Ghost Stories From The Raj

by Ruskin Bond

  However, the overture is finished, the lights grow dim and on the silver screen of the narrative appears a burly bearded figure whose blackly burnt visage is relieved by blue eyes twinkling with broad humour and perchance a tongue bulging a cheek of brass. A moment's pause. Cambell composes his face to prim decorum and then, over the fancy bridged gulf of some 250 years sounds this wondrous narrative of marvellous experiences.

  "You should know that, in the year 1609. Jehanghir being then the Great Mogul, one Asaf Khan being then his Counsel in chief (Commander in chief) had gotten great treasures by his war with the Gentues (Hindoos). It was always their pride to adorn their Pagodays and places where they keep their Gods with images of golden cows and such other creatures as they worship and to embellish these places with precious things of great value. This Asaf Khan plundered them all and by such means got great store of Treasure which he buried in his house at Old Dilly.

  After he died, the Emperor by torturing all his generation got six elephant loads of treasure valuing £500.000 though suspicion caused that to this day much remayneth behind, though where, unknown. The only one of his generation now remayning called the Lord Jaffir Khan, a Colonel of Horse (mansabdar) being in great distress of money, comes to the undermentioned, Mr. Robert Smith, Mr. Thomas Roach, Mr. John White, Mr. William Gates and I John Cambell, telling us that if we would lend him a certain sum he would pawn to us his house in Old Dilly a good pennyworth (valuable).

  We having lent him this sum, along comes an old Brahmin once servant to him who buried the riches telling us 'within this house is great treasure which ye, being Xtians may dig, for the Emperor not calling you to account as he would us, should we dig and find he will kill us and all our families. But ye may dig and fear nothing.'

  So hearing, we agreed with the Lord Khan to dig giving him one share and each taking one. This house was in Old Dilly, we living in Johnabad (Jehanghirabad, the city of Jehanghir). It is as big as Whitehall and Scotch yard (Scotland Yard) together being built Castle wise and very strong. Then for three months we dug and found nothing for they had built house upon house until in the end we came to near nine fathom deep. In this time two of our labourers were struck dead, some broke arms and legs, others lamed and many hurried out (ran away). Presently the Emperor Aurungzebe hearing of our digging sent word to know what we were about.

  To which Thomas Roach replied we were digging for stone to build a house withal, this making colour (a blind) and so that passed. Finding more men we continued one more month digging until finding naught, I John Cambell demanded back my money again. Then said the Lord Jaffir Khan.

  'Fear naught. I will bring magicians, and if then we find not, you may again have back your money.'

  Then he brought three magicians to whom we shewed how far we had digged. After this they did something we understood not casting spells or what not, and then told us.

  'Take up this stone,'

  This we did and under it found a great brass pot full of money. Said the magicians.

  'Meddle not with this now. Leave it until the next day when we will come again to guard you from the Divells, under whose care it be.'

  But we obeyed them not, for which we paid dearly. That night we were very merry judging we had found the prize we sought, until in the middlemost of our mirth there came into the courtyard, which was very great, a vast number of labourers with mattocks, spades, and other digging implements, all of silver with which they threw up a great mound for a platform. This done, others came and spread carpets after which came nine seeming men bearing a canopie of state having staves of silver which they set upon the top of the mound. We being struck dumb at such sight, remained silent for the space of one hour.

  It being the 12 of then night in came a Great Divell in the shape of man, he sitting in a Golden Chair borne on men's shoulders.

  He had over him an umbrella with a Gold Staff and Red silken covering, and with him came many other seeming men attending upon him. At this we were all sadly amazed I John Cambell falling into a swoon but soon recovering. Then all we five Xtians having with us Bibles, fell to reading very seriously keeping in our midst the Lord Khan for fear of the Divell. Seeing this, to us said this Divell:

  'Lay by your bibles and give me this man who is my gholam (slave).'

