Tara: A Mahratta Tale

by Meadows Taylor

  CHAPTER LXXIV.

  But the arrival of an Envoy from the Mahomedan General was an eventof no small importance to the Rajah Sivaji. In order to further theplan he had conceived, and partly executed, in the despatch of envoysto the Mahomedan camp--it was his object to disarm all suspicion;and while assuming an appearance of insignificance and weaknesswhich should impress upon the mind of a new-comer his insufficiencyto make any resistance, the Rajah was making arrangements which, asMaloosray and other friends knew, boded action of no ordinary kind.When the time came, he would act, he said, as the goddess directed.His mother had been silent for many days, and almost constantly sat inthe temple before the altar; and it was certain there would be somespecial revelation. She had spread the end of her garment[16] beforethe Mother, and she had never done so, they said, in vain; but she wassilent, and so they waited.

  Afzool Khan's Envoy had been received with the utmost distinction.When within a few miles of the fort he had been met by a deputation ofBrahmuns and inferior military officers, and delayed only long enoughto have the necessary astrological calculations made as to a propitiousmoment for entrance into the town. There, a house was assigned to him:servants of the Rajah appointed to attend on him: and his escort wassupplied with forage and food in abundance. Nothing was wanting to giveassurance of simple but earnest hospitality.

  The day after, an audience of the Rajah was fixed upon. The Envoywas desired to choose his own time; and the astrologer in his suite,with that of the Rajah, having ascertained a lucky conjunction ofplanets, the Envoy was carried up the mountain-side in a palankeen tothe fort-gate, where sheep were sacrificed before him, cannon firedfrom the ramparts, and the fort pipers, drummers, and horn-blowers,performed a rude and very noisy welcome. Then the men on guard at thegate, with others of the garrison of the fort, formed a street, whichreached as far as the Rajah's pavilion; and the palankeen being carriedalong this, amidst the firing of matchlocks and shouting of the titleof the King of Beejapoor by the royal bard and herald in his suite, theEnvoy was set down before the same rude pavilion which we have beforedescribed, where the Rajah Sivaji awaited him.

  To all appearance an insignificant little man, dark, youthful inappearance, with only one ornament in his turban, dressed in theplainest clothes, and without even the gold embroidered cushion onwhich he had been seated on the day of the Kutha. Punto Gopinathwondered much when he remembered the exaggerated accounts of thePrince which were sung in ballads, told by bards and reciters, andwere believed by the people. Was this the saviour who was to come? Wasthis the man who was to rescue the Hindu faith from obloquy, if notfrom destruction:--protect Brahmuns, foster learning, endow and enrichtemples? Above all, was this the man who was to defy the forces ofBeejapoor, the fierce Abyssinians, the fiery Dekhanies--the noble parkof artillery? There were no troops, no means of offence visible. True,the fort itself was strong, but the garrison was small, and unworthy ofconsideration in comparison with the thousands who were even now nighat hand.

  These thoughts hurried rapidly through the Envoy's mind as he passedup the street of men, and the Rajah's authorities and higher orderof servants, who stood on each side of this approach to the hallitself. Puntojee Gopinath was a big man in every sense of the word.His body was large and corpulent, and he stooped much. His head waswrapped in a white cashmere shawl, which increased its naturallydisproportionate size. His features were massive but flaccid, and hischeeks shook, while his head wagged from side to side as he walked.His eyes were large, but red and watery; and the protruding under-lip,full, and set in deep lines at the corners, gave him an air of pompousself-sufficiency.

  With all this, the Brahmun was a shrewd, astute person. He was vain,and usually confident. Now, however, as he saluted the Rajah, hefelt the eyes which scanned him from head to foot had already takena measure of him, which might be favourable or otherwise. Perhaps itwas flattering, perhaps mortifying; he could not say which. They werein any case different eyes to those of his own rulers and officers,who were Mahomedans. Their eyes took things for granted, and he wasaccustomed to placid acquiescence, or perhaps to occasional fiercebursts of passion, which never affected him. These eyes, on thecontrary, were restless and inquisitive, leaving an impression thatthey had seen and understood hidden thoughts, and would bring them out,lurk where they might.

  Perhaps, for the first time in his public life, the Brahmun wasdisconcerted; but it was no time to show this; and recovering himself,he offered the prescribed salutation, and sinking into the seat pointedout to him, which was beside, but rather in front of the Rajah, with aloud exclamation of Ramchunder! which was his habit--he settled himselfon his heels after the most approved courtly fashion, placed hishands gravely upon his knees, twisted up his moustaches, and felt hishabitual confidence return.

