambition ? Even religion, the 
 source from which he drew his power, failed to 
 exercise any control over him when on the throne ; 
 he had the power to crush those of his caste, w^ho 
 resided in other kingdoms, and he joyfully added 
 the will. Ponder on the bloodshed and anarchy 
 attendant on the elevation of a new emperor to 
 the throne of the Moghuls. Trace the fate of the 
 unhappy Delhians, throughout the reign of a 
 despot, when security was an utter stranger to 
 them, and riches and affluence but beckoned on 
 the minions of the Satrap, to murder those who 
 possessed them : think of the father bewailing 
 the loss of his only much loved son, a widow of 
 a husband, a brother of a sister, and a mother 
 brooding in sad desj^air over the total annihila- 
 tion of her family, slain by the remorseless hand 
 of an uncompromising usurper, securing the 
 throne to himself with human sacrifice: — and 
 then contrast with it, Delhi, such as you have 
 lately seen it, and I think the difference will 
 become too striking to admit of any doubt, as 
 to the result, of our rule and sway.
 
 142 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 " There will be little difference of opinion be- 
 tween uSj Saheb, upon this subject. What you 
 represent is just and true, but allow your slave 
 to ask, in what manner can the soldier benefit 
 from these changes ? Ours was a military nation 
 in toto, arms are the Mahommedan's pride, vic- 
 tory his pursuit, and death, with glory, his am- 
 bition. Yet fate must dictate the hour when he 
 must obtain this ; whether when slumbering in 
 his bed, or urging on his steed into the thickest 
 ranks of the enemy — the hour is decided upon. 
 With all its glories crowned, or marked with all its 
 severity, bloodshed, famine, disease, and wounds, 
 war was our very food, and how can we now 
 exist ? The sword which so long has kept the 
 whole of Hindostan fluctuating, as each province 
 rose into splendour and affluence, or was plun- 
 dered and devastated, is at length sheathed ; and 
 he to whom battle was familiarized, and looked 
 upon as a livelihood, now sinks into disgrace and 
 infamy. Was not our empire without any fixed 
 limits whatever, when we consider that the force 
 of arms alone put bounds to our acquisition ? 
 We were not formerly to be persuaded, or guided 
 by others, only in proportion as they could oppose
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 143 
 
 the current of our victories. If the throne de- 
 scended to the active, vigilant, and brave— con- 
 quest followed upon conquest : if on the contrary, 
 sloth and inactivity were inherents of the royal 
 person, the rebellious or disaffected lopped off by 
 degrees, some portions of our former acquisitions ; 
 and when the retributive justice was sought in bat- 
 tle, the soldier had an opportunity of signalizing 
 himself, or fulfilling his lot. These endless tu- 
 mults and confusion added additional value to 
 military services. Such has once been, but now 
 the uptorn and uprooted power of my ancestors 
 is unable to cause any, even the slightest fluctua- 
 tion in our affairs. Hemmed in on all sides, by an 
 overwhelming force, which has aggrandized itself 
 as we fell into a decayed, powerless nation, we 
 can acquire nothing, and our situation in these 
 quarters is too insignificant to attract attention. 
 
 But as regards the cultivator's situation in 
 life, is it wholly to be disregarded } What was his 
 lot hitherto? The pressing charge, the dense 
 mass of infantry, alike in its progress, crushed all 
 his hopes in the destruction of his crops. The 
 thousands of followers attached to the imperial 
 camps, left traces of their destructive violence
 
 144 EUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 wherever they passed. The villager's cot was 
 unroofed for the meal of the baggage cattle, his 
 children pressed to bear burthens, his cattle 
 either slain for food, or wantonly mutilated ; and 
 often has it happened, that the fond companion 
 of his pastoral life, has been robbed from him, and 
 never again returned to comfort and assist him. 
 Is this a false picture, may I ask .?" 
 
 " No, by no means ; I will be candid. My soul 
 is, and has been, bent upon military achievement, 
 and I must deplore such a total subversion of my 
 hopes as I have witnessed. The cviltivator does 
 receive every benefit from the present arrange- 
 ments. But to him alone can it be said advan- 
 tages are given. He has a livelihood to support 
 him and his family, but can he improve upon this } 
 can he become a leader of the people now? and 
 what can he save for his children if they can- 
 not work for themselves. If from birth they have 
 remained maimed or weak, what can the father 
 leave behind him for such unfortunates, when 
 every employment of emolument, pardon me, is 
 in the hand of strangers. No, no, toil they 
 may, but reward, as the sage saith, "is only to 
 be found in heaven." With all the faults of their
 
 RUSTIJM KHAN. 145 
 
 rulers — with all the misfortune that has been 
 heaped upon the unfortunate inhabitants of Delhi, 
 for ages past, what Mahommedan would not, if 
 the clarion sounded, at the instance of a fit com- 
 mander, rush to the fight, to regain what has 
 been lost, and throw off a forced allegiance? 
 Who would not hail its return to splendour 
 and magnificence with delight ? But no : it is 
 otherwise ordained, or little would care for the 
 future, or regret for the past; corrode the wel- 
 come feelings such a blessing would bestow. 
 As you have represented the case, so has it been ; 
 the widow has been a sorrower, the father has 
 bathed his beard with the bitter tear of anguish, 
 the brother has wiped the eye of affliction 
 without avail, but little can the stranger ap- 
 preciate the enthusiasm of the Moslem, if he 
 conceives that the cup of bitterness could not 
 be drugged with any ingredient able to soften 
 its efi'ects. Yes; I have seen a whole country 
 devastated and laid waste, to furnish materials 
 for the mighty host pressing on to meet a foe. 
 I have witnessed all the horrors and calamities 
 your knowledge of the past enables you to fur- 
 nish ; but still, on the part of the sufferers, a 
 
 VOL. I. H
 
 146 RLSTUM KHAN. 
 
 gleam — a faint shadow of retaliation, has not been 
 without avail ; a certain helplessness, and long 
 engrafted tone of servility from the first glimmer- 
 ing of knowledge, have made these sufferings ap- 
 parently most acute, or even past human en- 
 durance, pass Ly in the consummation of fatality, 
 and be soon forgotten."
 
 RrSTUM KHAN. 147 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 CONTINUATION OF EXPLANATION — RESUMPTION OF 
 
 MARCH — THE RIVER MHYE IN ITS GRANDEUR 
 
 POSITION — A GROUPE — UNEXPECTED MEETING. 
 
 " To day," continued the veteran, " fortune 
 placed us amongst the aggressed, and misfortune 
 hore us to the ground, as the mighty tempest 
 subdues the elastic bamboo, and bends it to the 
 earth ; yet on the morrow, forgetful of what had 
 befallen us, we again reared our heads aloft, and 
 utterly regardless of the curses we had solicited 
 from Allah, to confound our oppressors, were found 
 ranked amongst the aggressing. Such was the 
 state of feeling existing in the breasts of the gay 
 and thoughtless thousands, which daily thronged 
 the bazaars of Delhi, now basking in the sunshine 
 of the monarch's presence, or now for ever de- 
 nied it in solitary imprisonment. They could 
 h2
 
 148 RUSTUM KHA^^ 
 
 not dive into the secret mysteries of their good 
 or bad fortune, and therefore awaited the time of 
 -misfortune, heedless of its approach, or too much 
 blinded by self-pride, and the lucky moments 
 then enjoyed, to have a care or sorrow. Accord- 
 ingly, as chance directed, or the caprice of fortune 
 dictated, they were debased or exalted. But of 
 all emotions of the human mind, not one was half 
 so predominant as intrigue. It was here, there, 
 and every where. The most minute action of life 
 partook of it. The father in his communications 
 with his son, tried to outmatch him in some de- 
 gree, whilst friend met friend, only to deceive 
 mutually, and the husband and wife were often 
 as far removed from the happiness of each others' 
 confidence, as if utter strangers. One and all 
 fearful of their lives and property, were forced 
 to have recourse to every scheme, that yielded the 
 most remote hope of success, or the slightest 
 chance of self-preservation. The public weal was 
 universally abandoned, and private aggrandize- 
 ment usurped the control of mental energy, 
 directing the whole system of action, in the road 
 of avarice. Regardless of life, when ambition 
 spurred them on, they were reckless of it.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 149 
 
 "To aid the gratification of selfish conceptions, 
 surrounded as they were with others running 
 headlong the same course as themselves, it re- 
 quired the exercise of uncommon cunning and 
 sagacity, mingled with prompt execution of 
 formed resolutions, at whatever risk and hazard, 
 to prevent the possibility of being outwitted. 
 The eye of pity and commiseration was entirely 
 blinded in this mighty city. A love of splendour, 
 delight in spectacle, had usurped the whole soul. 
 It was only in proportion to the number of fol- 
 lowers, extent of " largesse'' and brilliant dis- 
 play that an individual was esteemed. Even 
 with treason on his hands, the well-known mur- 
 derer was allowed to escape his long merited re- 
 ward, and often was nearest in favour with the 
 Shah, whose necessities added value to the service 
 of such a man. 
 
 "Again, if the purpose were to slay, or the event 
 became reversed in the slaughter of an aggressor, 
 no examjjle salutary to public morals was elicited. 
 There was no reward given to him who had nobly 
 defended himself, and shaken off one terror from 
 the public mind; for seldom did the knowledge of 
 the circumstance escape, in consequence of the
 
 150 RUSTUM KUAN. 
 
 inviolable secrecy in which the guilty are fain to 
 wrap their misdeeds, and the dreadful conse- 
 -quences which might have ensued to the survivor, 
 from treachery and design, if once recognized. 
 The sword and dagger were momentarily at work, 
 but seldom from want of a police, or active and 
 determined set of armed men, paid for the detec- 
 tion of delinquents, did such acts of violence be- 
 come generally known. Or, if all were disclosed, 
 the death of the unfortunate, the punishment of 
 the offender, and the instigation of the crime, 
 were alike confounded, in an over-reliance (you 
 will call it Saheb) in the all-powerful sway of that 
 destiny, which my countrymen believe accompa- 
 nies them through every act of their life-time. 
 Bloodshed, was too constant a sight in the streets 
 of Delhi, and elsewhere, not to make death a matter 
 of little concern in the minds of those, with whom 
 fatalism has most decided power. When they were 
 hourly witnesses to the destruction of life, could 
 they be expected to attach any very vital import- 
 ance to the coming of that, no one can control } 
 No ! they gazed upon a lifeless corpse with as 
 much complacency, as they had learned to con- 
 temj^late the resignation of that, which would add
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 151 
 
 themselves to the number ah'eady consigned by 
 the hand of tyranny and injustice to the silence 
 of the grave; and luckily, it was so decreed, it 
 mitigated the severity of their situation in life, 
 where it was impossible to avoid seeing what, if 
 you could behold, even soldier as you, Saheb, are, 
 would make you shudder, and points out how 
 wonderfully the all-merciful Allah has studied 
 the comfort of man, in giving him a yielding 
 disposition, able to accommodate itself to the ne- 
 cessities of the moment. Even in the midst of 
 these scenes, insecure in his own person, and un- 
 certain of his wealth, the Mahommedan yet knew 
 how to smile and to enjoy the present pleasures 
 afforded him. Oh! many were the advantages 
 this system of society afforded the Moslem, as an 
 individual, which were denied to their empire at 
 large. Patriots were wanting, yet many happy 
 persons dwelt within sight of the royal person. 
 Look at my ancestors. Were you made acquainted 
 with, and been taught as I have been, v/hat their 
 swords have gained for them, and from early life- 
 time cherished as I have done the intoxicating 
 hope, of continuing their highly-j^rized fame with 
 posterity, by imitating their bright examjde, how
 
 152 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 would the present prospect accord with such 
 ideas. They made their way, froui the cottag-e to 
 4he situation of hig-h command, — from the dark- 
 ness of indigence to the splendour of rank, 
 through hard fought fields, and through the 
 mazes of intrigue, acquiring riches, glory, honour, 
 affluence, and power, whilst their prowess has 
 been the wonder of the age, and instrument of 
 their aggrandizement. These have I also unre- 
 mittingly sought, but the day was too far spent, 
 when my time arrived to find aught but disap- 
 pointment, and what now remains only presents 
 a far worse prospect for. my contemplation; and 
 pray, may I ask, would not your situation, if such 
 as mine, engender a life of pining and regret?" 
 
 " Doubtless it might," said I. " Under inacti- 
 vity and want of proper employment, the mind 
 becomes diseased, and is too aj)t to add to its 
 forlornness,in looking forward on a dismal future, 
 by depicting over strongly in the exercise of me- 
 mory the blessings of the days gone by. The 
 past has always the advantage of the present ; we 
 see the past in all its glories without being en- 
 abled to judge of its embittennents, whereas, 
 perhaps, when we are drawing to our imagina-
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 153 
 
 tions a cursory review of by-gone e\ euts — of hours 
 now no longer ours, the present moment is one of 
 trial and affliction, and gives to our minds a por- 
 tion of its withering blast, to yet farther chill a 
 cheerless prospect, and enhance a supposedly 
 happy one. Few historians can give us such 
 minute and accurate accounts of each envied in- 
 dividual's life as to afford a fair scope for judg- 
 ment. If they wish the welfare of mankind, or 
 have a family verging on towards manhood, they 
 are too apt to display virtue, ability, and talent, 
 crowned with a corresponding reward, in riches 
 and glory, withholding the darker traits of cha- 
 racter and the bitter moments of adversity. If 
 not entirely withdrawn, they are but partially de- 
 veloped. Like a recruiting officer, who wins a 
 victory without numbering the slain on the occa- 
 sion ; who pictures to you his own promotion, and 
 his happiness, without telling of the years he 
 served, and stripes he has endured before he at- 
 tained to, or was fitted for the situation he then 
 holds. All stimulus to thirst for fame is artfully 
 made use of, and experience left to teach us the 
 rest." 
 
 " Your arguments," replied my host; " are not 
 H 3
 
 154 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 at all wanting in reason, and your conclusions are 
 just, friend. Oft in tliB latter years of my exist- 
 ence have T reviewed scenes of early youth, and 
 found every requisite for happiness blended in 
 happy union in them ; but then again, how dif- 
 ferent were my ideas at the moment they occurred. 
 To be brief, these are times now, when the mind 
 of the Mahommedan, if tinctured with the proper 
 feelings of his race, has nothing left, either to 
 enjoy or to anticipate. Not a single ray of hope 
 is to be derived from either retrospective or 
 prospective thoughts ; for the former pourtray what 
 we have been, and might have continued to be to 
 this very hour, had not internal dissensions in 
 disuniting all parties weakened our empire ; and 
 the latter only tends to convince us of our present 
 nothingness. The power of the Moghuls is fast 
 fading from substance into shadow ; no longer 
 have we cities, or is our court filled with Ma- 
 hommedan Omrahs, Khans, and men of power. 
 Our principalities and our palaces are deserted, 
 and the sun of glory, which once rose to illumi- 
 nate with splendour the reign of our several dy- 
 nasties, is now setting in mournful majesty over 
 our fallen kingdoms. The soldier is become a
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 155 
 
 mere useless drug in the bazaar of life, T repeat, 
 neither sought after nor are his services accepted 
 when proffered. Indeed I may, I fear, add, what 
 God alone can prevent and may forbid, that reli- 
 gion seems to have felt the shock." 
 
 Having ended thus, he arose, made his obeis- 
 ance, and departed. It was fully evident that 
 the subject our conversation had reverted to, had 
 put his feelings to a severe test, for he had in 
 his unguarded and excited state, been forced to 
 make a confession, which tortures perhaps, would, 
 if put in practice, have failed to have elicited. 
 He had dwelt upon his own situation ; and could 
 any one have more justly discussed the merits of 
 it ? No ', deny it who can, however his religious 
 enthusiasm may blind him against conviction : 
 the Mussulmanic power in Hindostan has most 
 materially deteriorated. What is the modern 
 court of Delhi, compared with what it was two 
 centuries ago; when royalty, in the highest 
 state of refinement, brought every luxury be- 
 fore it at a nod; and v.^hen music, dancing, 
 song, and festivity, reigned paramount in this 
 beautiful city, hushing sorrow to repose, or 
 drowning it in forgetfulness ? Contrast with
 
 156 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 it the imperial dignity and situation of the pre- 
 sent emperor. 
 
 Left alone, a successive train of thought came 
 over me, and led me to contrast his situation 
 with my own. Without the prospect of another 
 campaign, to disturb the monotony of my pre- 
 sent life, my military career even was irksome ; 
 for each day, as it passed, bore a close resem- 
 blance to its precursor, and the succeeding one 
 only offered the same pursuits for choice and 
 amusement. Althousfh the future had some- 
 what to enhance the value of its prospects, in a 
 certain elevation of rank, and comparative ease 
 in the winter of old age, these, to a youthful 
 mind, are poor incitements to pleasure, when 
 the waste of the prime of life, in a foreign land, 
 where health is an utter stranger, is thrown in 
 the opposite balance. Few, indeed, are there, 
 who can justly appreciate the services of one 
 doomed to a lengthened career in India, but 
 those who have already passed such an ordeal, 
 or are far through the period. Cast but one 
 glimpse around : contemplate how few, of the 
 many you may have known but a few years 
 since, yet remain, and all those cut off in the
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 157 
 
 very bloom of youth ; and is it reasonably just 
 to anticipate that you can outlive your period of 
 service ? so that, what signifies, in the end, the 
 l^ension you have long sought after, only relin- 
 quished with your life, or obtained when disease 
 has impaired every faculty, and leaves you to 
 regret the past, and abhor the present. 
 
 Such was my situation ; bad enough ! but 
 mark that of the Mahommedan. In the decline 
 of that court which had once been the wonder 
 of the world, and pride of his race, he, as well 
 as every other Mahommedan, must anticipate 
 the removal of every prop which has hitherto 
 supported, although feebly, the tottering mass 
 of their influence in India. It is worthy the 
 remark of any curious traveller, to trace how 
 very rapidly the Mahommedan population is 
 lost around and about a city which, in itself, 
 presents a jDOor picture of luxury for them to 
 dwell upon. The inundating force of conquest 
 has often, throughout India, destroyed sove- 
 reignties ; and the immediate evacuation of the 
 districts, when inhabited by the followers of 
 the prophet Mahomed, has invariably followed. 
 This, doubtless, was vividly pourtrayed to his
 
 158 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 own mind ; and he could, therefore, only anti- 
 cipate like results, from what the weakest mortal 
 could divine as near at hand — the gradual, yet 
 total loss of all their former possessions. The 
 English already, he knew, possessed almost the 
 whole tract of country from which the Impe- 
 rial treasures were filled; and where the absokite 
 revenue of the territory is not collected by my 
 own countrymen, they exercise a considerable 
 control. Again, he was certain, that few 
 noble families are extant; and those a prey 
 to poverty and insignificance. If, up to the 
 present moment, he was convinced so much had 
 been achieved, what must he not imagine the 
 future would overturn ? 
 
 I could observe my host walking to and fro, 
 under the sheltering roof, at a short distance on 
 the opposite side, whence his adherents had 
 hastened to obey his summons. His gesture, 
 manner, and gait, all indicated the highly ex- 
 cited state of feeling our conversation, in its 
 results, had engendered. What else could I 
 conjecture had caused so much uneasiness } x\t 
 last, spreading his small carpet, upon which he 
 placed his saddle as a pillow, he lay himself
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 159 
 
 down, and courted the soothing oblivion of 
 repose, to calm the turbulent and unhappy state 
 of his mind. 
 
