The King's Own
Page 45
CHAPTER FORTY FIVE.
An you like a _ready_ knave, here is one of most approved convenience: he will cheat you moreover to your heart's content. If you believe me not, try him.
_The Colony, 1635_.
The _Aspasia_ continued her passage with light but favourable winds. Asthe ship made but little progress, Captain M--- stood into Goa Bay, ashe passed by that relic of former grandeur and prosperity--alas! likethe people who raised it, how fallen from its "high estate." The townstill covers the same vast extent of ground; the churches still reartheir heads above the other buildings in their beautiful proportions;the Palace of the Inquisition still lours upon you in its fanaticalgloom and massive iron bars. But where is the wealth, the genius, theenterprise, the courage, and religious enthusiasm which raised thesemajestic piles? A scanty population, of mixed Hindoo and Portugueseblood, or of half-converted Indians, are the sole occupiers of this oncesplendid city of the East. Read the history of the Moors when in Spain,their chivalry, and their courage, their learning and advancement in thearts,--and now view their degraded posterity on the African coast.Reflect upon the energy and perseverance of the Spaniards, at the timewhen they drove out those conquerors of their country after a struggleof so many years--their subsequent discovery and possession of a westernworld--and behold them now. Turn to the Portuguese, who, setting anexample of perseverance and activity to the nations of Europe, invessels in which we should now think it almost insanity to make theattempt, forced their passage round the Stormy Cape, undeterred bydisasters or by death, and grasped the empire of the East. What arethey in the scale of nations now?
How rapid these transitions! Two hundred years have scarcely rolledaway--other nations, with the fabrics they have raised, have beenprecipitated to the dust; but they have departed, full of years, and menand things have run their race together. But here, the last in alltheir splendour, while the energies of the former have decayed, remain;and where have we a more melancholy picture of humanity, either in anindividual or in a nation, than when we survey the body that hasoutlived the mind?
Since the world began, history is but the narrative of kingdoms andstates progressing to maturity or decay. Man himself is but an epitomeof the nations of men. In youth, all energy; in prime of life, allenterprise and vigour; in senility, all weakness and second childhood.Then, England, learn thy fate from the unerring page of time. Sooner orlater, it shall arrive that thou shalt be tributary to some nation,hitherto, I trust, unborn; and thy degenerate sons shall read thatliberty was once the watchword of the isle, and yet not even feel alonging to be free.
As the _Aspasia_ lay nearly becalmed at the entrance of the harbour, asmall boat, rowed by two men, pulled towards her, and the occupant ofthe stern-sheets, as he came alongside, stated, in bad English, that hebrought "present for captain," and was allowed to come up the side bythe first-lieutenant, who was on deck. He was a native friar, anddisgusting as the dress is, when worn by an European in a northernclime, it appeared still more so, enveloping a black under the torridzone. He carried a little covered basket in his hand, and stated thathe had been sent by the superior of the convent, which he pointed to, onthe headland at the mouth of the harbour. The first-lieutenant wentdown into the cabin, and reported to the captain.
"A present!" observed Captain M---; "I hope it is not a monkey. `_TimeoDanaos et dona ferentes_.'"
The first-lieutenant, who had forgotten his Latin, made no answer, butreturned on deck, where he was shortly after followed by Captain M---.
The sable votary of St. Francis made his bow, and opening the lid of hisbasket, pulled out a cabbage with a long stalk and four or five flaggingleaves, but no heart to it. "Superior send present to Inglez capitown."And having laid it carefully on the carronade slide, fumbled in hispocket for some time, and eventually produced a dirty sheet of paper, onwhich, written in execrable English, was a petition to assist the wantsof the convent.
"I expected as much," observed Captain M---, smiling, as he ran over theridiculous wording of the petition. "Desire the purser's steward to getup a bag of biscuit, and put into the boat."
The bread was handed on the gangway, when the friar, observing it, wentup to the captain, and said, "Superior like rum, sar; suppose you norum, then like money."
"Perhaps he may," replied Captain M---; "but it is against my rules togive the first, and if I recollect right, against those of your order toreceive the second."
Finding that nothing more was to be obtained, the friar was about todepart, when, perceiving the cabbage lying unnoticed where he haddeposited it, he observed--"Capitown, non quer cabbage--not want?"
"Not particularly," replied Captain M---, surveying it with rather acontemptuous smile.
"Then take it ashore, plant it again--do for 'nother ship;" and hereplaced the present in his basket, made his bow, and departed.
Reader, cabbages are scarce articles in India. I have seen them atPondicherry, growing in flower-pots, as curious exotics.
Two days afterwards, the _Aspasia_ came to an anchor at Bombay, andhaving saluted the admiral, Captain M--- went on shore to pay hisrespects in person. The ship was soon crowded with a variety of people,who came off to solicit the washing, etcetera, of the officers. Thegun-room officers had just finished their dinner, and the cloth had beenremoved, when our friend Billy Pitts entered, introducing a slimpersonage, attired in a robe of spotless white, with the dark turbanpeculiar to the Parsees, and bringing in his hand a small basket offruit.
"Massa Courtenay, here mulatta fellow want to speak to officers. Callhimself Dubash--look in dictionary, and no such word in Englishlanguage."
"It means a washerman, I suppose," observed Price.
"No, sir," answered the man for himself, with a graceful bow, "not awasherman, but at same time get all your clothes washed. Dubash go tomarket, supply gentlemen with everything they want--run everywhere forthem--bring off meat and fish, and everything else--everybody havedubash here--I dubash to all the ships come here--got very goodcertificate, sir," continued the Parsee, drawing a thin book from hisvest, and presenting it to Courtenay with a low bow.