  We kept silent. Then came a great ill-shaped monster into our midst and tried to hawl away the Lord Khan. On this Mr. Smith, our Minister (Elder of their church) stept out and laying his bible on the Monster, made him give up his hold. Mr. White questioned the Great Divell why came he into our house. On this he answered:

  'I am Murteza Ally, now the Governor of this part of the Divells world. What do you Xtians here?'

  To which Mr. Roach answered: 'We are here of our right. We gave money for this house.'

  Then said the Great Divell: 'Let be get you gone from here and with you your bibles leaving my gholam, and you shall have all your money back again and three times more.'

  To this answered Mr. Roach: 'We know there is much money here. We shall have all or nothing.'

  And so consented Mr. Smith, Mr. White, Mr. Gates and I John Cambell. At these bold answers the great Divell raged furiously and told us:

  'Ye may thank Isa Musa (Christ) that I cannot withhold this treasure from you ye being Xtians. But ye shall pay dearly for it in the end!'

  (Which said threatening came to pass, for a slave girl belonging to Mr. Roach, discovered to the Emperor that we had been digging for treasure and only by great payments did we come free of trouble.) At last said the Great Divell:

  'Take your bible away from the Lord Khan and give him to me. He is my slave.'

  But we would not whereon up came another ill shap't Monster who demanded the Lord Khan, saying he had been servant to the Lord Khan who buried the treasure and by him slain to prevent discovery. When we would not yield him he raged, saying furiously:

  'Then ye shall have nothing.'

  On this Mr. White calling him Divell, demanded his departure whereat he again raged, saying:

  'I am no Divell but a poor slave that was killed to guard this treasure. Have a care what you say. Why come you here to cast guns and make war. Get you gone to your own country.'

  Then said Mr. Roach: 'We will not go save with this treasure.' So saying we all commenced to read our bibles aloud. On which they all vanished away leaving us swooning from which we recovered not until the coming of the day. When we had awakened we found at our heads something of that for which we had digged being a Golden Image in the shape of a cow with three strings of jewels hanging from it. This discovery we kept secret, melting the gold down to ingots. The next day, I John Cambell going from my house in Johnabad to Old Dilly, was met by a Divell seeming man, riding on a horse which said to me:

  'Go no more to Old Dilly to dig or 'twill be the worse for you,' and vanish't away.

  'The same night came the Divells to the house of Mr. Roach wherein was the Lord Khan, and cast both over the walls though no harm done, save to the Lord Khan who was bruised full sore. But they molested none of us after so long as we kept our bibles with us, nor even the Lord Khan after we laid a bible on his chest. So, being warned in such fashion we went to the house no more by night but digged only by day, and the dwelling in a tent without the walls. On one afternoon when so engaged there came the Great Divell without attendance and remained by Mr. Smith reasoning (debating?) for three hours by the clock in which time he came and went three several times. He in this discourse told us that his kind have no manlike feelings nor pain, and said they delight much in guarding treasures and dwelling in great gardens, living in ancient and holy trees. To Mr. Smith he said:

  'Why do you give your bible to my people (Mussalmans)? Ye are Xtians. Keep ye to your own religion. Meddle not with that of others.' To which Mr. Smith made reply:

  'Our religion is free to all that desire it. Begone thou in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.'

  At this the Great Divell said: 'I am Emperor of Emperors
, and have great armies and riches at my command. But I have no power over Xtians. Get you gone to your own country.'

  But Mr. Smith, again reading from his bible, said 'Avaunt thee Satan!' At which the Divell gave a great howl and vanish't away, coming no more that day. But in the evening when we were all being merry in the house of Mr. Smith, there came suddenly in a Great Sarpent, the colour of Gold which took three turns on its belly and then vanish't quite away. After that there came in a great number of Divells all in terrible shapes some being seeming Tygers some Lyons and divers, other Monsters, most terrible to behold. But we steadfastly reading in our bibles all this time they made us no harm but presently all vanish't away and came no more leaving us in peace to dig the treasure.