 The tempest now began to moderate ; and 
 although my impatience for the burst of morn- 
 ing, when I must renew my laborious journey, 
 was rendered more acute from the weariness of 
 my present situation, I yet managed to keep the 
 blaze within sight ; and to watch, applying 
 due replenishments of wood, and other fuel, as 
 consumption demanded. At length, the con- 
 tinued rumbling of the chuckee, a household 
 grinding stone, accompanied with the female's 
 song, who thus early toiled for the family com- 
 fort, sufficed to lessen my anxiety. The cock 
 crew again and again ; whilst the more distant 
 ones, in answering to the first challenger, 
 seemed like following echoes. Such sounds as 
 these, buoyed up my wearied spirits. The day, 
 at length, broke ; and light gradually diffused 
 itself throughout the building. Tlie village 
 soon began to awaken once more to life and 
 industry ; the daily toil was diligently com- 
 menced ; and cattle from all quarters, from the 
 inside of houses, as well as from the enclosures
 
 160 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 of courtyards, sought the accustomed place of 
 herding, around and about the well and banyan 
 tree, waiting to be driven forth to pasture. 
 
 If the most trivial acts of mutual kindness 
 deserve to be rewarded with a corresponding 
 sense of gratitude on the j)art of the person 
 obliged, what did not the stranger deserve of 
 me? He had befriended me under circum- 
 stances, when, to have refused his aid, was to 
 withdraw all hope from me. It was, therefore, 
 necessary to disburthen my mind, that I should 
 acquaint him with my sentiments towards him, 
 and tender my warmest acknowledgments ; but 
 when I reached the spot, where he lay, locked 
 in sleep, after a short deliberation I turned, 
 and left without accosting him; for, to have 
 awakened him from the pillow of repose, would 
 have been a poor compensation to make, for the 
 essential comforts his generosity had gifted me 
 with. 
 
 The guide which my obsequious friend the 
 Brahmin had prepared for me on the preceding 
 evening, accompanied my horsekeeper, who led 
 my horse to the entrance of the Durrumsollah — 
 I mounted and set forward on my intended
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 161 
 
 route. The morning, somewhat advanced, was 
 still cool and pleasant, whilst the fresh wind 
 which blew from the south-western quarter, 
 drove before it, heavy hanging vapours and dark 
 laden clouds, which hitherto had continued to 
 obscure the rising sun. All the small rivulets 
 and nullahs were swollen into roaring torrents, 
 the ground was saturated with water, and the 
 roads broken and heavy. After a ride of a few 
 miles, I approached the river Mhye. The nearer 
 I gained it, the more distinct became the sound 
 of the waters embodied in the numerous nullahs, 
 rushing on in haste to contribute their streams 
 to the accumulating depth of this noble river. 
 At length I reached the accustomed ford in this 
 quarter of the province, and although a distant 
 one to that on the main road, it was generally 
 esteemed more secure, as the bed of the river 
 being wider here than elsewhere, lessened the 
 rapidity of the stream. The crossing was sub- 
 ject to more delay, but less fatigue, than if I had 
 gained the spot whence my baggage, I yet 
 ho23ed, had been ferried across, if the cattle 
 could not wade through. 
 
 I gazed with wonder and surprize on the scene
 
 162 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 before me. No longer was the Mhye slumbering 
 in its bed; no longer was it (as in the hot season 
 most rivers subside into in India) a quiet placid 
 stream, tracking its way through the widely ex- 
 panding sand around ; now washing the bank 
 on either side, or now meandering in the midst of 
 its bed's breadth, irrigating the melon fields culti- 
 vated on the water's edge ; but, in lieu, a mighty 
 expanse of water, white with foam, and tinged 
 with a sandy hue. Onwards it hurried with in- 
 credible velocity, burying all other sounds of 
 animated nature, in its roaring violence. The 
 former rippling surface now glistened with 
 angry waves, whilst eddies and whirlpools re- 
 velled in the midst. Uptorn trees and weeds, 
 and drowning cattle, overtaken in its fury, 
 floated past, unable to contend against the vio- 
 lent current, now buried in a rapid, now tossed 
 about in a whirlpool, and now gently agitated by 
 the wave, as borne round the base of a projecting 
 headland, they entered the small creek it har- 
 boured with its sheltering shoulder, throwing 
 the furious bursting of the waters to a distance. 
 The bank I now stood upon, was precipitous ; 
 that opposed to me, rose in a gentle undulation.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 163 
 
 now almost buried from the view. Such was 
 the state of the river Mhye as it lay spread from 
 bank to bank before my gaze; a proof of the 
 wonderful changes these rivers, in tropical cli- 
 mates, undergo. It wanted now but little more 
 depth added to it, and the country must be in- 
 undated ; whereas, before, it scarcely sufficed for 
 the purposes of irrigation, the wants of man, and 
 of the animal creation. 
 
 The ford at which I was now halted, was one 
 of very minor importance, and generally used by 
 the cultivator, as the means of visiting the pas- 
 ture and arable lands upon the opposite side. 
 There was, consequently, no accommodations for 
 the transport of a traveller's baggage, or the 
 housing of himself, to be met with. As for a 
 boat, doubtless half the inhabitants of the miser- 
 able village, the left hand of the prospect dis- 
 closed, had never seen such a thing. Many had 
 not even heard of it, so very much do the natives 
 confine themselves at home, and their knowledge 
 to the most limited circle of observation. The 
 beasts of the field are only known to them, in 
 proportion as their haunts being discovered, 
 they are taken ; the birds of the air are alike un-
 
 164 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 known to them by name or general character; 
 the trees in the immediate vicinity, comprise the 
 .whole of their botanical knowledge ; whilst all 
 herbs, as yet undiscovered to be nutritious and of 
 use to man, are wholly disregarded, and thus an 
 end to all further elucidation or extended know- 
 ledge, is at once put. Their geography extends 
 only in proportion, as, driven from distant lands, 
 they may be forced to pass over countries to 
 avoid the severities of famine, and thus they see 
 a little of the surface of the globe ; otherwise, if 
 not thus unceremoniously disturbed, or banished 
 from their former homes by war, or the avarice 
 of collectors, their birth and death would only 
 be distant, as regards situation, a few hundred 
 yards, at most. And, in like manner, except 
 those upon the main roads, the nearest village is 
 often unknown to them, and the traveller ex- 
 periences every difficulty in gaining any infor- 
 mation he may require. Such, however deplor- 
 able a picture, is nevertheless a true one, of the 
 state of ignorance existing throughout the most 
 retired, and least frequented provinces of Gu- 
 zerat. How much might not education effect 
 here ? and can it be supposed that, with all the
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 165 
 
 zeal and enthusiasm the world could afford, to 
 effect the conversion of such ignorant souls, it 
 would be advisable to attempt it, before the 
 effects of such utter darkness should be removed, 
 to enable them to see the light which shone 
 before them. They might be taught to call 
 upon the sacred name of Jesus Christ, but of 
 what avail would it be, when the morality of the 
 gospel, the mercy of our Creator, and the bles- 
 sed example of our Mediator, would be beyond 
 their comjDrehension, and past their power of 
 imitation. — In the absence of any means for my 
 passage over the foaming surface of the waters 
 which interposed between me and my destina- 
 tion, my only hope was to dismount, and 
 patiently await the river subsiding. A small 
 pagoda lay to the right, enshrouded with trees, 
 which, offering me more acceptable accommoda- 
 tion than the exposed situation I had made my 
 observations from, attracted my attention. At 
 this I alighted, and jDondered over, with anxiety, 
 all the by-gone events, from none of which the 
 slightest ray of hope could be elicited, as few 
 servants can be depended upon, and if mine 
 had not used all j^ossible expedition, doubt-
 
 166 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 less they mingled a like feeling with mine, and 
 were resting lower down, on the same side as 
 ' myself. If so, my passage over would only again 
 remove me from my baggage, yet I had deter- 
 mined on the measure, and was not a likely per- 
 son to disappoint myself in altering my plans. 
 
 I had scarcely been sufficiently delayed to be- 
 come an impatient, when the approaching tramp 
 of a horse on a sudden, stole gently ujDon my 
 hearing. Casting a glance in the direction of the 
 road I had only a short time before traversed, a 
 group of persons presented itself emerging from 
 a darkly shaded lane. The foremost figure had 
 a loose dark green mantle thrown over his head 
 and shoulders, besides the greater part of his face 
 being hidden in a coloured wrapper. Above his 
 turban, the spiral tojD of a Surat-made parti- 
 coloured conical cap made its appearance, and 
 there the mighty bulk he presented, terminated 
 in a point, from a gradual slope, commencing 
 from the heels of the feet, and continuing to 
 diminish upwards. He was mounted upon a 
 wel] but gaudily-caparisoned horse, of tall sta- 
 ture, and strong formed sinewy limbs. A menial 
 grasped the horse's many-coloured tail with his
 
 RUSTITM KHAN. 167 
 
 left hand, to help him on, and enable him to keep 
 up with the shuffling amble of his master's animal, 
 whilst with his right, he held a large chittree,* 
 covered with red cloth, and fringed with gold and 
 silk, over his master's head, to protect him from 
 a slight shower then falling. Immediately in the 
 rear, two armed attendants followed, one bearing a 
 spear and sword, and the other, a matchlock, with 
 lighted fuse affixed to the stock, doubtless 
 alarmed for their safety, in these predatory 
 regions. 
 
 Conceiving from the adoption of the insignia of 
 the umbrella, only permitted to the higher ranks 
 of Mahommedan states, or of other sovereignties 
 throughout India, that some person of conse- 
 quence, doubtless a vassal, minister, or officer of 
 His Highness the Guick war's, was approaching, I 
 drew nearer to obtain a view of his features, if 
 possible, and feed my curiosity. When yet a few 
 paces distant from him, I recognized the old 
 Mussulman in whose company I had passed a 
 part of the preceding night, and who had be- 
 friended me at the last halt I had made . " Ulhum 
 
 * Chittree. — Umbrella.
 
 168 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 dulillah,"* ejaculated the old man, as he returned 
 my salaam. " What, again detained, friend, your 
 'Stars are unpropitious, and you surely travel under 
 great disadvantages. You see, here I am again, 
 as much refreshed as if this was the first day's 
 journey from my beloved home. What an un- 
 fortunate you are, indeed, always separated from 
 your luggage, your bedding, and your servants, 
 yet you seem to hold out well, too. In truth, if 
 you only travelled like myself, under the auspices 
 of jDOverty, you could never become separated ; 
 I allude to your person and your valuables, for 
 when mounted, I have every thing tied upon my 
 saddle. My pipe j)ut inside myTobraf for my 
 horse, hangs at the bow ; the head and heel ropes 
 dangle from the rear part, hanging on either side, 
 whilst I am seated upon my bedding, which only 
 consists of a carpet. Khoda Kurreem," t he 
 ejaculated, before I could answer his raillery. 
 " Khoda Kurreem, if your servants have urged 
 your baggage cattle to the other side of the river 
 
 * Ulhum dulillah. — God be praised. 
 
 f Tobra. — Grain bag. 
 
 X Khoda Kurreem. — God is merciful.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 169 
 
 before it had sufficiently swollen to impede their 
 progress, you are utterly hopeless, for this is no 
 regular ferry, only a dry season communication 
 with the opposite country, destitute of all accom- 
 modation, by means of which a gentleman of 
 your rank might pass over in safety." 
 
 " It can scarcely be called a ferry," I replied, 
 " or if it is, what would it signify to give a name 
 so little in accordance with the prospect before 
 us. As for swimming my horse across, I fear it 
 is impracticable ; and how long the waters will 
 require to recede, God only knows, and I sup- 
 pose my patience must testify to." 
 
 " God forbid," added the Mahommedan to 
 my reply, " for surely it must be already ex- 
 hausted, or you are possessed of the wisdom of a 
 sage, and can combat misfortune with persever- 
 ance, and overcome its severity with compla- 
 cency." 
 
 " I do not boast altogether of possessing these 
 virtues, from which the essence of happiness 
 might be extracted, but at all events, my friend," 
 said I, " it is possible for me to disarm adversity 
 of the advantages of its worst and most formidable 
 weapons of attack, by assuming, on my part, the 
 
 VOL. I. I
 
 170 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 shield of fortitude, and turning, on all occa- 
 sions, bad into the best that possibly can be made 
 ofit.'^ 
 
 " Thus far you are right," said my companion, 
 " this is a lesson a soldier much needs to acquire 
 to perfect him in his profession, and the sooner 
 learnt the better. It would appear you act up to 
 your theory, for I see your horse at the pagoda 
 door, and I could perceive you stealing out to look 
 at the poor figure I presented on my approach. 
 If you deign to permit your slave to mingle his 
 foot-marks w^ith the happy impressions of those 
 of one he so much esteems as your lordship, he 
 will enter the dwelling, easing his horse of a 
 weighty burthen, and himself of the cramp." 
 
 Onwards we went in company, and on foot, al- 
 though I endeavoured to persuade him not to 
 dismount. His customs had impressed him with 
 an idea that civility demanded his so doing, and 
 his own pride forbade his acting at variance with 
 what he conceived they dictated. After our en- 
 trance into the smoke-blacked interior of this 
 religious edifice, in which the smell of oil w^as 
 almost " strong unto sickness," the time passed 
 on in desultory conversation. The presence of a
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 171 
 
 companion, in all the vicissitudes of life, is an 
 agreeable acquisition . If pleasure rule through- 
 out the day, who will deny that it is enhanced by 
 having another to impart your feelings to ; and 
 if adversity overtake you, a friend or companion 
 can often alter the circumstances of your case by 
 personal exertion, or ameliorate the trying time 
 by persuasion, and the exercise of mental faculty 
 in argument.
 
 172 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 THE RIVER STILL CONTINUES ITS VIOLENCE — EXPE- 
 DIENT FOR CROSSING — CROSS — CRITICAL SITUATION 
 
 OF THE MAHOMMEDAN — BELIEF IN FATALITY 
 
 REACH MY BAGGAGE — CONTRAST ILLUSTRATION 
 
 OF THE STATE OF THIS PORTION OF THE COUNTRY 
 — THE DEXTERITY OF THIEVES IN A STORY. 
 
 Mid-day passed on, and still the river Mhye 
 offered, in its violence, an almost impassable ob- 
 stacle to our farther progress. A few hundred 
 yards in width, and extremely deep, its current 
 yet continued in the centre as rapid as before, 
 although from the v^^ater-mark apj)arent on the 
 opposite bank, I conjectured the stream was be- 
 ginning to subside. Yet so very slow was the 
 change in our favour, that our hope, now raised 
 for a moment or two, was again extinguished, 
 after a prolonged gaze at those indications, we
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 173 
 
 were inclined to judg-e favourably of. Impatience 
 at last fixed my resolution to attempt the passage 
 over by swimming on horseback. I communi- 
 cated my determination to the stranger, who sug- 
 gested the adoption of another method, by which 
 he argued we might partake of the danger, and 
 the advantages it offered, mutually. Upon ex- 
 planation, however, it appeared doubtful, whe- 
 ther his substitute was by any means more eligible 
 or more safe, than the adventure I had formed 
 in idea. 
 
 " Let us," said the old man, " collect some of 
 the villagers, for which purpose I will despatch 
 my followers, and obtain from them a cot, to 
 which we must affix a number of earthen water 
 vessels. We can thus construct a kind of raft, I 
 have seen oftentimes used with perfect safety. 
 Shall your slave prepare one ?" 
 
 " By all means, friend," I exclaimed. " Any 
 thing you wish ; let us not delay. The evening- 
 will soon set in, for the afternoon is fast passing 
 away, and I should prefer the assistance of broad 
 daylight on this occasion. An expedient of this 
 sort must not be trifled with, and although I do 
 not wish to reject it, I should still desire to do 
 all in my power to aid its success."
 
 174 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 Considerable delay attended the progress of the 
 intended raft. When all the necessary apparatus 
 -had been collected from different quarters of the 
 village, the cot from the house of one more luxu- 
 riously inclined than his neighbour, and pieces 
 of grass and cotton rope, wherever they could be 
 found, had been pressed into the service, and the 
 new earthen vessels purchased, the task of 
 uniting them, so as to form this simple machine, 
 in a manner likely to prove useful, yet caused 
 more trouble than could have been anticipated. 
 So much dispute arose amongst those employed ; 
 such angry dialogue and abuse attended the di- 
 rection, where each aimed at supremacy, and 
 none listened to the advice given by all, or any 
 party, as I thought, threatened to frustrate our in- 
 tentions. In fine I quitted the scene, and re- 
 gained the pagoda, quite confident it never would 
 be finished, or that if it was, it would be useless. 
 
 An universal shout of applause from the 
 quarter I had quitted the artificers at, was the 
 first intelligence I received of the success which 
 attended their endeavours. Many now hastened 
 towards me, to report, that the raft was floating 
 upon the surface of the waters, and those 
 destined to help it across by swimming, in
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 175 
 
 readiness. Down I hastened to the point, 
 whence this imprudent attempt was to be made. 
 The Mahommedan declared it to be as safe a 
 method of crossing, as if we were ascending a 
 hill upon an elephant; whose great sagacity, on 
 such occasions, baffles all description. Others 
 exultingly exclaimed, as they moved the raft 
 along the edge of the water, " Saheb beitho," 
 or, sit down upon it. Sir. " Hum beithengey," 
 we will sit down, and accompanying the word 
 with the action, they did so. Others were for 
 reward, and whilst their eyes sparkled with de- 
 light, their confidence of obtaining it, after their 
 cleverness, was equally apparent. The village 
 children were in raptures, and each door of the 
 houses opening in our direction, was crowded 
 with females, to see the Saheb cross. 
 
 Numerous as were the various feelings dis- 
 played, I entertained but one, that of mistrust mi- 
 ni ingled with delight. The idea of trusting my- 
 self to such a fragile support, amidst the foaming 
 current hurrying on before me, when any one of 
 the numerous logs of wood which floated on the 
 surface, would, if it came in contact with us, 
 break the vessels which alone upheld us, was as
 
 176 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 far removed from prudence, as the act would be 
 devoid of precaution. Rashness alone could 
 form a pretext for so doing. The villagers ob- 
 serving my indecision, said they would cross 
 first, and accordingly they did so, and returned 
 without danger. It was impossible now to delay 
 any longer, and therefore the raft was ordered to 
 be taken down to a suitable creek, where I could 
 embark without getting wet, and was there to 
 be joined by the Mahommedan, who, be it said 
 to his credit, was less scrupulous than I was. 
 
 "Come, Saheb," said the old man, " what 
 does it signify. If fate has decreed us a watery 
 grave, you may depend upon it we shall have to 
 abide by our lot, whichever way we may endea- 
 vour to cross. So we may as well face the dan- 
 ger at once. What say you.? But secure your 
 hat, Sir, as I am securing my turban, or the 
 wind will blow it off, perhaps, and with such a 
 current as this, we shall never recover it." 
 
 " Why, my friend," I rejoined, " all this is 
 true, but as I do not entertain the same feelings 
 as yourself upon this point, you can, perhaps, see 
 some reason in my hesitating. But as we must 
 go, had you not better take off your cummer-
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 177 
 
 band, as I am doing with my coat and boots. 
 These are serious impediments when every exer- 
 tion is requisite to escape from a watery grave, 
 which may yet be our case. I shall soon be 
 ready to start." 
 