"Well, Mr Dubash, let us see what your character may be," saidCourtenay, opening the book.
"Yes, sir, you please to read them, and I go speak to young gentlemen,before other dubash come on board; I bring gentlemen little fruit," andlaying the basket respectfully on the table, with another low salaam theman quitted the gun-room.
Courtenay read for a minute, and then burst into a fit of laughter."Very good certificates, indeed," observed he, "only hear--
"First.--This is to certify, that Hommajee Baba served the gun-room messof his Majesty's ship _Flora_, and cheated us most damnably.
"Signed Peter Hicks, 1st Lieut.
"Jonas Smith, Purser.
"Second.--Hommajee Baba served me as dubash during my stay in this port.He is a useful fellow, but a great scoundrel. I gave him one half ofhis bill, and he was perfectly satisfied. I recommend others to do thesame.
"Signed Andrew Thompson, Company's ship _Clio_.
"Third.--I perfectly agree with the above remarks; but as all the otherdubashes are as great thieves, and not half so intelligent, Iconscientiously recommend Hommajee Baba.
"Signed Peter Phillips, Captain Honbl. Company's cruiser _Vestal_.
"Fourth.--Of all the scoundrels that I ever had to deal with, in thismost rascally quarter of a most knavish world, Hommajee Baba is thegreatest. Never give him any money, as he will find it; but when you goaway, pay him one-third of his bill, and you will still have paid himtoo much.
"Signed Billy Helflame, Captain H.M.S. _Spitfire_."
About a dozen pages of the book were filled with certificates to theabove effect, which the dubash, although he spoke English fluently, notbeing able to read, considered as he had been informed at the time, tobe decidedly in his favour. They were so far valuable, that they putnewcomers upon their guard, and prevented much extortion on the part ofthe said Hommaj
ee.
When the laughter had to a degree subsided, Billy Pitts was the first toexclaim--"Damn black villain--I think so, when he come to me; not likecut of um jib--"
"`Who steals my purse, steals trash,'" spouted Price.
"'Cause you never have money, Mr Price," cried Billy, interrupting him.
"Silence, sir,--`But he who filches from me my good name, robs me ofthat--of that--'"
"Rob you of what, sar?"
"Silence, sir," again cried Price--"`robs me of that--' what is it?--that damned black thief has put it out of my head--"
"I not the thief, sar--Massa Price, you always forget end of yourstory."
"I'll make an end of you directly, sir, if you're not off."
"No! don't kill Billy," observed Courtenay; "it's bad enough to havemurdered Shakespeare. Well, but now, it's my opinion, that we ought toemploy this fellow--and take the advice that has been given to us inthis book."
Courtenay's proposal was assented to, and on his return, Hommajee Babawas installed in office.
The next morning, Seymour, Courtenay, and Macallan went on shore to meetan old acquaintance of the latter, who had called upon him on hisarrival. By his advice they left the ship before the sun had risen,that they might be enabled to walk about, and view the town and itsenvirons, without being incommoded by the heat. They reached the longplain close to the sea, upon which the admiral and many others,according to the custom of the English inhabitants, were residing incapacious tents; not such tents as have been seen in England, butimpervious to the heat and rain, covering a large extent of ground,divided into several apartments, and furnished like any other residence.The broad expanse of ocean, which met their view, was unruffled, andthe beach was lined with hundreds, standing on their carpets, spreadupon the sand, with their faces turned toward the east. As the sun rosein splendour above the horizon, they all prostrated themselves in muteadoration, and continued in that position until his disk had cleared thewater's edge; they then rose, and throwing a few flowers into therippling wave, folded up their carpets and departed.
"Who are those people, and of what religion?" demanded Seymour.
"They are Parsees, a remnant of the ancient Persians--the Guebres, orworshippers of fire. As you have witnessed, they also adore the sun.They came here long since to enjoy their tenets, free from persecution.They are the most intelligent race that we have. Many of them wereprinces in their own country, and are now men of unbounded wealth. Theyhave their temples here, in which the sacred fire is never permitted togo out. If, by any chance or negligence, it should become extinct, itmust be relighted from heaven alone. We have no lightning here, andthey send to Calcutta, where there is plenty at the change of themonsoon, and bring it round with great ceremony."
"In other points, are their customs different from the Hindoos?"
"Yes; their women are not so immured; you will meet plenty of them whenyou return to town. They are easily distinguished by their faircomplexions, and the large thin gold rings, with three or four pearlsstrung upon them, worn in a hole perforated through the nostril, andhanging below their mouths."
"And what are those immense towers on the other side of the bay?"
"They were built by the Parsees, as depositories for the dead; on thesummit is a wide iron grating, upon which the bodies are laid, to bedevoured by the birds of prey; when stripped, the bones fall through theiron bars into the receptacle below. They never bury their dead.--Butbreakfast must be ready, so we had better return. You have much to seehere. The caves of Elephanta and Canara are well worthy of yourattention--and I shall be happy to attend you, when you feel inclined topay a visit to them."
They did not fail to profit by the offer, and before the week had passedaway, they had witnessed those splendid monuments of superstition andidolatry. The _Aspasia_ received her orders, and Hommajee Baba, beingpaid the due proportion of his bill, received his certificate fromCourtenay, in the usual form, and so far from being affronted, requestedthe honour of being again employed in their services if ever they shouldreturn to Bombay.