  'What we got was great but much more remains. When we had got all we desired we cleared (filled in?) the ruins making a fair Garden for the Great Divell according to promise made by Mr. Smith, which said garden at this day he is still making (1668). But for many days after, Mr. Smith who had most wrestled with the Divell, was sore sick vomiting blood and having no rest at night until he prayed in this wise.'

  'God pardon me. I will have no more discourse with Divells', at which he became well again.

  "All this happened in the year 1665. The next year Mr. William Gates and the rest went to war in the South, I remaining at Johnabad to cast more guns for the wars. Mr. Gates was killed in the wars with Sivajee, and did afterwards make an appearance to me which I regarded not deeming it a wham (dream). So again, one night when I lay abed about 12 of the night, a Ghost came to my bed and gave me a great blow on the chest saying:

  'Arise, Do you not know me?'

  At this I was sore afraid and said: 'Get you gone in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.'

  Then said the Ghost: 'I am no Divell but William Gates that lieth dead at Bijapur. Rise you up and follow me or 'twill be the worse for you.'

  'Though all the doors were locked yet we passed clear through them the Spirit going before, I following until we had gone about 200 yards. Then staying, it said:

  'I have here buried some money and cannot rest until I shew you where it is, Guard you (take heed?)'

  And with that he stamp't hard on the ground and so vanish't away. I fell down in a swoon awakening not until next morning at which time I found a stake in the ground at my head I made relation of what had passed to Mr. Smith, after which we both digged at that place and took up an earthen pot in which was much money, put there by Mr. Gates. This we sent to the poor of the parish of Stepmey wherein Mr. Gates was born, which must have pleased the Spirit, for it came no more. I would have kept the money for myself, but Mr. Smith advised otherwise.

  In the year 1668, I John Cambell took leave from the Mogul and went on my travels wherein I had much wondrous adventure.

  From Indian State Railways Magazine (April 1933)

  The Men-Tigers

  by Lt. Col. W.H. Sleeman

  AM CHUND ROO, COMMONLY CALLED THE SUREEMUNT, chief of Deoree, here overtook me. He came out from Saugor to visit me at Dhamoree, and not reaching that place in time came on after me. He held Deoree under the Peshwa, as the Saugor chief held Saugor, for the payment of the public establishments kept up for the local administration. It yielded him about ten thousand pounds a year, and when we took possession of the country he got an estate in the Saugor district, in rent-free tenure, estimated at fifteen hundred pounds a year. This is equal to about six thousand pounds a year in England. The tastes of native gentlemen lead them always to expend the greater part of their incomes in the wages of trains of followers of all descriptions, and in horses, elephants, & c.; and labour and the subsistence of labour are about four times cheaper in India than in England. By the breaking up of public establishments, and consequent diminution of the local demand for agricultural produce, the value of land throughout all central India, after the termination of the Mahratta war in 1817, fell by degrees thirty per cent.; and among the rest that of my poor friend the Sureemunt. While I had the civil charge of the Saugor district, in 1831, I represented this case of hardship; and government, in the spirit of liberality which has generally characterized their measures in this part of India, made up to him the difference between what he actually received and what they had intended to give him; and he has ever since felt grateful to me. He is a very small man, not more than five feet high; but he has the handsomest face I have almost ever seen; and his manners are those of the most perfect native gentleman. He came to call upon me after breakfast, and the conversation turned upon the number of people that had of late been killed by tigers between Saugor and Deoree, his ancient capital, which lies about midway between Saugor and the Nerbudda river. One of his followers, who stood behind his chair, said, "that when a tiger had killed one man he was safe, for the spirit of the man rode upon his head, and guided him from all danger. The spirit knew very well that the tiger would be watched for many days at the place where he had committed the homicide, and always guided him off to some other more secure place, where he killed other men without any risk to himself. He did not exactly know why the spirit of the man should thus befriend the beast that had killed him; but," added he, "there is a mischief inherent in spirits; and the better the man the more mischievous is his ghost, if means are not taken to put him to rest." This is the popular and general belief throughout India; and it is supposed, that the only sure mode of destroying a tiger, who has killed many people is, to begin by making offerings to the spirits of his victims, and thereby depriving him of their valuable services!* The belief that men are turned into tigers by eating of a root is no less general throughout India.