 " Ulhumdulillah," said the Mahommedan, 
 laughing. " If we get upset, which may Allah 
 forbid, your advice may prove of some use; 
 here, Merwan Khan, see this shawl is not in- 
 jured, and guard the gentleman's things; for, re- 
 collect, a piece of dookur, or wild hog," and he 
 spit as he mentioned the abomination, " would 
 not escape the rapacity of these Bheels. Khoda 
 Kurreem, I am ready, but wait a moment, here 
 comes a man with a bundle of gourds, a far 
 better method, and more safe for our transport. 
 Here, Itherow, come here. Buckshish Payengah, 
 you will receive reward." 
 
 Reward! electricity itself is not more instan- 
 taneous in its effects upon the body, than this 
 sweet sound in the ear of a native. Down went the 
 gourds from off the gardener's head, and were trans- 
 ported to the water, and I must own, I gazed 
 upon this floating throne with far more comfort- 
 able feelings, than those with which I had con- 
 I 3
 
 178 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 templated the idea of trusting myself upon the 
 bedstead. The gourds were fastened together, 
 in form, a diamond, and secured with rope net- 
 work, consequently not so liable to be spun 
 round by the violence of the current. It was 
 also easier for the swimmers, of whom there were 
 eight, to tow it; four in front, with ropes round 
 their arms, and two upon either side. But only one 
 could start at a time, an almost insurmountable 
 difficulty. I offered the preference to the Mahom- 
 medan, for etiquette is every thing with such 
 persons as my companion ; but no, he would not 
 accept it; and yet to be left behind, would lower 
 him in the eyes of his follow^ers, and that would 
 not do ; consequently, he, upon his invention, and 
 myself seated upon my throne, both started at 
 the same moment, silencing all unpleasant feel- 
 ings, and leaving our ultimate landing, whether 
 first or last, or at the same moment, in the hands 
 of fate. 
 
 If there is any person who may at Newmarket 
 have felt perfect confidence in such a matter of 
 chance as horse-racing, reading these lines, let 
 him only describe, by memory, his own feelings, 
 as to the horse he has laid his bets upon, answer-
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 179 
 
 ing his wishes, and he will save me the trouble 
 of relating how certain I was of infringing upon 
 politeness on this occasion, and reaching the 
 opposite shore first. The immense velocity of 
 the current as we proceeded, with the sun play- 
 ing upon its angry surface, heightened in bril- 
 liancy by the white foam around my throne, 
 made me fearful of dropping off from giddiness. 
 I now shut my eyes, but when again I opened 
 them, judge of my transport ; the men who be- 
 fore were toiling to their utmost to keep us in 
 our course, were now dragging me towards the 
 shore, having regained their depth. " The land ! 
 the land ! Hurrah, my boys." '' Shabash," I 
 exclaimed, " where is my companion." '' About 
 half way over," was the reply. " They have no 
 strength, those half-starved villagers; they do 
 not belong to Wtissadaree, which is about two 
 miles hence." This was accompanied with shouts 
 of laughter. 
 
 I was carried ashore, and turned to gaze upon 
 the floating bedstead, which yet remained a prey 
 to the impetuosity of the current in the centre of 
 the stream. Drifting without help from the 
 united efforts of those destined to tow it across,
 
 180 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 it soon floated past the point the Mahommedan 
 had seen me land at. At this critical moment, 
 a log of wood struck against the bedstead, and 
 destroyed the earthen vessels upon one side, which 
 instantly caused it to lop-side considerably, and 
 soon one portion of it was immersed in the water. 
 Although so perfectly reconciled before to a fate 
 which he had had little reason to anticipate, the 
 Mahommedan now shewed evident symptoms of 
 a disrelish for his situation. He roared forth 
 promises of reward, curses, and vengeance ; now 
 called upon God for help, now seizing his saddle- 
 furniture, which he was anxious to preserve, and 
 now laying hold of the tottering bedstead, as un- 
 even a surface to rest upon, as unsteady in the 
 water. " Saheb, Saheb, hum Kea Kurengey, Sir, 
 Sir, what shall I do," burst upon my hearing. 
 " throw a rope, bring assistance :" there, again, 
 *' I am drowning. Oh God ! Oh God ! Pull, 
 swim, tug, do all in your power, you rascals, now 
 for the point, once past that, and all is over." 
 
 One of the men, facing the current, let the 
 sunken side of the bedstead rest upon his back, 
 and by his efforts somewhat decreased the very 
 rapid rate the Mahommedan darted past at, and
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 181 
 
 which kept me upon the trot on the bank to 
 keep up with him. At length they reached a 
 spot, where the waters washed the bank of a pre- 
 cipitous headland, and they were carried with the 
 greatest force, within arm's length of the shore, 
 impracticable for landing in this part. One of 
 the natives immediately snatched at a large, and 
 luckily firmly rooted, bush, and brought this un- 
 safe raft to a momentary stand-still. 
 
 " I would sooner," roared the Mahommedan, 
 '• have trusted myself in this river, holding by a 
 buffalo's tail, or the sacred bull to Mahadeva, than 
 have allowed myself to have been seated upon 
 this cursed machine. — You were wise, Saheb, — 
 hold tight, you rascal, by the bush, or your father 
 shall be burnt alive,— not to trust yourself with 
 me, and if I had not been so scrupulous, like yourself 
 I might have landed in fit condition, whereas now, 
 I am wet through, and my saddle furniture, (God 
 forgive me for eating so much vexation through 
 my own obstinacy,) is totally spoiled. What an 
 unpleasant ride I shall have of it, truly." 
 
 I now lowered a rope to him, which a native 
 had procured from one of the neighbouring ham- 
 lets or huts, round a well, and having towed them
 
 182 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 round the front of the headland, received my late 
 host with every demonstration of regret for his 
 misfortune. However, after all, it turned out 
 not so bad as he expected. The under portions 
 of his saddle, which presented the formidable 
 heap, I have already described it as, alone were 
 wetted, and his own garments really but little 
 injured. 
 
 " By the mercy of God," he exclaimed, in his 
 loquacity, " I am safely out of it, Sir. It was not 
 written in my fate that 1 was to die thus in glo- 
 riously, and in this I always put my faith. It 
 eases the mind, vSir, in a moment of anxiety." 
 
 " Not much, my friend," I remarked, " if I may 
 judge by your conduct, as I lately saw it. You 
 appeared pretty eager to control your fate, or at 
 all events, to oppose it, when you saw every 
 chance of its proving unfavourable in the end." 
 
 "So I did, I must confess: who would not.? 
 We all know destiny is over-powerful, and believe 
 in it as sincerely as possible, but when the scy- 
 metar of a foe flashes above the head of one of our 
 blessed persuasion, who v/ould not inter23ose his 
 shield to ward off the intended mischief." 
 
 In the mean time our horses had been com-
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 183 
 
 pelled to swim across, whilst our horse-keepers 
 clung with their hands to the mane and tail, 
 taking care to keep the heads of their animals 
 above water, and towards the current, to prevent 
 making lee way. In a few minutes they joined 
 us, and our party being assembled, each took 
 what refreshment his stores advanced, myself in 
 a pull at my brandy bottle, and puff from my 
 cigar, the Mahommedan, in a little spice and pan 
 leaf; his retainers and my horsekeepers, in a small 
 portion of tobacco, which the natives of India, 
 generally speaking, are much in the habit of 
 using. 
 
 At last we moved forward at a sharp canter, 
 until the main road, for which we were searching, 
 sent its echoes to our horses' tramps into the 
 far distant glens. The jests of the old Mahom- 
 medan' s attendants seemed little the worse for 
 constant repetition ; n either did it appear that 
 the wetting theyhad gone through, nor their hun- 
 ger, in any wise interfered with their mirth, or 
 made those severe inroads upon their usually 
 giddy dispositions, which the latter had upon 
 mine. Continuing to put my horse's mettle to 
 the test, I was in hopes of throwing the Ma-
 
 184 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 hommedan in the rear ; as he was, it appeared, 
 aiither soured in his present humour, and pre- 
 sented one of those many striking instances of 
 persons which our daily intercourse with the world 
 developes, with whom theory better accords than 
 practice; in fine, who preach, but do not per- 
 form. The usual travelling pace of anative seldom 
 exceeds a walk, or, at most, a sharp amble; 
 and the time they will remain upon horseback 
 is equally astonishing with the dull progress 
 they can accommodate themselves to. Heedless 
 whether or not they relished the severe work I 
 indulged in, for any thing is preferable to the 
 walk of an Arab, who is remarkable for tripping, 
 I continued to urge my beast to his utmost. 
 Nevertheless, I found it impossible to shake off 
 my companions, as they were constantly at my 
 heels, whether I accelerated my rate of going 
 along or not. 
 
 Hailing a batch of wandering pilgrims we 
 chanced to meet, I received, in return to my in- 
 quiries, the pleasing intelligence, that my ser- 
 vants and baggage were at the village which 
 lay in the distance before us, and on w^hich a 
 dense fog, having scarcely cleared the surface
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 185 
 
 of the earth, now rested. These are very nume- 
 rous, and more or less locally attached to certain 
 spots which retain the water in the rainy season, 
 and are peculiarly unhealthy. The evening had 
 now closed in, when the neigh of my second- 
 rate favourite, Irakee, welcomed me with a kick 
 at my burthened charger, as I rode past his 
 pickets, keeping in rear of his heels. 
 
 The place at which I now alighted, and where 
 my servants had arrived the evening before, was 
 far more comfortable than the one which the frowns 
 of fortune had driven me to seek an asylum in. 
 Having at length divested myself of my uncom- 
 fortable clothing, and done ample justice to the 
 rejDast I found prepared, I was once more agree- 
 ably metamorphosed. After a draught or two 
 of genuine Hodgson, my wonted spirits returned, 
 and with each succeeding glass of Port, taken 
 in tumblers, I drowned my misfortunes yet 
 deeper and deeper in oblivion. Thanks to my 
 speed, for ere half an hour had elapsed, and my 
 dinnerwas finished, the rain began to descend again 
 more steadily, perhaps, but equally heavy with 
 that of the preceding evening. 
 
 The Mahommedan had, in the meantime, both
 
 186 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 cooked and partaken of his frugal repast, said 
 his evening prayers, performed his ablutions, 
 .and now, quietly seated on his small carpet, 
 was enjoying his hookah. The natives of India 
 will sit for hours together, partaking of a pipe, 
 without any companion, and seemingly gazing 
 upon vacuity, neither thoughtful, nor alive to the 
 scenes before them, as if employment was neither 
 a portion of their duty, nor necessary towards 
 their maintenance. This species of determined 
 idlers, may be seen, at all times of the day, 
 squatted upon their hams at the threshold of the 
 door of their houses, or upon the stone steps 
 leading up to the verandah, without appearing 
 to court pleasure, or even bestowing a smile of 
 approbation upon the feats of a juggler, or the 
 amusing gambols of the children playing in the 
 adjoining road. The usual provocatives to mirth 
 and laughter, are with them of no avail ; and on 
 what their thoughts can be bent, I have often 
 endeavoured, although in vain, to elicit. It is 
 this feeling which causes them to disbelieve the 
 assertions of a traveller, as to knowledge being 
 the object of his voluntary exile from his home 
 and family ; and having no energy themselves.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 187 
 
 they can only ascribe to a love of gain that 
 ambition for fame, which my countrymen are 
 willing to relinquish every happiness to obtain. 
 
 Unlike the European, he was associating with, 
 the Mahommedan had no necessity whatever 
 for vinous liquors or burning spirits to uphold 
 him against fatigue. Accustomed, from early 
 life, to a cup of water, it sufficed to refresh him, 
 and he took it with a greater relish upon trying 
 occasions, from a conscious feeling of rectitude, 
 in abstaining from such indulgences, as would 
 render him less worthy of being ranked amongst 
 the true believers. 
 
 My orders for an immediate march were now 
 completed. Each servant was aware how much 
 responsibility I attached to his performances, 
 and knew full well what he would receive as the 
 fruits of disobedience or inactivity. As I re- 
 turned from inspecting my horse's comforts, and 
 superintending his grooming, the Mahommedan, 
 perceiving me at leisure, accosted me, and re- 
 quested permission to remain in company the 
 next march. 
 
 " Indeed, I may add, Saheb," he continued, 
 " as far as the city of Ahmedabad, should your
 
 188 RUSTUM KHAN, 
 
 route lay in that direction, for really I am afraid, 
 almost, ever to trust myself with the luxury of 
 repose, as nothing can exceed the expertness of 
 the thieves of these villages. T know them well, 
 experience and cost have imprinted a lasting 
 remembrance of them upon my mind. I never 
 shall forget an occurrence that happened to me 
 not far hence. I was then in command of a 
 body of freebooters, whose chief had a fortress, 
 far removed inland, and built upon the banks of 
 the vSabermuttie. A rich Banyan, whose unre- 
 mitting thirst for gain, had enabled him to ac- 
 cumulate lacks of rupees, went on a journey to 
 perform Pooja, at a pagoda, situated in the 
 Jungles, towards Amednuggur to the east- 
 ward of our present sitUcUion. Several reverses 
 had much reduced the finances of my master, 
 and the wealthy Hindoo was too good a booty 
 not to arouse his cupidity. I was young in these 
 days, comparatively speaking, and the mere in- 
 terchange of cuts with an enemy had charms 1 
 never could resist. Our intended prey was as 
 cunning as rich, and had employed, as a guard, 
 about thirty hirelings, to whom he paid a high 
 price, to ensure his safety by their fidelity. One
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 189 
 
 by one, as pay became scarce amongst us, and our 
 numbers denied to us the acquisition of any con- 
 siderable booty,) our followers fell off and de- 
 serted, and it was at this j^articular juncture, 
 that religious enthusiasm coaxed the old fox 
 from his den, to become a prey to the wolf. As 
 the party intended for this service was intrusted 
 to my charge, I took good care to make myself 
 acquainted with the route he intended to follow 
 upon his return, and accordingly choose an eligi- 
 ble spot for an ambuscade. I was not altogether 
 satisfied with the competency of the means I was 
 possessed of for the attack, yet I was resolved to 
 make the attempt at all hazards. Once or twice I 
 mingled with his camp, either as a Gosayen or fa- 
 keer, and have received from his own hands a 
 few pice or a measure of grain in return for my 
 demands. Having gone through the most dan- 
 gerous portions of the country, without molesta- 
 tion, (for I myself forced one or two bands of 
 robbers, unable to cope with mine, to relinquish 
 their intentions towards his party) his guard be- 
 came inattentive to their duty, and on one march, 
 even neglected to have their matchlock fuses 
 lighted. Allowing them on this occasion to es-
 
 190 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 cape, the nearer they approached the main road 
 of communication through Guzerat, the more 
 .they abandoned all necessary precaution. 
 
 "I still continued to hover about their line of 
 march, and had the satisfaction of beholding the 
 whole party hastening on, heedless and careless, 
 towards the ambuscade in which my party was 
 posted. Many of their soldiers had tarried be- 
 hind at the last village, listening to the tales of 
 a Calundar,^ in which disguise I had placed one 
 of my comrades, to try his success in withdrawing 
 some portion of the followers attached to old 
 Banyan Jee. Every thing prospered. They 
 halted for a short time at a well, where I had 
 another man, roasting Cabobs,t to tempt such 
 Mahommedans as were in his pay to relinquish 
 him. The capital manner in which this fellow 
 played his part astonished me. Many were their 
 pressing exhortations to make haste, many the 
 
 * Calundar. — Wanderers who gain a livelihood by 
 telling stories. See KeppeVs Journey through Syria, ^c. 
 
 f Cabobs are pieces of meat and vegetables placed 
 alternately and fastened on a skewer, sometimes roasted, 
 and sometimes immersed in curried gravy.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 191 
 
 curses hurled at him, and yet, although one of 
 the most irascible creatures in the creation, he 
 bore with the latter and evaded the former. Now 
 sharpened his knife, and then suspended its ope- 
 rations to ask a question of them, or tell them a 
 jest, until the Banyan would no longer be de- 
 layed, and started. " Wait but a moment," said 
 the Cabob roaster, " and you shall have them at 
 half price, for I have been uncommonly lazy, or 
 the fuel is wet, otherwise, I can assure you, no 
 man is more expeditious than myself. By-the- 
 bye, you may have heard of the renowned Cazy 
 Abdool,* at Ahmedabad ; he was passing here, 
 and gave me unbounded encomiums, and you 
 know to please his palate is no easy task. Ya 
 illah il Ullah,*I have cut my finger," he exclaimed, 
 and extending his arm suddenly, as if from pain, 
 he overthrew a water vessel over a portion of the 
 fire. Thus delay followed upon delay, until I 
 claj^ped my heels to my horse's sides, joined my 
 party, and awaited anxiously the coming of the 
 prey. 
 
 - Cazy. — A judge amongst the Mahommedans. 
 t Ya illah il Ullah.—Oh God.
 
 192 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 '' My view was very much circumscribed, and 
 bounded on all sides with jungle. The most dis- 
 ,tant portion of the road I could command a sight 
 of, terminated in an angular turning, round which, 
 ere long, I had the pleasure to see Banyan Jee, 
 first and foremost, mounted upon a horse, I had 
 long sighed to obtain, wind slowly past ; then 
 came three or four bullocks, laden with tentage, es- 
 corted by the heedless soldiery, and unwary ser- 
 vants who accompanied him ; next came two Rhuts 
 covered with crimson curtains, followed by a host 
 of armed retainers, by whom weapons were rather 
 esteemed as ornaments than likely to be justly 
 made use of. In numbers, the cavalcade, as it 
 jDassed us, was decidedly superior to my party. 
 Their utility and daring we soon j)ut to the test. 
 Ulhum-dulillah and our heels soon brought us 
 to their rear, and those nearest were either pros- 
 trated by the charge, or sent to gaze on other 
 worlds by our swords. Consternation reigned 
 every where, flight, not fighting, occupied those 
 who ought to have been our antagonists ; so that 
 deserted by all on whom he had placed depend- 
 ance, the unwieldy Banyan, in his despair, dropt 
 alarmed from his horse, and was heard loudly
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 193 
 
 supplicating for his life. His wealth he readily 
 discovered, and we took his women along with 
 us, as well as himself, until his Ghora wallah* 
 should return with a ransom of six thousand 
 rujDees. At first we demanded ten, hut by the 
 oath of the cow, and the neck of his father, he 
 swore he had not more than six in the world, 
 " Then be it six," I replied, " and quickly paid, 
 or else even your carcass shall not have the 
 rights of burning, for in these inhosj^itable forests 
 you shall be left a prey for the beasts of the field 
 and fowls of the air." 
 
