Aduri. I can’t say whence the letters came; but my mistress told me to give them to you.

Nobin. It shall be known by these letters whether your ornaments are to be taken or not. (Opens the first letter.)

Soirindri. Read it aloud.

Nobin. (Reads the letter.)

“Dear Friend,—This is to make it known to you, that to give a sum of money to you at present is only to make a return of favours. My mother has taken leave of this world yesterday; and the day of her first funeral obsequies is very near. This have I written yesterday. The tobacco is not yet sold.

What misfortune is this! Is this my assistance on the funeral obsequies of the mother of the honorable Mukerji? Let me see what deadly weapon hast thou brought. (Opens the letter.)

Soirindri. My dear, it is very miserable to fall into despair after entertaining high hopes. Let the letter remain as it is.

Nobin. (Reads the letter.)

“Honored Sir,—I received your last letter, and was much pleased with reading of your good fortune. I have already collected the sum of three hundred Rupis, and shall take that along with me to you to-morrow. As to the remaining one hundred, I shall clear that on the coming month. The great benefit which you have bestowed on me, excites me to give some interest.

Soirindri. I think God has turned his face towards us; now, let me go, and give this information to our youngest Bou.

Nobin. (Aside.) My life is, as it were, the idol of sincerity; it is a piece of a straw in a rapid stream. Let me take my father now to Indrabad, depending on this; as to the future it shall be according to Fate. With me I have one hundred and fifty Rupis. As to the tobacco, if I had kept it for a month more, I would have sold that for the sum of five hundred Rupis; but what can I do? I am obliged to give it for three hundred and fifty Rupis, since I have to pay much for the Officers of the Court; and also heavy expenses for going to and returning from the place. If on account of this false case, there be a delay, then am I certain that the destruction of this land is very near. What a brutal Act is passed? But, what is the fault of the Act; or of those who passed the Act? What misery can the country suffer if those who are to carry out the Act, do it with impartiality? Ah, by this Act how many persons are suffering in prison-houses without a fault! It bursts the heart to see the miseries of their wives and children; the pots for boiling rice on the hearths are remaining as they are; the several kinds of grain in their yards are being dried up; their kine in the rooms are all remaining bound in their places; the cultivation of the fields is not fully carried out, the seeds are not sown, and the wild grass in the rice fields is not cut off. What further prospects are there in the present year? All are crying aloud, with the exclamation, Where is my lord? Where is my father? Some Magistrates are dispensing justice with proper consideration; in their hands this Act is not become the rod of death. Ah! Had all Magistrates been as just as the Magistrate of Amaranagara is, then could the harrow fall on the ripe grain and the locusts destroy the fields? Had that been the case, would I ever have been thrown into so many dangers? O, thou Lieutenant-Governor! had’st thou engaged men of the same good character as thou had’st enacted laws, then the country would never have been miserable. O, thou Governor of the land! had’st thou made such a regulation, that every plaintiff, when his case is proved false, shall be put in prison, then the jail of Amaranagara would have been crowded with Indigo Planters; and they would never have been so very powerful. Our Magistrate is transferred, but our case is to continue here to the end; and that will occasion our ruin.

Sabitri. If you are to give up all the ploughs, is it that even then you are to take the advance-money? Sell all your ploughs and kine, and engage in trade; we shall enjoy ourselves with the profits that shall accrue from that. We can no longer endure this.

Nobin. Mother, I, also, have the same desire. Only, I wait till Bindu is engaged in some service. If we leave off ploughing the land, it will be impossible for us to maintain the family; and it is for this reason, that we have still, with so much trouble, kept these ploughs.

Sabitri. How shalt thou go with this headache? Oh oh! was such Indigo produced in this land! (Places her hand on Nobin’s head).

Reboti. My mother! Where shall I go? What shall I do? They have done what! Why is it that through ill-fortune I brought her? Having brought one of a strange caste, I am become unable to preserve propriety. My eldest Babu! preserve me; my life is on the point of bursting out. Bring me Khetromani; bring me my puppet of gold.

Sabitri. These destroyers can do all things. Ye are taking by force the pieces of ground of men, their grain, their kine and calves. By the force of clubs, ye are cultivating Indigo, and the people are doing your work with cries and sobbings.

Reboti. My mother! I am preparing the Indigo, taking only half the food. Those bigahs which they had marked, on them I worked. When Ray works, he weeps with deep sighs; if he hear of this my work, he would become, as it were, insane.