  The Sureemunt, on being asked by me what he thought of the matter, observed, "there was no doubt much truth in what the man said; but he was himself of opinion, that the tigers which now infest the wood from Saugor to Deoree were of a different kind—in fact, that they were neither more nor less than men turned into tigers— a thing which took place in the woods of central India much more often than people were aware of. The only visible difference between the two," added the Sureemunt, "is that the metamorphosed tiger has no tail, while the bora, or ordinary tiger, has a very long one. In the jungle about Deoree," continued he, "there is a root which, if a man eat of, he is converted into a tiger on the spot; and if in this state he can eat of another, he becomes a man again—a melancholy instance of the former of which," said he, "occurred, I am told, in my own father's family when I was an infant. His washerman, Rughoo, was, like all washermen, a great drunkard; and being seized with a violent desire to ascertain what a man felt in the state of a tiger, he went one day to the jungle and brought home two of these roots, and desired his wife to stand by with one of them, and the instant she saw him assume the tiger's shape, to thrust it into his mouth. She consented, the washerman ate his root, and became instantly a tiger; but his wife was so terrified at the sight of her old husband in this shape, that she ran off with the antidote in her hand. Poor old Rughoo took to the woods, and there ate a good many of his old friends from the neighbouring villages; but he was at last shot and recognized from the circumstance of his having no tail. You may be quite sure," concluded Sureemunt, "when you hear of a tiger without a tail, that it is some unfortunate man who has eaten of that root—and of all the tigers he will be found the most mischievous."

  How my friend had satisfied himself of the truth of this story I know not, but he religiously believes it, and so do all his attendants and mine; and out of a population of thirty thousand people in the town of Saugor, not one would doubt the story of the washerman if he heard it.

  I was one day talking with my friend, the Rajah of Myhere, on the road between Jubbulpore and Mirzapore, on the subject of the number of men who had been lately killed by tigers at the Kutra Pass on that road, and the best means of removing the danger. "Nothing," said the Rajah, "could be more easy or more cheap than the destruction of these tigers, if they were of ordinary sort; but the tigers that kill men by wholesale, as these do, are, you
may be sure, men themselves converted into tigers by the force of their science; and such animals are of all the most unmanageable."

  "And how is it, Rajah Sahib, that these men convert themselves into tigers?"

  "Nothing," said he, "is more easy than this to persons who have once acquired the science; but how they learn it, or what it is, we unlettered men know not. There was once a high priest, of a large temple, in this very valley of Myhere, who was in the habit of getting himself converted into a tiger by the force of this science, which he had thoroughly acquired. He had a necklace, which one of his disciples used to throw over his neck the moment the tiger's form became fully developed. He had, however, long given up the practice, and all his old disciples had gone off on their pilgrimages to distant shrines, when he was one day seized with a violent desire to take his old form of the tiger. He expressed the wish to one of his new disciples, and demanded whether he thought he might rely upon his courage to stand by and put on the necklace. 'Assuredly you may,' said the disciple; 'such is my faith in you, and in the God we serve, that I fear nothing!' The high priest upon this put the necklace into his hand with the requisite instructions, and forthwith began to change his form. The disciple stood trembling in every limb, till he heard him give a roar that shook the whole edifice, when he fell flat upon his face, and dropped the necklace on the floor. The tiger bounded over him, and out at the door; and infested all the roads leading to the temple for many years afterwards."