 " Having at length started his menial, he 
 mounted my horse, whilst I took possession of his. 
 A sharp watch was kept upon him lest he should 
 attempt escape, and his arms pinioned. In the 
 course of time, having collected all our booty, we 
 set forward towards the strong-hold, my master, 
 a Grasia, possessed, to account for a portion of 
 the spoil. As we neared a collection of grass 
 huts in the centre of an almost unfrequented 
 forest, except by those whose livelihood depended 
 upon plunder, we perceived the inhabitants, 
 
 * Ghora wallah. — Horsekeeper. 
 VOL. I. K
 
 194 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 dreading the approach of our armed party, de- 
 camping in all directions. We beckoned them 
 to return, but where can the guilty conscience 
 place any confidence ? No, they remained aloof, 
 and we bivouacked for the night, pitched the 
 Banyan's tentage, and gave scope to mirth and 
 merriment at his expense. Imprudently, a divi- 
 sion of that portion of the gain we intended solely 
 for ourselves was here made, and doubtless we 
 were watched, for some how or other, whether 
 from our own negligence or their astonishing 
 dexterity, the major part was gone in the morn- 
 ing. Many mutually suspected each other, and 
 now and then an angry cut threatened to divide 
 their heads as well as their friendship. This led 
 to a general inspection of our kit and bedding. 
 I now examined his saddle and clothing, and he 
 ill return ransacked mine; nevertheless, it was 
 impossible to ascribe to any others than those, 
 who in their pretended fear on our approach 
 had flattered us with the certainty of safety, the 
 guilty theft; doubtless their flight was intended for 
 no other purpose than that of silencing our scru- 
 ples, and persuading us to pitch our camp within 
 the limits of their dexterous power."
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 195 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 A REQUEST GRANTED FROM CERTAIN REASONS — ILLUS- 
 TRATION OF THE CHARACTER OF INDIAN GOVERN- 
 MENTS AND SUBJECTS — SCENERY — REFLECTIONS — 
 PRESENT STATE OF THE INDIAN ENUMERATED — 
 DESCRIPTION OF THE ADJACENT COUNTRY BY THE 
 MAHOMMEDAN — HIS INTENTIONS. 
 
 " With the knowledge of having been thus out- 
 witted by the inhabitants of this portion of the 
 country, I am always suspicious : now the presence 
 of your guard, Saheb, for I have observed your 
 sentries always on the alert, will at once secure 
 me from falling a victim to their mercenary pur- 
 suits, whilst your condescension will obtain for 
 me the permission of basking in the pleasure of 
 your society." 
 
 No proposition ever came home so completely 
 to my wishes as this one. " Granted, friend, 
 k2
 
 196 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 granted," I rej^lied, " but recollect, you must do 
 your duty in adding to our amusement, for I see 
 you are well acquainted with all sorts of life." 
 
 Having bid him take the rest he required, 
 under all the blessings confidence might bestow, in 
 freedom from anxiety, after having first placed his 
 saddle under the charge of the sentry — duly enu- 
 merated to him, and displayed the various articles 
 it contained, I took my leave, threw myself into 
 my arm-chair, and began to indulge my reflec- 
 tions, for read I could not, having no light left 
 me, through the negligence of my servant. The 
 proposal of the stranger I was inclined to view 
 in the most favourable light. It might, I consi- 
 dered, enable me to collect from him without ap- 
 pearing to have such an object in view — much 
 anecdote and historical fact regarding his ances- 
 tors, besides serving as a palliative to the ennui 
 of a long and solitary march. With these ad- 
 vantages I might also obtain some clue, which, 
 when pursued with an unbiassedjudgment, might 
 discover a basis upon which to found an ad- 
 miration of the character of his countrymen, or from 
 which to point with justice the finger of scorn 
 and detestation. As yet the knowledge of the
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 197 
 
 minor traits of the Indian disposition, and their 
 domestic conduct, is but imperfectly disseminated; 
 so that historical fact stands forth in its most ap- 
 palling form with few, if any, circumstances 
 offered for the consideration of the reader, which 
 might be able to divest a scene of bloodshed of 
 its most uncompromising appearances. 
 
 A thorough acquaintance with the manners 
 of the age, necessities of the government, con- 
 stitution of society, and disposition of the subject, 
 must necessarily be attained to before an accurate 
 or sound idea can be formed of the nature of 
 these aggressions upon private security. Such 
 has not as yet been developed to the view, or even 
 sought after by those who are loudest in ascrib- 
 ing the basest principles of the human mind to 
 the Mahommedan natives of India and elsewhere. 
 There are those who would deny to them the 
 possession of any of the better feelings the human 
 breast can foster, forgetting that the human dis- 
 position in all countries is the same, unless altered 
 by the effects of education, and improved upon 
 by the example of morality. Much more than 
 we are generally inclined to give them credit for, 
 do they deserve our admiration ; and if they fall
 
 198 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 short of ourselves on the score of humanity, have 
 they had the opportunity of attaining the summit 
 we have reached. Let those who have already 
 learnt to gloss over their own deviation from the 
 fidelity they have pledged to those who have 
 confided in them, and who have abandoned steady 
 principles in their ambitious course after great- 
 ness, granting to those injured the insulting ex- 
 cuse, that an unflinching necessity has urged 
 them so to do, pause and put the actions of those 
 they condemn to the same test they wish to be 
 judged by. If they would but duly weigh all 
 the circumstances of time, situation, and custom, 
 attendant upon what they deem atrocities of an 
 appalling nature, they might yet learn to grant 
 to others that indulgence they would claim gladly 
 in their own behalf. 
 
 Even the most inhuman action is surely en- 
 titled to be justly judged of. Examine such in 
 this manner, and I can indulge with confidence 
 an assurance, that few, if any, ought to feel 
 surprised, should they find in a community 
 where life itself was wholly insecure from the 
 machinations of private individuals as well as 
 from the despotism of the constituted authorities
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 199 
 
 of eastern monarchies, that deeds of revengeful 
 hate, bitter jealousies, and personal aggrandise- 
 ment, obtained by fair or foul means, as oppor- 
 tunity offered, should form conspicuous traits of 
 character, and stain the public page of history, 
 with the disclosure of the foulest crimes. Ob- 
 serve the day in which these occurrences have 
 their origin, mark the degraded state of society, 
 without a patriot to assist at the helm of state, 
 without a minister who dared to oppose the abso- 
 lute will of the Shahan Shah, or kiug of kings ; 
 whose pleasure, if it inclined to tyranny, was 
 to tread down his unfortunate subjects with un- 
 relenting fury, sparing neither age, sex, or 
 childhood, from the general execution ; and can 
 it be a matter of wonder, that kings should have 
 been murdered ; that the keen knife of rancorous 
 hate should have been deep stained with the crim- 
 son gore of ministers exalted from eunuchs ; of 
 sensualists adopted from the dregs of the commu- 
 nity, to aid the monarch in human destruction, and 
 to crush, by force of arms, the feeble efforts of an 
 oppressed people, already driven to desperation. 
 What monarch, I would ask, could ever have 
 inflicted upon his unoffending people, a severer
 
 200 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 punishment, or heavier curse, than the monarch 
 Mahomed Toghluck Shah before alluded to. To 
 .gratify merely a whim, he ordered the imperial 
 residence to be changed from Delhi to Golcon- 
 dah ; and in the edict announcing his intentions 
 to the inhabitants of Delhi, he ordered them to 
 abandon this revered spot. It was at once to 
 become tenantless ; the place of birth, so uni- 
 versally beloved, in whatever climate or country, 
 was to be deserted by the emperor's subjects ; 
 not because pestilence had fixed its abode there, 
 or that it was threatened with the horrors of a 
 siege, but solely to gratify the vanity, ambition, 
 or pleasure of an individual. The mother was 
 to remove from within her home, and lose sight 
 of the Kubberistan, in which lay the respected 
 remains of her husband, or her long-lost child, 
 though yet living in her memory, as fondly dear 
 as ever. No longer could she indulge her feelings 
 in scattering roses and other flowers over the 
 tomb. No ! the lamp she had with every even- 
 ing's twilight lit there, was to be extinguished, 
 and soon all traces of whom the mortal was, 
 who had been there consigned to rest, she knew 
 would be lost. Thus, on the one hand, was her
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 201 
 
 grief certain, but what fate yet awaited her, in 
 trials and misfortunes upon the road, she 
 had in bitter uncertainty only to conjecture. Her 
 family married, and living in the adjacent pro- 
 vinces, were now to be so far removed, that the 
 hope she had entertained of having her death- 
 scene softened by their presence, must be lost to 
 her for ever. She would no longer be enabled 
 to visit the tomb of her favourite Peer,* endeared 
 to her from the fond recollections attached to its 
 precincts ; no longer could she make her offer- 
 ings there, or be present at the annual festival, 
 appointed to ensure the lasting fame of him 
 who was beloved on earth, and she doubtless 
 now imagined in the enjoyment of those rewards 
 the hereafter had in store for the religious. The 
 favourite mosquef, where she could indulge a 
 prayer of thanksgiving to her God, or ask for 
 his protection from impending danger, where 
 her footsteps had so often borne her, was now 
 to be distanced from her for ever. The spot 
 where she had last parted with him, in whom 
 
 * Pee?' — Saint. 
 
 f Mosque, place of Mahommedan worship.
 
 202 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 the sovereign had ever found a faithful servant, 
 and who had sealed his fidelity with the blood 
 of her son, was likewise to be abandoned. The 
 place where his footsteps had, in their eager 
 haste to follow that fate allotted the youthful 
 warrior, left her in the agonies of grief, poignant 
 and bitter to the recollection, yet sacred in her 
 memory ; and where she could, when her incli- 
 nation wished it, repair, to image to herself his 
 countenance, v/armed with enthusiasm, whilst 
 the tear bedimmed his eye, as he was turning 
 away, was alike to be forbidden her. 
 
 In an equal degree, in being thus banished, 
 v/as misery depicted to the mind of him who 
 could, in returning from his ablutions, daily 
 bring to his recollection the shouts of the victo- 
 rious army he was present in, when it passed 
 under the arched gateway, which his way leads 
 under, crowned with success, and welcomed into 
 the sacred city with every joy. Although no 
 longer able to fight in the cause of his country- 
 men, he yet gloried in the boast of having 
 done so, and what could be dearer to him than 
 to mingle with his former companions, or linger 
 on amidst those scenes, best able to throw back
 
 HUSTUM KHAN. 203 
 
 the reflected image of days and circumstances, 
 long since past, upon his notice. And then, 
 again, what was the severity of his case, whose 
 approaching nuptials must be delayed, and an 
 arduous journey performed, and a home esta- 
 blished, before this ceremony could be com- 
 pleted. Must it not forcibly occur to him, that 
 disease and danger might impede his wishes for 
 ever, or that the bandit might seize upon his 
 beloved, and bear her from his sight, or that, in 
 the confusion and hurry of the removal, a thou- 
 sand ills might befal her. To what source could 
 he look for comfort.? A distant land, far from 
 the scenes in which he had spent his boyhood, 
 and in which no comforts equal to those he left 
 behind him, could be reasonably anticipated, 
 was not the soil in which to cultivate the growth 
 of patience. And even if once pleased with the 
 new scenes he had encountered almost insur- 
 mountable difficulties to reach, might he not, 
 if the present moment was to decide, be again 
 banished from them. 
 
 If such was his case, we will pass on to that 
 of the merchant. After years devoted to expe- 
 rience, he had perhaps, at last, discovered in
 
 204 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 whom he could repose confidence. From these 
 he was to be removed. The goods he had em- 
 barked in speculations with each caravan, as it 
 left Delhi, must now be lost ; for who could he 
 believe would be so honest, on their return, as 
 to search for him, the monarch's will had taken 
 away from their sight. No ; he knew human 
 nature, as he had always viewed it, was not very 
 likely to furnish examples of disinterested indi- 
 viduals, who would, from a love of justice alone, 
 undertake to discover those to whom they were 
 indebted, and whose enormous gains had placed 
 a sum of money in their power, capable of ren- 
 dering themselves rich, and reducing their scru- 
 pulous delicacy. To think was but to despair. 
 
 The old, respected in their immediate neigh- 
 bourhoods, and surrounded by those endeared 
 from long acquaintance, could not regard the 
 sultan's firman * without shuddering. Crippled 
 with infirmity, they were unable to seek for 
 pleasure at a distance, and had, doubtless, cen- 
 tered all their happiness in lingering now here, 
 now there, returning the salaam aleikum to 
 
 * Firman. — Order.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 205 
 
 those of their acquaintance, whom chance di- 
 rected within the very limited wanderings they 
 could accomplish : and these once separated, how 
 were they to spend the short remainder of their 
 lives? They must abandon, together with the 
 antiquated door-keeper of the serai, their accus- 
 tomed situations, to seek a foreign portion of the 
 monarch's kingdom, where to live could only 
 be regarded as a curse. The pedagogue saw his 
 school at once broken up, and his scholars dis- 
 persed in all directions, like a flock scared at the 
 api^earance of the tiger. The Brahmin now must 
 relinquish his favourite idol, shadowed under 
 the pagoda of which every stone and image was 
 dear to him : and so on through every grade of 
 society, too numerous to remark upon ; for each, 
 individually, felt proportion ably the vengeance 
 which accompanied the accomplishment of this 
 arbitrary despot's pleasure. It would almost 
 appear incredible that any one could have volun- 
 tarily relinquished such a residence as the palace 
 of the Shah, in Delhi, from the terrace of which 
 he could gaze upon the most strikingly beautiful 
 city in the world ; but yet it was so : and his- 
 tory gives the result in one broad assertion, " it
 
 206 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 proved the loss of many thousands of lives," and 
 gave rise to every species of misery the mind and 
 ,body of man can ever have to contend against. 
 
 Such was Toghluck Shah's will. Whether 
 prosperity was to attend it, it signified not: it 
 was to be done. Nowhere from the constitution 
 of the realm was the man or minister to be 
 found, who dared to oppose such an iniquitous 
 resolution, although his own fate was involved 
 in the general ruin? The Centre of the Universe* 
 had said it should be so, and could brook neither 
 disappointment, nor the semblance of opposition. 
 He had ignited the firebrand of devastation, and 
 of all the sufi'erers who dared raise his arm to 
 extinguish it ? Such was the monarch, in many 
 instances, towards his people. Severity was in 
 his deeds ; and he often extended the sceptre of 
 injustice to gratify himself. 
 
 But yet, a few words may be urged in behalf 
 of those who stole a feverish repose, and reclined 
 upon the musnud.f Let justice ask, was their's 
 a life of honour, undisturbed, or of blissful se- 
 
 * A title assumed by these monai'chs. 
 f Musnud. — ^Throne.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 207 
 
 curity. No ; far from it ! The free use of money 
 bestowed in bribes, to corrupt the fidelity of 
 some amongst the numerous servants ; the dis- 
 affection of the nobles ; the strength and violence 
 of party feeling ; the murmurs of the populace ; 
 required all the vigilance of human foresight to 
 circumvent, and counteract the baneful conse- 
 quences usually accompanying such a distracted 
 organization as that oftheir immense empires. Gold 
 could procure the highest honours; intrigue out- 
 strip merit; cunning outvie caution; and an 
 assassin was ever prompt and ready to accept 
 the seductive influence of an advantageous offer. 
 These were the disadvantages iTnder which the 
 monarch laboured. Many who sat upon the 
 throne of the Moghuls, had been immured in 
 state dungeons, removed from society ; their 
 only solace a licentious mode of life for many 
 years before they obtained their distinguished 
 rank. Uneducated, unrestrained in their pas- 
 sions, ignorant of the social duties of human 
 life, they were hurried, with headlong precipi- 
 tancy, by an infuriated and successful party, 
 from the horrors of the dungeon, the stupifying 
 madness of continued confinement, to become 
 -he leader of the people, and ascend the throne.
 
 ^08 RUSTLM KHAN. 
 
 The way before them lay through scenes of 
 bloodshed. An action without the walls of 
 .Delhi, confusion in the streets, massacre in 
 the palace, and deposition of the former King's 
 favourites, were augmented by confiscation of 
 property, banishment of nobles, exile of families, 
 and, in fine, every mental and corporeal misery, 
 even trampling to death with elephants, accom- 
 panied the elevation, and first met the eye of 
 the monarch; to which, precarious as was his 
 own situation, the king was forced to assent. 
 Severity was the first result of power ; human 
 blood was freely spilt; and unless the almost 
 untutored mind could rise superior to apparent 
 necessity, how constituted must that monarch 
 be, who was enabled to avoid assuming the cha- 
 racter of a tyrant. 
 
 Who can deny, that when once the mind be- 
 comes sufficiently enervated to suppress the tear 
 of sympathy at another's woes — to stifle the 
 justly indignant reproach that can often paralyze 
 the arm of oppression — to behold, with comj^la- 
 cency, the accumulated horrors of individuals 
 doomed to death, and their innocent relatives 
 also brought within the pale of punishment — 
 that but a short stage remains in the path of life.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 209 
 
 to lead this human being to inflict upon others 
 what, but a short time before, he witnessed the 
 infliction of. An eastern monarch, in many in- 
 stances, became a tyrant from necessity, rather 
 than from a naturally cruel disposition. He saw 
 bloodshed without repining in the first instance ; 
 habit familiarized it, as a proper sacrifice which 
 necessity demanded ; and he soon became, from 
 the example set by his predecessors before him, 
 and the manner in which he was thus associated 
 with scenes of bloodshed and murder, a principal 
 actor in such dreadful tragedies. Extreme se- 
 verity of punishment, aided with a multitude of 
 armed followers, was all the monarch was pos- 
 sessed of, to awe treason with. In consequence, 
 force, in this kingdom, was constrained to usurp 
 justice, lest the assassin might become daring 
 upon the appearance of indiff'erence, and appa- 
 rent neglect of precaution. The rapid succession 
 of extortion and violence which finally charac- 
 terized the conduct of a sultan who conceived 
 himself firmly seated upon his throne, aroused, 
 at last, indignation in the minds of the people; 
 who sought, eventually, the life of the ofi'ender, 
 as an expiation of his cruel tyrannies. Such was
 
 210 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 Delhi ; such the state of the imperial authority ; 
 and such the situation of the inhabitants ! 
 
 But to my tale : fatigue and toil had often, dur- 
 ing my residence in India, fallen to my lot before. 
 A day's hard shooting, a harassing march, or long 
 absence on horseback after the wild hog, are every- 
 day occun-ences in a subaltern's life, but then 
 these situations, although arduous in themselves, 
 had always duty or sport to render them less so. 
 But what interest could a night's forced vigil, or 
 a day spent partly in the rain and sun, and partly 
 in an oil-smoked pagoda on the banks of a river, 
 accompanied with fasting, afford to ameliorate the 
 time? T cannot now trace to my recollection any 
 situation that had engendered so much suffering, 
 as the late one ; however, it was amply compen- 
 sated by the additional pleasure with which it 
 made me contemplate the prospect of repose, and 
 which doubtless would give it proportionate zest. 
 
 The dawn had scarcely once more broken, ere 
 I was on the road again, accompanied by the 
 stranger and his adherents. My eyes were feasted 
 with delight as each new scene presented itself 
 to my gaze. The luxurious state of the rapid ve. 
 getation which even a few hours rain in the tropics
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 211 
 
 can command ; the highly cultivated state of the 
 country, and the pleasantly green aspect of the 
 whole range under view, heightened in eifect by 
 the bright and glossy foliage of this thickly 
 wooded and romantic land, was quite enchanting. 
 I felt more than ordinarily exhilirated in spirits. 
 The first burst of rain engenders a feeling of re- 
 novation in the minds of those who sojourn in an 
 Eastern clime, which baffles description. I be- 
 came so completely engrossed in studying the 
 beauties around me, and feasting upon the feel- 
 ings awakened in my mind, that I entirely over- 
 looked the idea of being in company with others. 
 Many a long year had passed away in rapid 
 succession since I bade farewell to England, my 
 home, my friends, and native country. As yet, 
 the pleasing and rapturous feelings of warm af- 
 fection for the scenes of my youth, were not ob- 
 literated ; and when in pressing forward, I beheld 
 many a spot strongly delineative of the scenery 
 of those far distant shores, how was it possible 
 to estrange myself for a moment, from those 
 thoughts, that stole with bewitching influence 
 over my mind, and pourtrayed in the vivid colour- 
 ing of imagination, a mother's tenderest care, and
 
 212 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 brother's unfeigned affection, which rose upper- 
 most in my memory. 
 