  We need not, perhaps, follow the conference. The Envoy, as instructed,at first took a high tone as to outrages and treason on the partof the Rajah, and of the clemency and wisdom of the sovereign herepresented. There should have been no attempts at insurrection,because the cause was hopeless by force, and the royal ear was everopen to suppliants for justice, if timely submission were made.

  The Rajah did not reply personally, but this pitiless scrutiny of theEnvoy continued without interruption, and the address was answeredby Krishnajee Bhaskur, one of his own Brahmun officers, eloquentlyand yet respectfully:--What had been done? No redress had been givenfor injury, for extortion, and local oppression. In despair, someretaliation had been made. It was the mountain custom, even by villageagainst village; and did not affect higher relations, which would onlybecome the more firmly consolidated when the cause of quarrel was past."But," he added, in conclusion, "the details are private matters, andwill be discussed better in privacy, and through Afzool Khan alone,does the Rajah wish to have them arranged. What have we here to opposehim? We have no concealments, no means of defence against such a forceas his?"

  "Indeed, no," said Sivaji, smiling. "An army of elephants has been sentto crush ants' nests, as the proverb hath it; and if the noble Khanwill remain, and take charge of the country now under me, I will resignit to him cheerfully, and become his servant. Wilt thou say this tohim?"

  "Indeed, my prince," returned the Brahmun, putting up his joined hands,"we who were in Beejapoor well know how much Afzool Khan helped yourfather, when he was confined, in the old Sultan's time; and how muchthe rigour of his imprisonment was softened by the Khan's kindness. Ah!he is a humane and generous man, and has no personal enmity againstyou, my lord."

  "We will at least put it to the proof," returned the Rajahgood-humouredly. "You are witness that you have seen no preparationsfor defence or resistance, and the sooner he comes the better. Wecannot hurry him and the force, but we will at least make preparationsfor a peaceful entertainment; and if the Khan will accept of our rudemountain hospitality instead of the Jehad we hear he has been preachingagainst us, it will be a happy thing for all."

  "A happy thing indeed!" said Bulwunt Rao, who, in the suite of theEnvoy, had as yet sat silently, and had not been recognized; "and whenpublic affairs are settled, private justice may be done to suppliantslike me, who, only for state quarrels, dare not have entered this fort."

  "Who art thou, friend?" asked Sivaji; "a suitor to me, and fromBeejapoor?--a Mahratta among Moslems? Who art thou?"

  "I may not mention my name here, my lord," said Bulwunt Rao, rising,and again saluting the Rajah reverently; "but I can tell it in private.One whom injustice and evil fate have led where he is, and who, onlyfor them, would have been serving you."

  "How can I serve thee?" asked the Rajah sharply; "I am not usually hardof access; therefore come to me when thou wilt, and I will hear thee."

  "I will come," returned Bulwunt Rao, looking round to all, "and putthee, Sivaji Bhoslay, to the proof. Men vaunt the Rajah's justice," hecontinued--"he will find much to do for me;" and he sat down again.

  An awkward pause ensued in the assembly, which no one seemed inclinedto break: and the person who officiated as master
of the ceremonies,having observed a signal from the Rajah, brought in flowers, with panleaves, and distributed them in order of precedence to the Envoy andall his suite. Bulwunt Rao, however, would take nothing.

  "If justice is done me," he said, rising again, "my share of flowerswill come with it, and will be hung about my neck in honour; if not,they will hang here,"--and he touched his sword-hilt--"better."

  "This savours of a threat, sir," said Sivaji, with flashing eyes.

  "The meanest will turn against oppression," returned Bulwunt; "andSivaji Bhoslay has just pleaded this in extenuation of his own acts. I,too, make the same reply, my prince; and when you know my history, youwill confess I am no traitor to Mahrattas."

  "All are dismissed," said the Rajah, rising; "see that these gentlemenare safely escorted below;" and amidst the confusion which occurredin many persons rising, and as the Durbar broke up, he whisperedto the Brahmun who had been spokesman, and who was one of his mostconfidential servants, "See that the Khan's Envoy be separatelyaccommodated. I must visit him privately to-night, and thou must bewith me, Krishnajee; I will come to thee at the first watch."

  FOOTNOTE:

  [16] _Pulloo fusarne_--the most earnest and humble supplication that aMahratta woman can make.