Nobin. Where is Sadhu now?

Reboti. He is sitting outside, and is weeping.

Nobin. To a woman of good family, constancy in faithfulness to her husband is, as it were, the loadstone; and how very beautiful does she appear (ramaniki ramaniyá) when she is decorated with that ornament. Is a woman of a good family carried off, when the Bhima-like Svaropur of my father is still in existence? At this very moment shall I go. I shall see what manner of injustice this is. The Indigo frog can never sit on the white waterlily-like constancy of a woman.

Sabitri. Chastity is the store of gold which is given by Providence; it is so valuable that it makes the beggar woman, a queen. If you can rescue this jewel before it is soiled, from the hands of the Indigo monkey, then shall I say that you have actually answered the purpose of my being your mother. Such injustice I never heard of. Now, Ghose Bou, let us go out-side.

---

Khetra. My aunt, don’t speak of such things to me; I can give up my life, but my chastity never; cut me in pieces, burn me in the fire, throw me into the water, and bury me under ground; but as to touching another man that can I never do. What will my husband think?

Podi. Where is your husband now, and where are you? This shall no one know. Within this night, I shall bring you back with me to your mother.

Khetra. Very well, the husband may not know it—but God above will know it, and I shall never be able to throw dust in his eyes. Like the fire of the brick-kiln it will still burn within my breast, and the more my husband shall love me for my constancy, the more my soul shall be tortured. Openly or secretly, I never can take a paramour.

Podi. My child, come, come to the Saheb. Whatever you have to say, say to him. To speak to me is like crying in the wilderness.

Planter Rose. To speak to me is throwing pearls at the hog’s feet. Ha, ha, ha, we Indigo Planters, are become the companions of Death; can our Factories remain, if we have pity? By nature, we are not bad; our evil disposition has increased by Indigo cultivation. Before, we felt sorrow in beating one man; now, we can beat ten persons with the Ramkant (leather strap), making them senseless; and immediately after, we can, with great laughter, take our dinner or supper.

Torap. I will swim over the stream to my house, this night. What more shalt thou hear of my fate; I broke down the window of the Attorney’s stable, and immediately ran off to the Zemindary of Babu Bosonto, and then in the night came to my wife and children. This Planter has stopped every thing; has he left any means for men to live by ploughing? How very terrible are the thrusts of the Indigo? Again, the advice is given to serve for it. Now, Sir, where are your kicks with your shoes on, and your beating on the head? (Thrusts him with his knees).

Nobin. Torap, what is the use of beating him? We ought not to be cruel, because they are so; I am going.

Torap. Do you want to show such ill-usage and bad conduct? Speak to your old father and carry on your business by mutual consent; how long shall your force of hand continue? You shall not be able to do anything, when I shall fly. There is no abuse more horrid than to say, Die! When your destiny shall decide, you shall have to enter the Factory of the Tomb. Just settle our eldest Babu’s account of the last year; and take what he consents to sow of Indigo in the present year. It is owing to you that they have fallen into a state of confusion. It is not merely to load one with advances, but cultivation is necessary. Good evening, our young Saheb. Now, I go. (Throws him about, lying on his back, and flies off.)

---

Sabitri. (With a deep sigh.) O thou cruel Magistrate! Why didst not thou also give me a summons? I would have gone to the zillah with my husband and my child; that would have been far better than remaining in this desert. Ah! my husband always remains in the house, never goes out to another village even on invitation. Is he destined to suffer so much?—The peadahs taking him away, and he himself to go to the jail. Bhagavati, my mother! was there so much in thy mind? Ah! he says, that he can never sleep, but in a room very long and broad; he eats only the boiled Atapa rice;^[29] he takes the food prepared by no other hand but that of the eldest Bou. Ah! he brought out blood out of his breast by severe slaps; he made his eyes swollen by tears; and at the same time, he took his leave, he said this is my going to the side of the Ganges^[30] (weeps). Nobin says, Mother call on Bhagavati. I must return home having gained my object and bring him home also. Ah! the face of my son, like unto that of gold, is blackened; what great troubles for the collection of money! Wandering about without rest, his brain is become like a whirl-pool. Lest I give away the ornaments of the Bous, my son encourages me, saying, My mother, what want of money? What large sum will be necessary for this case? How shall my child grieve, if my ornaments be given in mortgage for our suit on small portions of land! He says, as soon as I get a small sum of money, I shall immediately bring back the ornaments. My son has courage in his tongue and tears in his eyes. Ah! he started with tears in his eyes. My dear Nobin, in this heat of the sun, went to Indrabad; and I, a great sinner, remained confined in my room. Is this the life thy mother spends!