 I had not exchanged a word with my fellow- 
 traveller — how was it possible : an exile from the 
 scene of my fondest recollections, the slightest 
 semblance, or the most simple approximation to 
 them, was sufficient to awaken thoughts too nu- 
 merous, and too delightful in their indulgence, to 
 allow of any interruption. 
 
 We had now arrived at a sloping defile, which 
 led to the ford of a considerable stream. As we 
 gradually descended, the banks, which were quite 
 perpendicular, rather, perhaps, bending their sum- 
 mits beyond the projection of their bases, threat- 
 ened to overwhelm us with some detached portion 
 of their indented and broken sides. The mur- 
 mur of the waters as it passed by us, perhaps 
 heightened in its effect by our enclosed situation, 
 was highly pleasing ; the birds chirping upon 
 the branches of the overhanging shrubs, anxious- 
 ly watching our nearer approach, that they might 
 hurry onwards, until another branch or decayed 
 shrub, shooting across the chasm, offered a suit- 
 able perch for them, seemed to be designed to 
 guide us to the ford. In fine, such was the
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 213 
 
 happy disposition of the moment, that little, if 
 any thing, escaped my notice. My wandering 
 eye brought almost the whole of the varied land- 
 scape, in its minutest beauties, before my gaze, 
 because the emotions of anxiety were absent 
 from my mind. It was for once unoccupied. 
 The scene was placid and serene ; the bowl of 
 pleasure was filled with every rational and de- 
 sirable ingredient, to make its draught delicious, 
 and nature was the source from which such were 
 obtained. Nor halls of feasting, nor bacchanalian 
 mirth, nor midnight revels, aided with song and 
 dance, presented themselves for my contemplation, 
 or lent my mind amusement as easily effaced, as 
 momentarily enjoyed. No, it returned upon itself, 
 and there found the true and only fountain from 
 which real happiness can flow. Let that but 
 answer the necessities of the moment, whether 
 they demand a companion in the desert, or a 
 friend in the busy world ; and soon those trifling 
 and artificial means, often sought to soothe our 
 sorrows, and hurry into oblivion, by tumult and 
 boisterous mirth, the aches and agonies of our 
 mortal career, will be relinquished. 
 
 Having once more regained the level country.
 
 214 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 two roads opening iu almost opposite directions 
 presented themselves. Uncertain which to follow, 
 and having no guide in advance, I now recollect- 
 ed my companions. I had to halt for a few 
 minutes to allow the Mahommedan to come uj) 
 with me, who, from deference and respect had 
 kept his horse some paces in the rear, and, 
 doubtless, had been refreshing himself with a 
 partial ablution in the stream, whilst he allowed 
 his animal to slake his thirst. A sense of my 
 incivility towards him burst full upon me, and 
 the politeness of his manner, as he answered my 
 questions, was proportionably embarrassing. 
 
 Having returned him a salaam, for an Eng- 
 lishman in India must conform a little to the 
 manners and customs of the country, an expla- 
 nation, on my part, ensued. I described the feel- 
 ings, so awakened, as to engross my undivided^^ 
 attention to themselves, and the scene which 
 had given birth to them. " When home, with all 
 its train of pleasing reminiscences, when boyhood, 
 in all its force of youthful pleasures and pas- 
 times," I added, "bursts with uncontroulable vio- 
 lence upon an exile, how can he arrest his ideas 
 for an instant to reflect upon propriety. If
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 215 
 
 you have felt my unconscious inattention, for a 
 moment banish it from your thoughts, and ac- 
 cept my embarrassment as a token of how sin- 
 cerely I regret that I cannot offer you any more 
 appropriate apology." 
 
 " Saheb, is men Kea Shukhy,"* was the reply. 
 *' How can your slave do otherwise than accept 
 your acknowledgments, as politely offered, as 
 unnecessary upon this occasion. Besides, I can 
 most fully mingle mine with your feelings. What 
 can exceed the veneration attached to the place 
 of birth, excepting that entertained for one reli- 
 giously sacred ! Doubtless you may find some- 
 thing to admire in the country, that thus recalls 
 the fondest recollections human nature can 
 cherish, unconnected, as it must be in your case, 
 with any unpleasant memorials of the past. An 
 exile you are, indeed, Sir, but only for a time; 
 and if the possibility of revisiting your liome 
 should not come within your power, yet a linger- 
 ing hope remains to you, that never expiring 
 ember in the breast of man, which, whether now 
 
 * Saheb, is men Kea Skuklhy. — What doubt is there 
 
 in this. Sir ?
 
 •216 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 fanned into a flame by prosperity, or depressed 
 into a mere spark from despair, yet continues to 
 exist within us, whilst the breath of life remains 
 in our charge. Mine, however, is a case of help- 
 lessness; nothing appears to brighten up the 
 future prospect; and the past was once too 
 happy, not to add embitterments to an already 
 broken mind, if recalled. You are a temporary 
 exile, youthful, with the world, and perhaps long 
 life before you ; I am a man of years, father of a 
 family destitute of emj)loyment, as well as my- 
 self When I gaze upon my children, in lieu of 
 reaping every delight from indulging my feel- 
 ings, I cannot but anticipate that they are doomed 
 to see the total overthrow of Mahommedan power 
 in India. Nay ! may even outlive its almost de- 
 finite existence. Banished I have been, these 
 last thirty years, from what was once the spot 
 where then my parents lived on in ease, although 
 not aspiring to affluence. But where is that 
 paternal roof, now that the mouldering bones of 
 my father and mother have doubtless lost their 
 shape in decay, hastening to mingle together, 
 more closely united, in the dust of the grave.? 
 where, may the mercy of God preserve them
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 217 
 
 from being disturbed. Where, I would ask, can 
 I seek for it? Can it be found, when, alas! it 
 has been scattered around, plundered and de- 
 vastated by the arm of oppression? The power of 
 the Mahrattas ! a mere atom at first, but founded 
 upon the wreck of our greatness, in the end, 
 it became like the mountain torrent, too strong 
 and potent to be resisted. It has wrested all from 
 me and my posterity. And, again, where am I now 
 to seek my asylum? As fast as I have been esta- 
 blished in one city, near the chief under whose 
 banners I was serving, the English, in reducing 
 him to obedience, have heaped upon me poverty, 
 in the disbanding of his followers, and crushed 
 our occupations alike with our power. Now 
 here, now there, I must brave the storm of afflic- 
 tion, and be indebted to those to close my eyes 
 upon this world, whose very birth is a curse to 
 them, and who, if I should preserve a peaceful 
 and happy look, when a cold and stiffened corpse 
 before them, must envy the lot of him they sor- 
 row at losing. Moreover, what can I bequeath 
 my children, now, the name, the simple name, 
 yet a blessed one, of Mahommedan, without any 
 portion of the splendour of their forefathers ; nay 
 VOL. I. L
 
 218 HUSTUM KHAX. 
 
 more, without sufficient wealth to raise them 
 above the pitiless situation of poverty. Such 
 has been, and such is, my friend." 
 
 " You have, indeed, much reason to complain," 
 I replied. " Life, when considered in such a light, 
 can allow of little, if any enjoyment. Yet to re- 
 pine is fruitless. One blest retreat, the solace of 
 your childhood, has been torn from you, but is 
 there no happiness to be found? Surrounded by 
 your family, your children, and your wives, what 
 spot can be without its interests? Can water in 
 the desert, be more acceptable to the traveller, 
 I would ask? Can the slaughter of the foe, be 
 more pleasing to the soldier ? or can the attain- 
 ment of the throne, be more gratifying to the 
 ambitious, than the fond gaze of the parent upon 
 his family, must ever be to his mind? The fond 
 solace of your khanums — the endearing attentions 
 of your offspring — to act as guardian to their 
 tender years, and drink the sherbet of delight in 
 the disclosure of their manhood, may well serve 
 as pastimes, until the hand of death calls you to 
 futurity ; and why brood over ills, which the fore- 
 sight and consideration of those who rule over this 
 country may yet avert. The prospect is a poor
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 219 
 
 one at the present moment, but it must improve 
 again before long, I should imagine." 
 
 '^ If you assert it," rejoined the Mahommedau; 
 " it is too welcome a piece of intelligence to my 
 mind not to believe it. Sir. What you have 
 stated, has had its due influence in convincing 
 me. I ought to esteem myself happy. But there 
 are times when my views extend further than the 
 present moment, and forbid my indulging such 
 an idea. A progeny is always accounted with 
 our sect, the greatest of all blessings, and the 
 star of destiny may then be considered to shine 
 with the most powerful indication of prosperity 
 In it I have obtained the consummation of my 
 fondest hopes, but the affection of a parent 
 makes life itself a sting, a very curse, when it 
 presents no manner of employment for the head of 
 a family, whereby, in signalizing himself, he can 
 earn for his children the enjoyment of sufficient 
 riches, and lead them, before his death, to that dis- 
 tinguished rank in society, his merits cannot 
 otherwise obtain for them, paving the way to 
 their future greatness. When once the ladder is 
 placed against the wall, who ought not to ascend 
 to the very summit of the edifice?" 
 L 2
 
 220 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 Our conversation here terminated; and we 
 continued our march, wrapt in silent admiration 
 of the country we were traversing. The Ma- 
 hommedan, each time as I turned to gaze upon 
 him, for again he had fallen into the rear, ap- 
 peared deeply engrossed with his own thoughts. 
 A sullen, apathetic listlessness, at times clouded 
 his brow, heightened with an expression of 
 chagrin and disgust. Half-suppressed sighs, 
 mingled with ejaculations of " Khoda kurreem," 
 and " Allah akbar," involuntarily escaped him, 
 seconded, now and then, with abusive epithets. 
 At length, suddenly directing my attention to 
 a shaded retreat amongst lofty and high grown 
 tamarind-trees, in the centre of which a small 
 stuccoed dome glistened, tinged with the earliest 
 rays of the morning's sun, he observed to me — 
 " that, Saheb,was the western boundary of my late 
 father's Innaum Jageer,* inherited from my great 
 grandfather, to whom, and his descendants, it was 
 by grant, given in perpetuity. Some few coss to the 
 eastward, lies a small village, the annual collec- 
 
 * Innaum Jageer. — A grant of land given as a pre- 
 sent, sometimes in perpetuity.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 221 
 
 tions from which were also included for faithful 
 services ; and in this place I was given to my 
 parents as their first-born son. Beneath a well- 
 spread banyan tree, the pride and ornament of 
 our small court-yard in former days, the remains 
 of my father and mother, I have been led to 
 understand, lie interred. As yet, an old friend 
 has informed me, the spot is unmarked by the 
 erection of any monument to their memory, and 
 this deficiency has been the chief object of my 
 anxiety for some time past. On my return from 
 Ahmedabad, I shall erect a tomb there. This duty, 
 combined with the desire of revisiting a spot lost to 
 me for the last thirty years, has of late exercised 
 such control over my feelings, that however re- 
 luctant I have been to see the destruction of my 
 late father's property,! have at las^t consented, and 
 this is the first glimpse of it that has come within 
 my view. The parting of the roads, which for a 
 moment embarrassed you, skirted the southern- 
 most point of land he possessed, and the one we 
 left upon our right diverges after a short distance, 
 but little, to the direct eastward, and passes by 
 the boundary in that direction, leading, after two 
 hours' march, to the village I have mentioned."
 
 222 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 " Then I suppose we shall not have occasion," I 
 remarked, " to pass through, or perhaps, not even 
 nearer than we now are, to the village to which 
 you have drawn my attention. Yet, if you are 
 anxious to proceed there, I can have no objection 
 to accompany you, as I am fond of shooting, 
 which is always to be obtained in plenty, around 
 those spots most removed from the main roads ; 
 and besides, I have been so expeditious in march- 
 ing, that I can claim a day or two to myself, 
 which I shall otherwise employ in halting." 
 
 " Your favour is great," rejoinedmy companion, 
 " but as there is no immediate occasion for my 
 arrival there, I would rather delay it. The few 
 workmen T shall require, can only be entertained 
 at Ahmedabad, so that we had better pursue our 
 former intended route. Besides, I am unpre- 
 pared with a MooUah,* under whose direction 
 alone, I can perform the rites necessary to be ce- 
 lebrated, to ensure peace to the departed souls 
 of my ancestors ; for without his spiritual aid, I 
 should conceive they would be wanting in efficacy. 
 
 * Moollah. — A divine, — a Mahommedan doctor of 
 divinity.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 223 
 
 The ground over which our horses are nowpassing, 
 will continue, for some distance, to lead through 
 the centre of my late father's possessions, and I 
 should wish to let the first impulse of my feelings 
 subside a little, ere I regain spots, yet more inter- 
 esting, where my parent's footmarks were hourly 
 imprinted, and of which the very dust is sacred 
 in my sight, and where their fondest affections 
 were hourly lavished upon me. No, believe me 
 w*hen I state it, that I was just now as totally un- 
 conscious of being in your presence, Saheb, as 
 you were before of my following you." 
 
 The interested manner in which the stranger 
 had spoken to me, gave additional weight to his 
 arguments. He had discussed his case and the 
 prospects of those of his family, to whom the 
 world was yet but new, with candour and reason . 
 Little does life offer to the Indian of the present 
 hour, — a daily subsistence, with labour and toil, 
 until the hand of death consigns him to rest, is 
 all he can hope to acquire. If overtaken by fa- 
 mine and disease, his own resources can avail him 
 nothing, and were it not for the true affection 
 all branches of one family testify towards each 
 other, in mitigating their misfortunes with sup-
 
 224 KUSTIJM KHAN. 
 
 port when wanted, and opening their homes, al- 
 though scarcely equal to the stature of man in 
 height, already crowded to excess, to the new un- 
 fortunate, I know not what would be his lot. 
 
 I could fully appreciate the warmth of manner 
 he had displayed ; it was the offspring of real 
 affliction. It must have been a sad and sorrowful 
 scene for him to gaze upon. Tlie vast expanse 
 of cultivation under view, as well as such spots 
 in which the lately sown seed was springing up 
 into appearance, bespoke the abundance of that 
 harvest, from which in former days, as yielded by 
 the same land, his father had derived the chief 
 emoluments of his Jageer. Who, let me ask, 
 would not sigh to see such an heritage wrested 
 from his possession ? Who would not hasten to 
 obliterate as much as possible from his memory, 
 that such was once intended for his enjoyment by 
 removing to a distance, where he need not behold 
 such blessings placed in the hands of others. At 
 all events, who would linger there until calm re- 
 flection had returned after first sight.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 225 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 OUR POSITION AFTER A CANTER — DESCRIPTION OF 
 THE APPROACH TO AHMEDABAD — STATE OF MIND — 
 WANDER THROUGH THE SHAH BHAG — REFLECTIONS 
 — A TOUR ABOUT TRE CITY-^A KUBUR* — PROSPECT 
 FROM THE TERRACE OF THE SAME. 
 
 The sun had now cast off the veil of clouds 
 which had been floating past since we started, and 
 became excessively annoying. A sharp canter 
 sufficed to bring us to our halt. The stranger's 
 horse, of pure unsullied Kattywar extraction, 
 appeared to dispose of the rider's weight, with 
 comparative ease to himself; Fresh and well 
 fed, he soon displayed, as we proceeded, the fiery 
 nature of his breed ; now kicking, and now rear- 
 ing, striking at me with his paws, or darting at 
 
 * Kuhur. — A tomb. 
 l3
 
 226 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 my horse with open mouth and dilated nostrils. 
 He was a perfect picture, loose limbed and of high 
 action. Yet, although violent in the extreme, 
 he had his match to contend against, and was 
 forced to yield to the prowess of the old man, 
 whose dexterity quite surprised me, encumbered 
 as he was, with a matchlock in one hand, and a 
 large shield, reaching from the back of his head 
 to his waist, besides a sword, passed through his 
 cummerband, and pressing stiffly against his 
 horse's side. It was astonishing how he mastered 
 him. And now but three marches remained ere 
 Ahmedabad would be reached. The third day's 
 journey was nearly half completed, ere any ma- 
 terial alteration was distinguishable in the scenery 
 around us. We now began to encounter the mer- 
 hant, with his stores, to overtake the Brinjarrie*, 
 with his unemployed bullocks, on his road to the 
 vast city, to seek employment, who was again 
 passed by his more lucky clansman, with his 
 beasts, laden to their utmost. The merry sounds 
 of the numerous bells distributed amongst the 
 
 ^ Brinjarrie. — A sect of Hindoos^, who keep u}^ large 
 droves of cattle for hire.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 297 
 
 herd, to keep them together in the night time, 
 mingled with the incessant shouting of the nu- 
 merous drivers of a lengthened line of carts, and 
 the lowing of the cattle. The fields were studded 
 with human beings at their daily toil — indeed, it 
 seemed as if all were a dream, or may be com- 
 pared to a sudden change of scene at a theatre. 
 Hitherto we had traversed miles each day with- 
 out meeting a single individual ; but having 
 now passed the spot where the four roads leading 
 to a distance from this once mighty metropolis, 
 were centered in one broad one, we saw all the 
 busy activity, and eager haste, which character- 
 izes an approach towards the main focus of busi- 
 ness, and attraction. The remaining distance 
 as we continued to traverse it, was over a road 
 formed chiefly of fragments of decayed masonry, 
 and which led through the former suburbs of 
 the city, now a continuation of fields under cul- 
 tivation, and which presented a bright and spark- 
 ling surface of a whitish hue, from the quantity of 
 mortar intermixed with the soil. Again these 
 patches of culture bore a rough appearance from 
 the innumerable fragments of bin-nt bricks and 
 uplifted portions of foundation work disturbed
 
 228 RUSTU3I KHAN. 
 
 by the plough. Ever and anon, an archway, proof 
 against the effects of weather, and the assaults 
 of time and mankind, stood a solitary remem- 
 brance of the Mehellah, or quarter it served as 
 an entrance to, in former days. Again, the par- 
 tial remains of the base of a pagoda, with its 
 grove of trees adjoining ; of which their several 
 trunks remained preserved from injury, by em- 
 bankments, clearly demonstrated the particular 
 situation of the Hindoo portion of the population. 
 Now again, upon" all sides, mosque, shrine, and 
 mausoleum fed the gaze, half hidden in thick 
 clusters of trees; now and then a chunamed 
 terrace, as yet extant, and outliving the geheral 
 decay, obtruded itself upon my searching eye, 
 followed in rapid succession, by the remnants 
 of aqueducts, piles of architecture, and carved 
 stones strewed in every direction, over the sur- 
 face of the park-like scenery, peculiar to the 
 plain I was traversing. Again the eye rested in 
 its gaze upon an immense tank, artificially made 
 by embankments, which, from the bottom to the 
 very summit, were adorned with flights of stone 
 steps, alike worthy of remark from the regularity 
 and pleasing slope preserved throughout, as for the
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 229 
 
 quantity of materials, and the time and labour they 
 must have required to connect them. Ease,affluence, 
 and grandeur, were the concomitant associations 
 raised in my mind. Again, this extensive sheet 
 of water, in the centre of which was an island 
 shadowed with a thickly woven canopy of foliage 
 above it, supported by gigantic trunks of trees, 
 had often echoed to the sounds of woe, and solemn 
 tramp of the funeral processions of the Dutch, 
 who had, of late years, buried their dead in this 
 pleasing and secluded spot, which was approach- 
 ed by a roadway supported on arches, but on 
 which the hand of time had made severe en- 
 croachments, and imprinted the pleasing roman- 
 ticness of ruin. 
 
 Such is the approach to Ahmedabad. The 
 wonder excited by such a scene, seldom pauses in 
 its effects, to allow of an enquiry after the former 
 inhabitants, who have left such mighty traces of 
 their splendour for posterity to gaze upon. If it 
 did so, scarcely would a remnant of the former 
 nobility step forward to claim descent from such 
 illustrious ancestry ; or if such an individual 
 should exist in the present moment, doubtless he 
 would lead you to a shed, near a well, or offer as
 
 230 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 refreshment to the wearied traveller, the water 
 from his bucket. Years of poverty have denied 
 a shadow of their former affluence to the present 
 generation, whilst every necessary clue as to their 
 lineage, has been crushed in the decline of all 
 education. But if the matter were otherwise, what 
 would it avail, to trace what once was in happy 
 prospect before them, and have to sigh at its 
 subversion. 
 
 In the midst of a large plain, scarce sufficiently 
 broken to deserve the ap23ellation of undulating 
 country, stands Ahmedabad itself. Its grey walls 
 and upreared battlements, now partly in ruins, 
 and in parts hidden from the spectator, by clus- 
 ters of trees, spread their length over many a mile, 
 in form an irregular circle, and are no longer kept 
 in good repair; the gateways are really of little, if 
 any protection to the city, as the dilapidated state 
 of the fortifications ofi'er easy access to any foe in 
 the present moment. Around and about, lie 
 fragments of architecture, unroofed sheds, de- 
 serted serais, patches of garden ground, and spots 
 overgrown with milk-bush, whilst Peeris' shrines, 
 yet fed by the religious fervour of the Mahom- 
 medans, with such gifts as they can bestow, live
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 231 
 
 on in a better state of repair, and, possessing 
 some portion of the beautiful appearance, their 
 erection was intended to display. Daily falling 
 off, as these props are, ruin yet threatens further 
 to invade this varied and imposing scene. 
 
 The mind goes on sympathizing with the de- 
 sertion delineated in these ruins, until it again 
 finds a relief in the busy appearance of the 
 crowded bazaar, and aj^parent prosperity from 
 contrast, with the sketch just completed, of the 
 present city, which is but a reflected shadow of the 
 ancient capital of Guzerat. But if we stop and 
 draw a comparison between Ahmedabad, at this 
 moment, and as it stood formerly, the busy din of 
 industry, or the noisy bustle of a passing marriage, 
 will not suppress the astonishment kindled at the 
 recollection of the splendour it so rapidly attained 
 to, and which is only surpassed by the astonishing 
 manner in which it is falling into decay. The 
 mind cannot turn from the contemplation of its 
 present insignificance, when the traces of how far 
 its habitations have once spread over the adjoin- 
 ing country, are yet fresh in the recollectiouo 
 Passing the ancient college, where ascetics and 
 students alike mingled together in former days^
 
 232 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 like the debtor and culprit in the present jail it is 
 converted into, and turning to the right after 
 passing under the Teen Durwazeh,* we made our 
 way to, and alighted at the Shah Bhag, or royal 
 gardens. These are about a mile distant from 
 the Delhi Durwazah of the city, which opens on 
 towards the road which led in the direction of 
 my destination upon our western frontier, at its 
 most distant point Deesa. A traveller in India 
 should always pitch upon that side and extremity 
 of a walled city, from which the communication 
 with his next march branches off, otherwise he 
 may be constrained to make a circuit of consi- 
 derable length to gain it, as the impertinence and 
 obstinacy of all doorkeepers of fortresses is pro- 
 verbial, and nothing can soften their obduracy. 
 At Cambay, I once had my servants separated 
 from me from sunset until the morning, and I 
 was forced to relinquish my intention of sailing 
 that night, because the Durwan had once closed 
 the doors, and swore he had not got the keys in 
 
 * Teen Durivazeh, or three gates. — These are three 
 connected arches, over which is a guard room, or suite of 
 apartments, so that they entirely reach across the main 
 street.
 
 RU8TUM KHAN. '233 
 
 his custody. It was about eleven o'clock, when 
 having made the purchases I had desired them, 
 they presented themselves at the gate, on their 
 return to the sea beach, and were refused per- 
 mission to pass. 
 
 My morning's ride had been longer than usual, 
 from the delay occasioned by visiting some par- 
 ticularly interesting objects which struck my 
 fancy, and lay in the vicinity of the road we had 
 approached the city by. Although the morning's 
 sun had risen with uncommon warmth, the scene 
 was too gratifying to be galloped over. The 
 great difference between this one and my former 
 marches, replete as it was with interest and 
 excitement, made me disregard the heat altoge- 
 ther. I sat down to breakfast, oj^pressed in 
 mind, burthened with anxiety, and in a highly 
 contemplative mood — the ruins I had beheld, 
 the romance I attached to them, had gained an 
 ascendency over my feelings, too great for gene- 
 ral levity to dissipate. 
 
 From the room in which I was seated, and of 
 which no living mortal was a constant tenant, or 
 there performed the rights of hospitality in the 
 character of host, I could discern the broad river 
 Saburmuttie, tracking its way in silvery white-
 
 234 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 ness, between its banks, and distant a little 
 beyond the pleasingly green carpet, the tops of the 
 plantain trees, just sufficiently high to attain to 
 the parapet of the terrace around, spread before 
 me, as if to lure me to tread upon their frail and 
 deceitful surface, in order to attain a nearer 
 glimpse of the stream. I wished each stone, 
 each building, tree, door, and gateway, or other 
 inanimate thing, had a tongue to tell of days 
 gone by, or that the murmurs of the living 
 waters, borne on the wings of the breeze which 
 brought them to my hearing, the bulk of history ; 
 and such, I feel convinced, must be the impres- 
 sion of wonder and surprise, left upon the mind of 
 any person who makes a first visit to Ahmedabad, 
 passing over the same tract of country as I did 
 on this occasion. 
 
 I tried to forget what I had observed — argued 
 the absurdity of allowing such headway to feel- 
 ings arising from an undue indulgence of curiosity, 
 but the task could not be completed. I endea- 
 voured to read, but found myself too restless to 
 pay attention. I thought of shooting, but the 
 mid-day sun was too hot. Then what was to be 
 done, unless the time could be sauntered away in 
 a ramble through the sheltered grounds adjoining,
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 235 
 
 whose paths were so many avenues of beautiful 
 trees, shaded, in many parts, even from the me- 
 ridian sunshine. This was, at length, adopted, 
 whilst my thoughts were busied in picturing, in 
 the most lively colouring, all that my excited 
 fancy conjured the phantoms of. My imagina- 
 tion was all alert : in every shaded retreat and 
 group of bushes — in every ruinous mass of ma- 
 sonry, I read nothing but delight. 
 
 Here it was then, I imagined to myself, that 
 sultans, surrounded with power and clad in ma- 
 jesty, at whose very nod even life fled as chaff 
 before the wind, whose will and its execution, 
 was alike instantaneous, had often tasted the 
 evening breeze; and here, again, the ladies of 
 the royal Zenanah, were doubtless allowed, 
 when the crowd around the royal person had 
 dispersed, or been forbidden to bend even their 
 gaze in a certain direction, to indulge themselves 
 in a short ramble, not altogether private, from 
 the incessant guard preserved over them by their 
 husband, in the establishment of watchful eu- 
 nuchs; and yet I could not but suppose, that 
 often had the drooping plantain tree canopied a 
 stolen interview with man, when, to gaze in the
 
 236 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 same direction as her footsteps led her, was at the 
 penalty of his death. Could I forget that human 
 nature cannot be controled by absolute force. 
 Could I believe that ingenuity, when at the in- 
 stance of love, will not outvie precaution. Could 
 the fear of death be supposed to awe him who 
 had seen his betrothed bride stolen by a satrap's 
 minion from her home, and who, he was cer- 
 tain tarried yet within the precincts of this royal 
 garden. No! I could entertain no such belief; 
 and my wandering thoughts pictured the culprit 
 on her knees,asking pardon of a sultan,whose heart 
 had never known the love for her, her pinioned 
 lover had entertained towards her, for him she 
 adored, and who now, in the sight of the execu- 
 tioner, awaited his approaching fate with stern 
 resolution. Again, they reverted to the cold and 
 stiffened corpse, or strangled, or cut with knives 
 and hacked with scymetars, she had presented 
 on the following morning, when, before day- 
 break, they bore her down the steps to the water's 
 edge and cast her into the deep. Yes, in these 
 gardens, by moonlight, either accompanied by 
 their female attendants, or stealing onwards with 
 fear and trembling, they enjoyed a partial respite
 
 EUSTUM KHAN. 237 
 
 from the monotony of their savage secrecy be- 
 hind the screen, and saw nature in its least 
 sophisticated moments, the time of night. 
 
 I knew for certain it had been so, and not 
 many years since, but time had changed the 
 scene. The boisterous mirth of revelry and mid- 
 night feasting, had quitted these gardens — the 
 resplendent illuminations, which had rendered 
 every leaf upon the top of the tamarind tree, or 
 those scattered on the ground, perceptible, were 
 extinguished, and now no longer did the man- 
 sion ring with the dulcet voices of the celebrated 
 courtezans of the capital, whose numbers and 
 vocal power, aided by the music of many in- 
 struments, were almost overpowering to those 
 who witnessed the nautch and heard the song. 
 No longer was the bewitching hour of midnight 
 robbed, by these bacchanalian pleasure sounds, 
 of its sacred stillness; all was silent as the grave. 
 Again, the owl, perched on the peelow, or scared 
 from the banyan tree, could be heard aloud, and 
 received his benediction from the traveller whose 
 repose he disturbed. 
 
 Ahmedabad was now governed by the English. 
 A collectorate had usurped the court of vice-
 
 238 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 royalty, once established there, and afterwards 
 converted by stratagem and treason by the ser- 
 , vant of the legitimate throne of Delhi, into the 
 royalty of a monarchy. The thousands of irre- 
 gular troops, who before could scarcely restrain 
 the turbulence of the mob in this metropolis, or 
 protect the royal person from the danger of as- 
 sassination, had dwindled away ; a small band, say 
 five hundred disci j)lineds€poys,and a fewirregular 
 horsemen attached to the judicial authority, were 
 all the troops now stationed in this large city, to 
 aid the arm of justice, and protect the public, as 
 well as private property. Disorder and riot had 
 nevertheless quitted the public bazaars, a due 
 control had been established, a good police 
 watched over the interests of those, whom daily 
 toil had rendered weary, and even the most un- 
 frequented quarters of the province were, com- 
 paratively speaking, safe. Pomp, pride, and 
 vanity, had alike subsided. 
 
 As I wandered on through the Shah Bhag, it 
 was impossible to abstain from admiring the rich 
 and various crops nurtured by inigation, as they 
 waved in graceful undulations around, yielding to 
 the influence of the breeze. And here, again,
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 239 
 
 all was changed ; the hand of improvement had , 
 amongst these spots, been active in the extreme. 
 The Ml laden ears of grain were the portion of 
 industrious poverty. These same grounds, which 
 before only fed the luxurious appetites of kings 
 and potentates, now yielded sustenance to the 
 needy. 
 
 Such changes as these, would on most occasions, 
 yield an ample harvest of delight to an enlight- 
 ened mind after due contemplation. But mine 
 was, at this moment, moulded in a different form, 
 too strongly contaminated with the ideas of pow- 
 erful monarchs and imperial ministers, to glean 
 a happy contrast midst cultivation, and silent, 
 uncommanding industry. Variety was wanting; 
 the main objects of equerries and military fol- 
 lowers, were deficient in the scene before me. It 
 was not a soul-stirring scene ; but one more fit 
 for the cool calculator, than the military youth. 
 As an officer, it was only in gazing on an en- 
 campment, or thousands of warriors, with all the 
 concomitant busy activity throughout, that I was 
 to be awakened into rapture. I wanted " the pomp 
 and circumstance of war," and could have echoed 
 to the tumultuous roar of thousands of Mahom-
 
 240 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 medans, starting for enterprise, even when con- 
 scious that their way to renown lay through 
 torrents of human hlood. Such were my feel- 
 ings, under the excitement occasioned by fancied 
 theories of splendour and magnificence, which 
 agitated my breast. What pleasure could be 
 derived from the distant lowing of the wearied 
 oxen at the well, and harsh discordant sounds 
 of the irritated husbandmen urging them to per- 
 form their daily toil which now alone fell upon 
 my nearing. 
 
 Still wrapt in thought I wandered on, when 
 chance, rather than intention, guided me in my 
 return to the palace. Although my excited 
 mind had as yet reaped nothing but disappoint- 
 ment, acute in proportion as the airy flight of 
 m^ onjectures outstepped the reality, it was far 
 from being subdued in tone. The same anxiety 
 prevailed, the same desire to unravel the maze 
 of mystery in which my chief object, a know- 
 ledge of what had been, was encompassed. 
 Eagerly searching for my companion, he was 
 discovered near a small ruin, converted into a 
 resting place for fakeers and travellers, situated 
 on the banks of the river. His carpet was here
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 241 
 
 spread, and, in the midst of his prayers, he was 
 just rising from a prostration. A sight so un- 
 expected, so little according with the fancied 
 theories of my overburthened thoughts, recalled 
 me to myself. Beneath a lofty tamarind tree, 
 that hid even the rays of the tropical sun from 
 the gaze, and shed a shade, as beauteous to 
 behold as delightful to repose under, I seated 
 myself upon a fragment of the time-strewed ma- 
 sonry around, and watched him with kf^-^n 
 observation. The folded hands — the constant 
 prostrations — the apparent, if not absolute fer- 
 vour of his prayers, uttered in a low murmur, 
 excited my admiration. Oh, that I could have 
 read the inward workings of this follower of 
 Mahomed, and have searched him in these 
 moments of his humiliation. Could he be b^n- 
 citing pardon for his sins, or merely reciting 
 enjoined portions of the koran, and adhering to 
 outward forms, on which to rest an hope of an 
 hereafter ; or could worldly enjoyment be the ob- 
 ject of such devotedness? Again I was on the 
 rack of unrestrained and unsatisfied curiosity; 
 and, of course, destined to become the victim of 
 disappointment. Having at length completed, 
 
 VOL. I. M
 
 242 IIUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 he arose, folded up his carpet, gave it in charge 
 to his servant, and resumed his direction home- 
 wards. Eager to gain some information regard- 
 ing the ruinous outskirts of the town, I purposely 
 intercepted him; and he finally agreed to ac- 
 company me the next morning, in the character 
 of a guide, to what he considered the most highly 
 interesting spots in the immediate vicinity. 
 
 From the time of our first becoming acquainted, 
 I daily formed a higher opinion of my companion, 
 who helped many an idle hour away with some 
 anecdote, which, however trifling, lost nothing 
 of its interest with me. With such an op- 
 portunity before me, enabled to glean what 
 information I required, in company with a more 
 than ordinarily clever native, whose language I 
 could fully understand, every hour after our in- 
 terview became more tardy, and the night was 
 consummated with unusual restlessness. The 
 time of appointment came, at length ; and where 
 is the lover, who could more anxiously await the 
 coming of his beloved, than I watched for the 
 arrival of the Mahommedan, who, at length, came 
 hastily down the avenue of trees, which over- 
 shadowed the main road leading to the building.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 243 
 
 Assembling my moonshee*, and a few domestics 
 to carry my chair, gun, and breakfast, I joined 
 him without delay. Thus furnished, I could make 
 a long day of it, and such was my intention. 
 
 A low, ill-constructed arched gateway, in no- 
 wise corresponding with the elegant grandeur 
 and noble extent of the gardens to which it 
 forms an entrance, echoed to our horses' tramp, 
 as we passed under it. Taking a westerly 
 direction, along the banks of the Sabermuttie, 
 which washes the city walls for a long extent, 
 Deria Khan's tomb first came within view. The 
 only reason I have for particularizing it is, be- 
 cause it far exceeds in bulk and size the other 
 buildings around the city. It is a massive pile 
 of masonry, without a single beam in its whole 
 construction. Little, if any taste is diffused 
 throughout; still, the grandeur of the concep- 
 tion, and amazing quantity of materials used in 
 its erection, cannot fail to excite the surprise of 
 the beholder. The accuracy with which each 
 stone is fitted, so as to require little, if any 
 cement, to form a lasting and firm basis for the 
 
 * Moonshee. — Tutor, in the native language. 
 M 2
 
 244 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 noble dome to rest upon, displays at once the 
 correct principles of design, and mastery of exe- 
 cution. If the riches or prosperity of a nation 
 can be estimated by the buildings erected by 
 individuals, either as monuments in memory of 
 the deceased, or as private residences, such stu- 
 pendous fabrics as adorn the adjacent country, 
 and exist throughout the city of Ahmedabad, 
 would be apt to lead a spectator far beyond the 
 reach of probability, perhaps, in judging of the 
 splendour the followers of Islamism attained to 
 in this quarter of the world. Such a criterion, in 
 the present instance, I should be sorry to adopt ; 
 still I can affirm, that an impression is left on 
 my mind, that a state of affluence has once existed 
 amongst the inhabitants of this country, which 
 our having become rulers of, has destroyed the 
 utterhopeof ever being regained within a century. 
 The deplorable want of a circulating medium, 
 and all high offices being filled by foreigners, 
 reduces the peojDle annually to greater despair of 
 ever again emerging from the state of poverty 
 they are now sufi'ering from ; their wealth having 
 been drained from their country, and the inha- 
 bitants, no longer the rulers of kingdoms, or the
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 245 
 
 courtiers around a throne, have greatly diminished 
 the inland traffic of the country which then de- 
 manded articles of show and luxurious costliness. 
 But let me avoid digression. One step more, 
 and perchance I may lose my depth. To pro- 
 ceed. Various and gratifying patches of scenery, 
 stately edifices and ruins, were in turn visited. 
 Again, neatly executed and elegantly carved sar- 
 cophagi, shadowed under a dome of stucco, 
 which rested upon arches filled up with light 
 screen work, cut in stone, and oftentimes in mar- 
 ble, claimed a portion of our admiration. The 
 pattern, delineated on each square of stone or 
 marble which the screen-work comprised, was dif- 
 ferent, but the execution invariably neat and well 
 designed. Plain, unadorned mosques, musjids, 
 and shrines, alone remarkable for the sanctity 
 attached to them, now met the eye ; whilst, in 
 every direction, the feet passed over or trod upon 
 uptorn graves, and crumbling walls. The day 
 was cloudy, and my strength kept pace with my 
 determination to visit such places as might enable 
 me to extract, from the materials before me, some 
 conjecture of the magnificence of ages past, al- 
 though pourtrayed in the melancholy, yet pleas- 
 ingly soothing appearance of ruin and decay.
 