Soirindri. Madam, it is now too late. Now bathe. It is our unfortunate destiny; else, why shall such an occurrence come to pass?

Sabitri. (With tears.) No, my daughter, as long as my Nobin does not return, I shall never give rice and water to my body. Who shall give food to my son?

Soirindri. His brother has a lodging house there, and they have a Brahmin; there will be no disturbance. You had better come and bathe.

Young Bou, you had better rub the oil on her body, and make her bathe, and bring her to the cook-room. Let me go to prepare the place.

Sabitri. My parrot^[31] is become silent; my daughter has no more words in her month; she is faded like a stale flower. Ah! ah! for how long have I not seen Bindu Madhab? I am waiting in expectation that the College will be closed, and my son will come home. But this danger is come (applying her hand on Saralota’s chin). Ah! the mouth of my dear one is dry, I think you have not yet taken any food. While I have fallen into this danger, when shall I examine, whether any have taken their food or not. Let me bathe you, go and take some food. I am also going.

---

Enter Mr. Wood, Mr. Rose, the Magistrate, and An Officer, sitting. Goluk Chunder, Nobin Madhab, Bindu Madhab, the Attorneys of the Plaintiff and the Defendant, the Agent, Nazir, a Bailiff, Servants, Ryots, &c., standing.

Defendant’s Attorney. May the prayer in this application be granted. (Gives the application to the Sheristadar.)

Magistrate. Very well; read it. (Speaks with Mr. Wood, and laughs.)

Sheristadar. (To the Defendant’s Attorney.) You have written here what equals the length of the Ramayan. Can the petition be read without its being in abstract? (Turns to another page of the application).

Magistrate. (Having spoken with Mr. Wood, and concealing his laughter). Read clearly.

Sheristadar. In the absence of the defendant and his attorneys, the evidence is already taken from the witnesses of the plaintiff. We pray that the witnesses of the plaintiff be again called.

Plaintiff’s Attorney. My Lord, it is true that attorneys are given up to lying, deceiving, and forgery; they easily forge and tell lies, and are incessantly engaged in immoral actions. They lead astray married women; and then they themselves enjoy their houses and every thing else. The Zemindars hate the attorneys; but for the effecting their special purposes, they call them, and give them a seat on their couch. My Lord, the very profession of the attorneys is a cheating one. But the attorneys of the Indigo Planters can never deceive. The Indigo Planters are Christians; falsehood is accounted a great sin in the Christian Religion. Stealing, licentiousness, murder, and other actions of that nature are also looked upon as hateful in that religion not taking evil actions into consideration, even forming evil designs in the mind dooms a man to burn in the fire of hell. The main aim of the Christian Religion is to show kindness, to forgive, to be mild and to do good unto others; so, it is by no means probable that the Indigo Planters, who follow such a true and pure religion, ever give false evidence. My Lord, we do serve such Indigo Planters; we have reformed our character according to theirs, and even, if we desire, we can, by no means, teach the witness anything false; since if the Sahebs, the lovers of truth, find the least fault in their servants, they punish them according to the rules of justice. The Amin of the Factory, the witness of the defendant, is an example of that. Because he deprived the ryot of his advances, the kind Saheb drove him from his office; and being angry on account of the cries of the poor ryot, he also beat him severely.

Wood the Planter. (To the Magistrate.) Extreme provocation! Extreme provocation!

Plaintiff’s Attorney. My Lord, many questions were put to my witnesses; had they been witnesses who were prepared ones (perjured) they would have been caught by those very questions. The lawyers have said, “The Judge is as the advocate of the defendant,” consequently the questions to be put by the defendant, are already asked by your Honour. Therefore, there is no probability of any advantage to the defendant, if the witnesses be brought here again; but on the other hand, it will prove very disadvantageous to them. Honored Sir, the witnesses are poor people who live by holding the plough. By the plough they maintain their wives and children; their fields become ruined if they do not remain there for the whole day; so much so, that because it proves a loss to them if they come home, their wives bring boiled rice and refreshments bound in handkerchiefs to them in the fields, and make them eat that. It proves an entire loss to the ryots to come away from the fields for one day; and at such a time, if they be brought to such a distant part of the zillah by summons, then the labours of the whole year will go for nothing. Honored Sir, Honored Sir, do as you think just.