 •246 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 Wandering on, we came to a sequestered spot, 
 verging on the precipitous bank of the river on 
 which side the city is built. Here it was high 
 time I should rest awhile, and take some refresh- 
 ment. At the further end of a circular tope of 
 mangoe trees there stood a small kubur,* plain 
 in appearance, and built of stone. A portion of 
 the south-western wall was dilapidated, and many 
 a crevice opened in this part of the building, in 
 which small plants had taken root, spreading a 
 few green leaves to the balmy influence of the 
 air. Yet even these looked sad and sickly. The 
 arched roof supported a chunamed terraced walk, 
 in the centre of which a polished dome, just suf- 
 ficiently lofty to out-top the highest trees, rested 
 on its base. So silent, so still, so hushed was 
 all arond, it seemed to fix a more imposing so- 
 lemnity to the spot, solely than that of marking 
 the place where the Moslem lay, to whose me- 
 mory it was sacred. An abundance of weeds 
 grew around it, nurtured by the shade of the 
 trees; whilst their undisturbed growth clearly 
 indicated it was seldom, if ever, visited. 
 
 * Kuhur. — A tomb.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 247 
 
 There was a calm silence reigning around, in 
 perfect unison with the fancied loneliness and 
 undisturbed quiet of that repose death calls the 
 mortal to. It awakened a lively interest in my 
 mind to gain, if possible, some clue regarding 
 the tenant of this tomb. Without effecting this, 
 I felt convinced I should feel dissatisfied with 
 my day's labours. My moonshee was accord- 
 ingly directed to be unremitting in his endea- 
 vours to discover if any inscription existed about 
 the building which might satisfy my curiosity, 
 and if such good fortune attended his diligent 
 search, to decypher the same, and acquaint me 
 of it. From one corner of the tomb, a low nar- 
 row stone staircase, enveloped in a dusky shade, 
 led to the terrace above. This I ascended, and 
 was amply repaid for surmounting the difficulties 
 opposed to my progress, in the ruinous state of 
 the steps and want of light to guide me on : the 
 country, for miles around, stretched on in one 
 highly cultivated champaign scene, where scarce- 
 ly a perceptible rise disturbed the general level. 
 Immediately to the north, rested the city, clad in 
 its brightest hues. Each house-roof, cleansed 
 with the rain, opposed a sparkling surface of the
 
 248 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 deepest red. These, again, were surmounted with 
 glistening domes and milk-white cupolas. The 
 nearest gateway, flanked and enfiladed by two 
 well-built stone towers, massive and perforated 
 with loopholes, as well as defended by an out- 
 work, now partly in ruins, lay only a few paces 
 distant from the stop where the brave and in- 
 trepid General Goddard, commanding a small, 
 but daring army of soldiers, had escaladed under 
 a galling fire and obstinate resistance. Further 
 in the back ground, my servant directed my at- 
 tention to a group of tall well-grown tamarind 
 trees, stating that the English burial place lay 
 directly underneath their shade. This spot I 
 afterwards visited; it is, in form, a crescent, 
 skirted by the wall which protects the town from 
 any approach on the river side, and is entered, on 
 either hand, by passing through gateways com- 
 manded by towers. Though one is gone into decay, 
 the other is constantly kept in repair, it being con- 
 sidered as one of the main gates of the city. In 
 the midst of several tombs, is one plain in the 
 extreme, with only a small urn on the summit, 
 sacred to the memory of Captain Gough, who 
 lost his life in the gallant storming party, just
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 249 
 
 at the moment when bravery was rewarded with 
 hard-earned victory. The few words engraven 
 on a marble tablet, suffice to tell the tale of how 
 meritorious a soldier was lost to government on 
 this occasion, and how many a brother officer 
 regretted his untimely death. 
 
 Tracking its way to the gulf of Cambay, to- 
 wards the south-west, flowed the Sabermuttie, 
 presenting, at a short distance, a broad sweeping 
 curve, heightened in its silvery whiteness, by the 
 contrast of the bright green surface of the early 
 herbage which clothed the opposite shelving 
 bank, and which was intersected with the dark 
 outline of numerous ravines. The eastward 
 and southern quarters were studded with piles of 
 noble buildings, whilst, here and there, a stucco 
 dome and sparkling terrace, in which latter, the 
 Moslem at prayer, now standing up with folded 
 arms, and now prostrating himself, was canopied 
 securely from the sun,under groups of the lofty palm 
 tree, and lent a pleasing variety. The foliage and 
 herbage afforded an alternate relief, and when 
 the passing clouds shed their darkening influence 
 over particular spots, the scene became still more 
 varied in its beauty. The destructive influence 
 M 3
 
 250 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 of the hot season was arrested, and all nature 
 was clad in its most pleasing attire. 
 
 Who, in India, has not gazed upon the rapid 
 return of life in the vegetable kingdom, after 
 the first fall of rain, with wonder and surprise. 
 Where only a few days before, in a morning's 
 ride, you have passed over an apparently barren 
 soil, you now see thousands of plants shooting 
 up, and budding forth into luxurious vegetation. 
 The parched brown and red appearance of the 
 whole country, now gives way to the more pleas- 
 ing and rich variety of colour the early herbage 
 assumes, adding an additional zest to the plea- 
 sure of early rising, alone centered in the hot 
 weather, in the generally received opinion of its 
 being necessary and conducive to health.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 251 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 A SHOWER — MY MOONSHEE — HIS CONDUCT — SARCO- 
 PHAGUS' INSCRIPTION MAHOMMEDAN's EAGERNESS 
 
 — RAGE ON THE PART OF ABDUL FUZL — DISCLO- 
 SURE — DEPARTURE FROM THE TOMB. 
 
 Whilst I remained studying the various 
 beauties of the prospect which presented itself 
 to my view, the clouds gathered around, and the 
 few first drops of the coming shower hastened 
 my departure from the terrace to the inside of 
 the building. These soon increased into a regular 
 sheet of water, which deluged the surface of the 
 country, whilst the absence even of a breeze, led 
 me to expect that some considerable time must 
 elapse ere I could start to regain the palace in 
 the Shah Bhag, full three or four miles distant. 
 As I partook of my refreshment, I observed the 
 moonshee and the Mahommedan, at a short dis-
 
 252 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 tance, standing- sheltering themselves under the 
 mangoe trees, although they could afford but 
 .partial relief or shelter from the inclemency of 
 the storm. A single beckon sufficed to bring 
 them into my presence, when, during the inter- 
 vals between each draught of smoke from my 
 lighted Manilla cigar, I was enabled to interro- 
 gate the moonshee as to what success had crowned 
 his research. This antiquated looking old being, 
 whose youth having been devoted rather too 
 freely to the pleasures of this life, had now given 
 place to premature old age, had been in my ser- 
 vice for three or four years, which had exempted 
 him from the necessity of using those verbose 
 compliments and high sounding titles with which 
 an inferior is accustomed to address a superior in 
 India. On all occasions, however, a marked de- 
 ference was observed on his part towards me, 
 insomuch so, that although there was little re- 
 maining for him to teach, and still less necessity 
 for my persevering in my studies, he nevertheless 
 drew a portion of my monthly receipts, and was 
 numbered with my dependants. On this occa- 
 sion, however, as a stranger was present, and he 
 was unwilling to exhibit his manners in an un-
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 253 
 
 favourable light before one of his own persua- 
 sion, he pressed the palms of his hands together, 
 bent forward with a well-feigned air of supplica- 
 tion, put on an appearance of abject submission, 
 became my slave, and premised his answer to 
 my inquiry, with a flourish of most absurd and 
 ridiculous expressions. I was applauded, by the 
 old dotard, as a light of the universe, protector 
 of the poor, rewarder of merit, acknowledging 
 worth, and diffusing justice, before I had fairly 
 awakened from the surprise this burst of folly 
 had thrown me into. Just as he was about to 
 humble himself with the dust, and liken himself 
 unto ashes, to seek my condescension, and to 
 intercede with the all-merciful Allah in my be- 
 half, I begged him to desist from such absur- 
 dities, resume our usual mode of conducting 
 business, forbearing to raise me from my present 
 situation of his master, even in the figurative 
 cream of his expressions. 
 
 Thus confined, although somewhat astonished 
 at my feeling offended with his flattery, he ac- 
 quainted me, " that although always ready in 
 my service, and zealous in the extreme to further 
 my wishes, as a slave ever ought to be, yet he re-
 
 254 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 gretted to say, that he must represent " his 
 usual good fortune had deserted him, and that 
 .his endeavours to find an inscription had been 
 fruitless, — indeed he was the object of despair." 
 
 " This," he observed, pointing to the larger 
 sarcophagus, '^ is decidedly built over the remains 
 of a man, whilst the other clearly indicates the 
 burial place of a woman. We may conclude they 
 were man and wife, for although the favorites of 
 nobles, and khans in general, (if they survived 
 the fluctuations of their master's fancy, or escaped 
 the machinations an admired beauty in a harem 
 is constantly exposed to, from the envy of her 
 companions) were honoured after their demise 
 with a participation of their lord's mausoleum, 
 this building is of too ordinary an appearance to 
 denote its having belonged to any person of con- 
 siderable affluence or power. The means of the 
 lower classes of Mahommedans, are so much cir- 
 cumscribed, that a single wife is seldom, if ever 
 exceeded, on account of the great expense attend- 
 ing the marriage ceremonies and subsequent 
 feasting, although polygamy is allowed by our 
 sacred law." This burst of information was con- 
 cluded with an appropriate glance at the stranger,
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 255 
 
 for approbation, whilst the moonshee uttered in 
 a firm, steady voice, " such are the blessings al- 
 lowed to us true believers, my friend." 
 
 " Stay," interrupted he, after a pause, " these 
 appear to be Persian characters engraven on this 
 marble : to be sure, here is an Alif, preceded too 
 by a Kh-, and doubtless, this is a Noon, which 
 conjointly exemplify Khan," Interested in the 
 highest degree, I could not forbear interfering, 
 and accordingly, endeavoured to assist; but the 
 confusion created by the fancy of the sculptor, 
 who had indulged it in graceful flourishes, and 
 had removed, or misplaced the dots appropriate 
 to, and characteristic of the several letters, ren- 
 dered my efforts useless. " These characters," 
 continued the moonshee, " are so choked up with 
 dust, and the edges of the letters so chipped and 
 disfigured, that I fear nothing satisfactory can 
 be elucidated." 
 
 " Dip some weeds in the reservoir fronting 
 you," I exclaimed, " for a considerable quantity 
 of water has collected there, and wash away, at 
 all events, the dirt you complain of; for I am 
 determined to decipher every letter, ere I depart, 
 Let me have no delay, — to the task at once."
 
 '256 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 The moonshee at first was rather unwilling, 
 but soon reduced to obedience by a significant 
 -nod, aided by the Mahommedan, armed each 
 with a brush of wild indigo plant, scrubbed away 
 until the whole sarcophagus bore quite a reno- 
 vated appearance. This finished, the man of 
 learning proceeded, pointing with a small stick, 
 to draw forth letter after letter, constantly re- 
 peating the last one, until the next was satisfac- 
 torily made out. After an hour's delay, diligently 
 employed, turning towards me, he observed, 
 " May my sight fail altogether, but in this in- 
 scription, I can clearly decipher * Khan Mahom- 
 med Jung, Panch Hazaree,' or may it please 
 you, commander of ^ve thousand horse. This 
 you must observe was a rank obtained from the 
 sovereign by men of valour, and distinguished 
 ability, as a recompense for fidelity, and those on 
 whom the favour of the king descended, were in- 
 vested with the dignities and emoluments of this 
 command." 
 
 The Mahommedan now began to evince an 
 eagerness quite foreign to the generally apathetic 
 disposition of the natives in respect to such an 
 occupation as now diverted our party. He ap-
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 257 
 
 peared to me to entertain an ardent desire, which 
 he with difficulty suppressed, and endeavoured to 
 keep concealed, to be certain of the purport of 
 the letters, to decipher which, the moonshee's 
 attention was again directed. " It is as I have 
 said," ejaculated the latter, ' Khan Mahommed 
 Jung, Panch Hazaree.' Khoda Kurreem (God is 
 merciful), but here is the date, and it appears in 
 tolerable preservation. " Suna Hijerah," (bless- 
 ings on our holy Prophet, from whose flight from 
 persecution the date of this blessed aera originates) 
 Sunna Hijerah Eek Hazar-eek-Sow-our Khea or 
 what. The pair of spectacles, which the infirm state 
 of his sight demanded his wearing, were now taken 
 off, cleansed, and placed again over the bridge of 
 his nose, w4th every demonstration of the pride, 
 and value, the late fortuitous discovery had given 
 rise to, in his own estimation of his worth and 
 learning. 
 
 Again Sunna Hijerah premised the assumption 
 of his task : again and again " eek Sow" was 
 repeated, and once more the word, "our," played 
 upon his tongue,when after an obstinate endeavour, 
 niheen, or nothing succeded, as, although earnest 
 in his efforts, he could not determine what num-
 
 258 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 ber the last stroke of the sculptor's chisel, had 
 traced in outline with the finish of his labours. 
 
 Turning towards the other sarcophagus, he 
 tried his eyes and learning in efi'orts to distinguish 
 w hat was sculptured upon it, but could only in 
 a very unsatisfactory manner, after much labour 
 and many curses, unravel, Mao, Saheb Bebee. 
 More than this he assured me was inscribed, 
 " but may your slave be pardoned," he exclaimed, 
 " for old age and infirm sight render his endea- 
 vours fruitless, where perseverance ought to en- 
 sure success." 
 
 " Friend," said the Mahommedan, at length, 
 " are you certain that the correct interpretation 
 of what is written on the tombs, is the one you 
 have now given ?" 
 
 This question acted like an electric shock on 
 my menial. Resuming an exact posture, and 
 glancing an occasional look of inquiry at the 
 astonished stranger, whilst his anger subsided 
 sufficiently to allow of his articulating. " Certain !" 
 he ejaculated in surprise, " What king are you 
 who thus interrogates me } Certain, yes indeed 
 am I more than certain. As I am an unworthy 
 follower of the ever blessed Mahommed, so sure I
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 259 
 
 am that my eyes cannot have deceived me. What 
 then, this is really good," — and he burst into 
 laughter. " Do you imagine for a moment, that 
 moonshee Abdul Fuzl, to whom the beauties of 
 the Persian poetry, are as a nosegay to his under- 
 standing, can for an instant err in such a trifling- 
 matter as putting a few letters together, or can- 
 not distinguish the parts of an alphabet beat 
 into his memory by the severity of Moollah Syed 
 Kurreem, a perfect star in the heavens of know- 
 ledge. — What then — I suppose !" 
 
 How long the moonshee's wrath might have 
 demanded the exercise of his never-ending powers 
 of eloquence, I cannot determine, but just at this 
 moment, a favourable jjause ensued, which the 
 unintentional offender eagerly availed himself of, 
 to obtain a hearing, which he with difficulty 
 effected, for the moonshee no longer able to 
 speak, extended his arms towards the stranger, 
 and clapped his hands, sooner than he would be 
 defeated, adding violent stamping to drown his 
 opponent's voice in his intended reply. 
 
 " What has happened, has happened," said he, 
 " and you entirely mistake the reason I had for 
 questioning you. Pardon me : I wish not to doubt
 
 *260 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 your ability or accuracy on the present occasion, 
 but my feelings demanded that I should not sa- 
 crifice them to any, but certain conviction, that 
 the person who here lies interred, is the ever to 
 be respected Khan Mahommed Jung." 
 
 Pacing up and down with unsteady steps, the 
 Mahommedan appeared to me to be harrowed up 
 with the keenest anguish. I was quite astonished, 
 yet forebore to question him on the subject, anx- 
 iously awaiting for a disclosure of the cause of his 
 apparent unhappy state of mind. Now thoughtful, 
 now deeply agitated, stifling his sighs, and mut- 
 tering to himself — he was the image of despair. 
 " Khan Mahommed Jung," at length, in a broken 
 voice, escaped him, " but by the curse of Allah 
 the transgressions of my youth, which broke in 
 upon my peace and happiness, are not as yet per- 
 mitted to be lost in the dark oblivion of time. 
 May Allah be merciful to me ! May you, oh in- 
 jured friend, now rest in peace, but in this name, 
 recalled from the quiet of the grave, a thousand 
 tender associations are involved. To the name 
 of this illustrious family I added a stain, in the 
 abduction of a young female ; and now, when my 
 grey hairs, when my beard, whitened by the
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 261 
 
 blasting" effects of years of toil and trouble, re- 
 minds me hourly of the more near approach of 
 dissolution, and the fast closing hour of life 
 waits but for the completion of that fate en- 
 graven on my forehead, to gather me to my 
 forefathers, my mind is embittered by the recol- 
 lection of the errors of my youth, thus suddenly 
 recalled from the repose of forge tfuln ess, which I 
 have sought in prayer and atonement." 
 
 I could not help commiserating the condition 
 of my companion. The moonshee alone seemed 
 regardless of his bitter remorse, and stood aloof 
 to feed on the irritation his wounded pride had 
 awakened. Perceiving this, the Mahommedan 
 still urged as an excuse, his never having in- 
 tended to offend him, but it was of no avail until 
 he seconded his endeavours at a reconciliation, 
 by promising, on the following evening, to dis- 
 close to myself and the moonshee, the parti- 
 culars of the catastrophe, he lived on, ever to 
 regret. " Perhaps," he added, with a sneer, 
 " your suspicions may then be lulled to rest, 
 Moonshee Jee." 
 
 Little caring whether he had quieted the 
 enraged impatience of my tutor or not, he
 
 262 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 mounted his horse, alike regardless of the in- 
 clemency of the weather, and we soon lost all 
 traces of our guide ; nor were we long ere we 
 followed. The day, now far spent, still offered 
 no assurances of its clearing up, we therefore 
 pressed on quickly, and soon dismounted at the 
 Shah Bhag.
 
 THE 
 
 MAHOMMEDAN'S STORY.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 265 
 
 CHAPTER XT. 
 
 THE MAHOMMEDAN's STORY. 
 Night the First. 
 