Magistrate. I don’t see any reason for that (as advised by Mr. Wood). There seems no necessity for that.

Defendant’s Attorney. My Lord, the ryots of no village take the advances of the Indigo Planters with their full consent. The Indigo Planter, accompanied by the Amins and servants, or his Dewan, goes on horse-back to the field, marks off the best pieces of land, and orders the preparation of the Indigo. Then the owner of the land brings the ryots to the Factory, and having made known to them the particulars of the matter, takes their signatures for the advances. The ryots, taking the money in advance, come home with tears in their eyes; and the day on which any of them comes home with the money, his house, becomes filled, as it were, with the tears of persons weeping for the death of a relative or friend. On the payment of the Indigo to the Indigo Planter, even if the latter have something still to pay to the farmers above the sum of the advances as the price of that article, yet they keep it in their Account-books that the farmers have still something to pay. The ryots, when they have once taken the advance, will suffer pain for not less than seven generations. The sorrow which the ryots endure in the preparation of the Indigo is known only to themselves and the Great God, the Preserver of the poor. Whenever some sit together, they converse about the advances and inform each other of their respective sums; and also try how to save themselves. They have no necessity for forming plans and mutually taking the advice of each other. Of themselves they are become as mad as the dog who received a blow on the head. The witnesses gave evidence that the ryots were willing to prepare Indigo; but that the person who has engaged me had, by advice and intimidation, stopped their engaging in the preparation of Indigo. This is a very striking and an evident forgery. Honored Sir, once more bring them before the Bench, and your servant will by two questions disclose the falsity of their evidence. I do acknowledge, that Nobin Madhab Bose, the son of Goluk Chunder Bose, who engaged me, tried his utmost to extricate the helpless ryots from the hands of the giant-like Indigo Planters. I do acknowledge this. He also proved himself successful in stopping the tyranny of Mr. Wood; which is known fully by the case which was brought here for the burning of the village of Polaspore. But Goluk Chunder Bose is of a very peaceful character; he fears the Indigo Planters more than the tigers, never engages in any quarrels; at no time injures another, and even is not courageous enough to save another from danger. My Saheb, that Goluk Chunder Bose is a man of a good character, is known to all persons in the zillah, and can be known even by enquiring of the Amlas of the Court.

Goluk. Honored Sir, the whole sum due for my Indigo of the last year was not paid; still only through fear of coming into Court, I consented to take the advance for sixty bigahs of land. My eldest son said, “Father, we have other ways of living; the loss in Indigo for one year or two might stop feasts and religious ceremonies, but will not produce want of food. But those who entirely depend on their ploughs; what means have they? Losing this case if we be obliged again to engage in the Indigo cultivation, all will be obliged to do the same afterwards.” He said this is a wise man; and consequently I told him to make the Saheb, by entreaties and supplications, to agree to fifty bigahs. The Saheb said nothing, neither Yes nor No; and secretly made preparations to bring me in my old age, to gaol. I know that the only way to get happiness is to keep the Sahebs contented; the country is the Saheb’s, the Judges are their brothers and friends; and is it proper to do anything against them? Extricate me, and I make this promise, that if I cannot prepare the Indigo from want of ploughs and kine, I will annually give the Saheb Co.’s Rs. 100 in the place of that. Am I a person to tutor the ryots? Do I meet them?

Defendant’s Attorney. Honored Sir, of the four ryots who came as witnesses, one is of the Tikiri caste; he has no knowledge of what a plough is; he has no lands and no rents to pay; has no kine and no cow-house; and this can be best known by proper examination. Kanai Torofdar is a ryot of a different village; and as to our Babu he has no acquaintance with him. For these reasons we do pray that these men be brought again. The legislators have said, before the decision, the defendant ought to be supplied with all proper means. Saheb, if this my prayer be granted, I shall have no more reasons for complaint.

Plaintiff’s Attorney. Saheb.

Magistrate. (Writes a letter.) Speak, speak; I am not writing from hearsay.

Plaintiff’s Attorney. Saheb, if at this time, the ryots be brought here they will suffer great loss; else, I, also, would have prayed for their being brought here again, since the offences of the defendant which are already proved, may receive stronger confirmation. Sir, the bad character of Goluk Chunder Bose is known throughout the country; he who benefits him, in return, receives injuries. The Indigo Planters crossing the immeasurable ocean have come to this land, and have brought out its secret wealth; have done great benefit to the country, have increased the royal treasure, and have profited themselves. What place, besides the prison, can best befit a person who thus opposes the great actions of these noble men.