 The royal residence at which I had now been 
 resting for a day or two, stands on a small spot 
 of table land, formed by the projection of a por- 
 tion of the shelving bank of the river Saber- 
 muttie. Up to the general level of the gardens, 
 extends a foundation work, supporting the ter- 
 race above, in the centre of which the building 
 itself is raised. The whole of this under-work is 
 arched, and divided into small apartments, for 
 the conveniency of lodging domestics and follow- 
 ers, who are, in Eastern countries, particularly 
 numerous. The house is approached by small 
 stone bridges, thrown across an artificial canal 
 which surrounds the building, and is cut into 
 the terrace. The surface when it was filled with 
 
 VOL. I. N
 
 266 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 water, was equal with the floor of the lower rooms. 
 In the centre of this, and arranged at appropriate 
 distances, a number of fountains were, in former 
 days, kept constantly playing, for the purpose of 
 cooling the breeze. These, however, now only 
 present, in some places, pieces of copper pipe, 
 and in others, a small elevation of stucco which 
 surrounded the spot in which they were fixed. 
 When the hot winds were blowing, which in Gu- 
 zerat are particularly parching, and produce an 
 overpowering lassitude, the spray of the water, 
 borne in the direction of the hall, kept up a 
 moisture pleasing for the eye to rest upon, whilst 
 the murmur of the falling fountains rather courted 
 the reposing monarch to sleep, than disturbed 
 him. The mansion is altogether a noble build- 
 ing, but the centre room alone can claim admira- 
 tion from its immense size, and neatly executed 
 ceiling of carved stucco work. The whole com- 
 prises a square. In the centre is the hall of 
 audience, and at the four sides, octagonal rooms, 
 the uppermost ornamented with balconies, leav- 
 ing four main entrances between them. There 
 is a first floor, in passing which, up stone stair- 
 cases, you ascend to the terraced roof above, in
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 267 
 
 the middle of which an elevation is raised, for 
 the sole use of the royal family, and towards 
 which not one of the many courtiers dared ap- 
 proach without an obeisance. These staircases 
 are covered over with a stone roofing-, supported 
 by four arches, opening on the terrace, and, at a 
 distance, much resemble stacks of chimneys. In- 
 deed, the whole appearance from the river side 
 would cheat the spectator into a belief, that he 
 was approaching one of the many beautiful 
 noblemen's seats his native country boasts of. 
 A painted imitation of a Persian rug is the centre 
 ornament of the ceiling of the hall of audience, of 
 which the colours are remarkably brilliant, even 
 at the present moment. In this room I intended 
 to receive my promised guest ; and the assiduity 
 of the raoonshee in procuring the loan of a few 
 cushions, for the comfort of himself and the Ma- 
 hommedan, tended much to enable me to set off 
 the entertainment in a manner suitable to the 
 propensities of the person invited. I was aware, 
 that to expect my late companion earlier than 
 after sunset would be ridiculous, as his prayers 
 occurred at that period ; and I had observed him, 
 even during the march, constant in their per- 
 N 2
 
 268 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 fonnance : but when a full hour, over and above 
 my calculations, kept me fretting with anxiety, 
 I began to despair of his fulfilling his promise. 
 The moonshee sat smoking the new calleoon I 
 had purchased for the indulgence of himself and 
 the stranger, with little less than peevishness, 
 explaining to me that these sort of people could 
 not be relied on ; and how foolish he had been 
 to trouble himself at all about the matter, which 
 he, indeed, would not have done, had it not 
 been master's hookum;* for his knowledge of 
 the world had given rise, in his own mind, to 
 general mistrust. " To insult me yesterday!" he 
 ejaculated with vehemence ; " and now again to 
 make me await the pleasure of his coming, to 
 hear some idle, useless tale about himself. Un- 
 less he should come quickly, and you, Khoda- 
 vind, have no further use for your slave's services, 
 I shall depart, and take a lesson from the present 
 occurrence, not to be again so over-relying. A 
 few minutes' more delay served yet further to 
 increase his chagrin, and made him more vehe- 
 ment in attaching a perfect indifference to his 
 coming or not. 
 
 * Order.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 269 
 
 " Well," said he at last, " if I was possessed 
 of your power, sir,'' addressing himself to me, 
 " I would act a similar part on his arrival, to 
 that of one of the ministers of Delhi." — " And 
 pray, moonshee, what may that be," said I; 
 " for, unacquainted as I am with the story to 
 which you allude, how can I take copy from the 
 minister's conduct ? Let me hear you recite it." 
 " It so happened," resumed the moonshee, '^ that 
 in the reign of Acbar, there were two youths, 
 studying under one moollah, who became most 
 intimate friends during early youth, insomuch 
 so, that when one was elevated by the monarch's 
 pleasure, and created a minister of some import- 
 ance at court, the other conceived he had a right 
 to solicit, on several occasions, the use of his 
 influence, to promote his own views in life. The 
 one already in power had invariably conceded to 
 the other's request, but, as often as a meeting 
 was to take place, previous to introduction at 
 Durbar, so often did it occur that a failure took 
 place, on the supplicant's part, to attend in time 
 at the place appointed, where it was intended 
 they should get ready for the expected ceremony. 
 The king himself, at last, could not help remark*
 
 270 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 ing to the minister, that his friend must see 
 something more awful in approaching the royal 
 person, than other subjects usually did, as even 
 the condescension of a granted permission to per- 
 form his obeisance, had hitherto failed to entice 
 him to the presence. ' Take heed, my friend,' 
 the king continued, jestingly, ' for who knows 
 but that you may be basking unthinkingly within 
 the compass of the spring of a royal tiger.' The 
 minister, upon this, became ashamed; for where 
 can you find one of my countrymen who would 
 relish a jest of this description, and was resolved 
 to try some expedient, to cure his friend of his 
 negligence. By chance, some few days after the 
 king's comment had been made, the minister 
 was assailed by his friend with reproaches, on 
 an alleged indifference for his welfare, now that 
 the sun of good fortune had lighted him on the 
 road to prosperity. ' Look me in the face,' said 
 this ingrate, ' and then behold these tattered rags, 
 which adorn the body of him who has reached 
 your doorway barefooted; and can you call the 
 part you have acted, that of an honest man ?' 
 The minister, although hurt at his ingratitude, 
 promised his friend that, if he would attend at
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 271 
 
 his hovise the following morning, shortly after 
 prayers, he would introduce him to the Shahan 
 Shah, or king of kings, and place him under the 
 shadow of his benign protection. Away went 
 the friend, satisfied. The minister called his 
 servants together, and instructed the door-keeper, 
 that a person would inquire for him at a certain 
 hour, and to admit him ; but if he came after- 
 wards, to desire his name might be given, and if 
 it corresponded with the one he had mentioned, 
 to assemble the furoshes of the household, bind 
 him, and inflict on him several severe blows with 
 the bastinado. The morrow came, and the time 
 appointed ; but the friend failed to appear. 
 About mid-day the minister, who had forgotten 
 the circumstance, hearing loud screams coming 
 from the quarter of his court-yard, hastened from 
 his private apartments, and found his friend suf- 
 fering a severe infliction of punishment, his feet 
 all bruised and gashed, himself writhing withpain, 
 almost fainting, from the severe chastisement the 
 servants had extended their master's order into. 
 On his an-ival, the bleeding man requested to 
 know why he was thus treated. The minister 
 replied — ' Because, by your constantly failing to
 
 272 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 appear at court, the king is offended with me ; 
 and is it just that the really guilty party should 
 escape free of punishment, more especially when 
 he can upbraid, with his speech, those who are 
 his kindest friends ?' " 
 
 The moonshee had scarcely finished his tale, 
 with a declaration that he would have cut his 
 tongue out, when the Mahommedan entered, and 
 was welcomed to our small party. The hookah 
 was handed to our guest, and a cup of coffee 
 brought by Mahommed, my head servant, as 
 well as some scented sherbet, made of the pome- 
 granate. A momentary pensiveness clouded the 
 stranger's brow ; an occasional twist of his mus- 
 tachios followed, a deep frown added a thought- 
 ful expression to his countenance, before the first 
 burst of communication relieved our anxiety, 
 and soothed to attention the haughty bearing of 
 my tutor. 
 
 About forty years since, (he commenced) ere 
 the bud of my years had yet blossomed into 
 maturity, the events I am about to detail had 
 their origin. It was at this time that I first 
 became acquainted with her, whose lovely face, 
 elegant stature, accomplished mind, and pure
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 273 
 
 affection, ruled with tyrannical sway over my 
 youthful passions, and which formed the chief 
 solace of my life for many years. As, j^erchance, 
 the recital of the events of an earlier period may 
 tend to throw a faint excuse over the disastrous 
 consequences of my attachment, which ended in 
 hurrying her attached father to his grave, and 
 throwing a gloom over the youthful mind of her 
 I adored, and serve in some measure, Saheb, to 
 divert you, I will begin the recital of my life at 
 a more remote date. I am, by birth, descended 
 from a long line of ancestry, who always pre- 
 served a spotless character, even amongst all 
 the vicissitudes which they had for many years 
 been witness to, before my father came in turn 
 to perpetuate their fame. Ahmedabad, during 
 the term of their life-time, as well as before and 
 ever since, was and has been a prey to the vio- 
 lence of contending factions. The most dis- 
 tinguished honours were, however, whichever 
 party was successful, lavished on my forefathers, 
 insomuch so, that every lineal descendant of 
 their family could with pleasure look back upon 
 his heritage of noble birth, and boast of the 
 unsullied character of his parents. Several of 
 n3
 
 274 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 their private residences are still extant in this 
 city ; but may the curse of God light upon the 
 idolaters ; (now occupied by Mahrattas.) 
 
 Where once the ever-blessed name of Allah 
 burst from the lips of those, to whom the Koran 
 shines as a beacon to everlasting happiness in 
 behist,* the profanation of an idol is. Where 
 once the quiet unassuming prayer of an Islamite, 
 stole from the lips of my ancestors, in praise of 
 Allah, spoken in the half-subdued whisper, ac- 
 companied with the low salaam of obedience to 
 his Almighty will, the boisterous noise of the 
 drum, the twanging of the bells used in poojah,t 
 aided with the loud vociferations of the half- 
 naked Brahmins, dancing round a curved stone, 
 hideous in appearance, painted with vermillion, 
 and decorated with flowers, presents a sight as 
 disgusting to behold, as unavailing in the cause 
 of those who seek the pleasures of the future by 
 such forbidden means. 
 
 With my grandfather, whose extravagance 
 far exceeded his means, the prosperity of our 
 
 * Behist. — Paradise, f Poojah. — Idolatrous worship.
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 275 
 
 house began its decline. The accumulated wealth 
 of years of industry, the collections of spoil, and 
 the profits of mercantile transactions, were by 
 him lavished (on those whose very society ought 
 to have been considered as debasing as unprofit- 
 able,) with an unsparing hand. Profusion was 
 mistaken by him for splendour, useless cost for 
 multiplied luxury, extravagance for generosity, 
 and sensuality for pleasure ; so that the riches he 
 could once boast of, soon dwindled away, and 
 were, when compared with his desires, as in- 
 sufficient to indulge them, as one laden water- 
 skin drawn from the well, is, to nourish the 
 whole adjacent gardens. Devoted to pleasure, 
 he failed to signalize himself; enervated by dis- 
 ease, contracted in his youthful career of liber- 
 tinism, his mind became inactive, and his 
 strength unequal to the toil and labour of a 
 military career. His early death alone secured to 
 my father the inheritance of thelnaum Jagier, the 
 situation of which you are already acquainted 
 with; on which, comparatively speaking a poor 
 man, he was, to support the becoming dignity of 
 the titles of Khan and Bahadour, which for 
 years had been enjoyed by his forefathers ; this
 
 276 RUSTUJM KHAN. 
 
 was the last and the faintest gleam of the smil- 
 ing fortune which had hitherto favoured us, and 
 although insufficient to support any great style 
 or magnificence, the little which remained suf- 
 ficed to ward ofiF poverty. My father was en- 
 abled, with his diminished patrimony, to sup- 
 port himself, his harem, and his children, very 
 respectably. The person to whom my father 
 was by his parents betrothed, according to our 
 customs, was my own mother, and although two 
 other ladies of high birth were afterwards 
 added to his harem, neither was enabled to divest 
 any considerable portion of his affection from his 
 first wife. The second in his esteem, bore him, 
 sometime after marriage, a daughter, (may she 
 ever be happy) who is yet living; whilst the 
 third, having disgraced the honour of her alli- 
 ance, was divoiced, and having received her 
 marriage portion, was never more heard of, or 
 sought after by him during his lifetime. My 
 mother, when in a state of pregnancy, was re- 
 moved from the troubles and turbulence of a 
 city life, to the quiet seclusion of our estate ; my 
 father, being most anxious for her safety, having 
 as yet no child or son to illuminate the barren
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 277 
 
 darkness of his home, or bear onwards the trans- 
 cendant fame of his predecessors to future ages. 
 In this retreat, after the lapse of several months, 
 the happy hour destined to quiet the apprehen- 
 sion of my father at length arrived. It was an 
 hour of blissful pleasure to all but my suffering 
 mother, who, after a severe trial and protracted 
 labour, at length gave the first-born and only 
 son to the family, in myself. This event was 
 suited to its importance, by the magnificent man- 
 ner in which it was celebrated — yet, amidst the 
 rejoicings, my father's state of mind was sadly 
 agitated, by the unfavourable reports of my 
 much-loved mother's health. A violent, yet ap- 
 parently slight fever, seized on my mother's con- 
 stitution in these moments of enervation, and 
 only a few weeks after my birth were allowed 
 her as a recompense for patiently enduring that 
 portion of misery which she underwent, and 
 which, doubtless, was written in her fate. A 
 partial recovery was, by the damp cold of the 
 monsoon, converted into a fatal relapse; many 
 medicines, I have heard, were improperly made 
 use of as remedies, and terminated all my 
 mother's earthly cares, calling her to the bliss-
 
 278 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 ful enjoyment of the portion of a follower of Ma- 
 homet, in the future, and resigning her to the 
 -mercy of Allah. (Here the narrator paused, 
 whilst tears stole down the aged cheeks and 
 care-worn wrinkles, the hand of time and mis- 
 fortune had furrowed in them, of the old man, 
 who indulged for a moment, in the low murmur 
 of a prayer, calling down benedictions on her 
 departed soul, and consigning her to thcvt bliss, 
 he felt assured, from his conviction of the cer- 
 tainty of an hereafter, the persuasion of her 
 religion might entitle her to receive. He then 
 resumed his narrative.) 
 
 How can I depict to you, (he continued,) 
 the grief which overwhelmed all our household 
 on this occasion, as I was not then able to appre- 
 ciate such a feeling, could I have been witness 
 to it. My tender age debarred me from any 
 knowledge of these circumstances. But I have 
 heard that for several years my father was incon- 
 solable for the loss he had sustained. The gay 
 scenes in which he had before revelled, when 
 youth was in its prime, and every object once of 
 interest and novelty, were forsaken. The nautch, 
 the dance, the song, were alike disregarded in
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 279 
 
 the indulgence of his sorrow, and the mantle of 
 grief for a length of time enveloped the heart of 
 him, whose mirth and gaiety had before become 
 proverbial. He was ever after rather morose than 
 urbane in his manners : it seemed as if his gene- 
 rous feelings had been chilled within him, al- 
 though his naturally mild disposition had not 
 been entirely changed. This I can well imagine 
 to have been the case, having myself had, in my 
 lifetime, to combat the agonizing sorrow of losing 
 her, who was the very essence of my existence, 
 and since v/hose loss, I can see the reflected image 
 of what my father's after character was repre- 
 sented tome as, in my own. The circumstances 
 that are yet fresh on my memory's tablet, found 
 me a lad, able-bodied, twelve years' old, initiated 
 in the sacied texts of the Koran, and left wholly 
 to the guidance of a religious Moollah, whose 
 austere manner and incessant control, forbad, in 
 a great measure, the truant disposition of my 
 childhood, increasing with my years. His fond 
 solicitude for the child of my father, for so he 
 was pleased to term me, founded on the liberal 
 hospitality and support he had received from him, 
 knew no bounds. He was an aged man, weaned
 
 280 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 from the fancied pleasures of this world, and 
 whose cup had, indeed, been an overcharged cup 
 of misery. He had drunk the draught of bitter- 
 ness in the loss of a blooming family, put to a 
 cruel death, whilst a torture was inflicted on him- 
 self, by the merciless tyrant who had crushed his 
 happiness, in his being permitted to live on, to 
 feed the fuel of chagrin, and waste away in sor- 
 row. " Would to God," he has exclaimed to me, 
 in reverting to these horrors, " that the keen 
 scymetar, warmed with the blood of my children, 
 had fallen upon my devoted head ! But no, it 
 was not the will of Allah, my son, and to it we 
 must submit." He had seen the object of his 
 most tender solicitude — a loving wife, stolen by 
 force from her home, and immured within the 
 precincts of a licentiate's harem, were nought 
 but a forced smile ever mantled upon the cheeks 
 of youth and innocence. His wealth was confis- 
 cated at the same time, and what more misfor- 
 tune could have overtaken him ? It was in this 
 distress my father befriended him, and his feeling 
 heart responded to the kind impulse of gratitude, 
 whilst life remained within him. Knowing he 
 was the only confident, my father reposed his
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 281 
 
 secrets with, and the anxiety entertained by him on 
 my account, he himself undertook the task of my 
 education, which his knowledge of the world 
 and eminent learning, well fitted him to com- 
 plete, with satisfaction to his own feelings, and 
 benefit to me. His sole occupation in life, whilst 
 I knew him, appeared to consist in a rigid ad- 
 herence to the tenets of our holy religion, and 
 whilst he fell far short in his devotions, of over 
 enthusiasm, and most laudably so, he yet acted 
 the part of a really good Mahommedan ; his man- 
 ners were pleasing in the extreme; kind and 
 courteous in his behaviour, he v/on the good will 
 and afi'ection of all those with whom chance 
 associated him. Having himself been the sport 
 of misfortune, he could make every allowance for 
 the feelings of others ; and his charitable dispo- 
 sition, warmed by a sense of his own sufferings, 
 ever urged him to listen to a tale of woe, and 
 grant his assistance to the distressed. The pre- 
 scribed fasts with him were strictly maintained ; 
 no excuse would his idea of his duty as an Islam- 
 ite, allow of his making for their evasion ; if 
 actively employed, or diligently engaged in fa- 
 tiguing pursuits, the setting sun still found him
 
 Q8-2 RUSTUM KHAN. 
 
 an hungred, with parched lips, awaiting" patiently 
 the coming of the lawful time, permitting men to 
 indulge in eating and drinking. Nor was this 
 time, as so frequently occurs with others, impro- 
 perly made use of. There was no revelry and 
 feasting by midnight, observed by him, neither 
 did he make use of intoxicating and narcotic 
 drugs, to soften the rigours of his daily fast, by 
 exciting sleep during the enervating heat of the 
 day-time. No ! the same frugal meal was par- 
 taken of to nourish nature, as he daily provided 
 for the same purpose, and at his usual hour he 
 sought repose. 
 
 The sacred name of the holy Prophet, was 
 constantly blended in his conversations with me, 
 and many a sincere prayer, of which the language 
 was the offspring of his natural kindness, solicited 
 the grant of His mercy, and the assistance of His 
 Almighty power, to guide and direct my way 
 through life. My reckless spirit often caused 
 him serious displeasure, when he discovered my 
 impatience at his rebukes, or daring and giddy in- 
 difference to expositions of the sacred texts of 
 the Koran. From the eager admiration they 
 excited in him, they were, I fear, esteemed
 
 RUSTUM KHAN. 283 
 
 equally agreeable objects for my contemplation at 
 that time. Alas, then, it was not so. Youth is too 
 sanguine in its own prowess, and too heedless 
 of the future, to place that reliance in God, which, 
 after age generally proves the necessity of doing, 
 and to which the instructions of my tutor urged 
 my attention by every possible means in his 
 power. He, by turns, illustrated the greatness of 
 the Almighty, and the imbecility of human na- 
 ture, now led me forth into the recesses of moun- 
 tains, now into the dark and almost impenetrable 
 jungles, and then again directed my gaze to the 
 sarcophagi ; wandered with me through Kuber- 
 istans,* and pointed out the mosques or shrines 
 in the neighbourhood, fast falling into decay and 
 ruin. Nevertheless, the main object of my tutor's 
 care, in this respect, was entirely lost, he failed to 
 render me, in my younger days, one of those sin- 
 cere believers, which his lifetime furnished an 
 untarnished example of. 
 
 * Kuherhians. — Burial places. 
 
 END OF VOL. I.
 
 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 
 
 30112 055268707