Magistrate. (Writes the address.) Chaprasi!

Chaprasi. Sir! (Comes to the Saheb.)

Magistrate. (Advises with Mr. Wood.) Give this to Mrs. Wood. Tell the Khansamah, the Saheb, who is come here, will not go to-day.

Sheristadar. Sir, what orders are to be written?

Magistrate. Let it remain within the Nathi or Court documents.

Sheristadar. (Writes.) It is ordered that it remains within the Nathi (signed by the Magistrate). Saheb, thou hast not yet made a signature on the orders to the reply of the defendant.

Magistrate. Read it.

Sheristadar. It is ordered, that the defendant is to give Co.’s Rs. 200, or two persons as security, and that the subpœnas be sent to the truthful witnesses. (The Magistrate gives the signature).

Magistrate. Bring the case of the robbery in Mirghan to the Court to-morrow.

Sheristadar. Nazir, take the security-bond from the defendant properly.

Nazir. (To the Defendant’s Attorney.) How can we write now, while it is evening; moreover, I am somewhat busy now.

Defendant’s Attorney. The name is great, but in property there is nothing (speaks with the Nazir.) This money they will give by selling the ornaments.

Nazir. I have no estates, have no trade nor lands for cultivation. This is my whole stock. It is for your sake only that I have agreed to take Rupees 100. Let us go to our lodging. Be careful that the Dewan does not hear this. Have not they got something as their own.

---

Nobin. I am now obliged to go home. My mother will die as soon as she hears of this. What more shall I do now for you? See that our father does not suffer great sorrow. I have now determined on leaving our habitation. I shall sell off everything, and send the money. Whoever wants any sum, I will give him that.

Bindu. The Darogah does not want money; only, for fear of the Magistrate, he does not allow the cooking Brahmin to be taken there.

Nobin. Give him money and also entreat him. Ah! His[A] body is old; he has been without food for three days! I explained to him, and entreated him greatly. He says, “Nobin, let three days pass and then shall I think, whether I shall take food or not; within these three days, I shall not take any thing.”

Bindu. I do not find any means, how I can be able to make my father take some boiled rice. The hand which he has placed on his eyes from the time when the Magistrate, the slave of the Indigo Planters, ordered him to be kept in the prison, that hand he has not yet removed. The hand is filled with the tears; and the piece where he was made to sit down at first, is still that where he now is. Being entirely silent, and remaining weak in body and without power to move, he is become like a dead pigeon in this cagelike prison. This day is the fourth, and to-day I must make him take food. You had better go home, and I shall send a letter every day.

Nobin. O God, what great sorrow art thou giving to our father! If they do allow you, my dear Bindu, to remain day and night in the prison; then can I quietly go to our house.

Sadhu. Let me steal, and you bring me before the Court as a thief. I will make the confession; they will put me in prison; then I will be best able to serve my master.

Nobin. O Sadhu! Thou art the actual Sadhu (the honest man). Ah! you are now very sorry on learning the deadly sorrow of Khetromani; and the sooner I can take you home the better.

Sadhu. (Deep sigh.) My eldest Babu! Shall I see my daughter on my return. I have none other.

Bindu. If you make her take that draught which I gave you, she must be cured by that. The Doctor heard every particular of her disease, and has given that medicine.

D. Inspector. Bindu Babu, Mr. Commissioner has written very urgently about releasing your father.

Bindu. There is no doubt the Lieutenant-Governor will grant him release.

Nobin. After what time can the notice of the release come?

Bindu. It will not be more than fifteen days.

D. Inspector. The Deputy Magistrate of Amaranagara gave an order of imprisonment for six months to a certain Mooktyar according to this law; but he had to remain for sixteen days in the gaol.

Nobin. Shall such a time ever come, that the Governor, becoming friendly, destroy the evil desires of the unfriendly Magistrate?

Bindu. There is a God, the Lord of the Universe; and he must do it. Sir, you had better start, for there is a long way to go.

D. Inspector. Alas! The two brothers, burnt up by these anxieties, have, as it were, become dead, while living. The order of release from the Lieutenant-Governor will be as the restoration of life to them. Babu Nobin Chunder is of a brave spirit, does good to others, is very munificent, a great improver of learning, and also of a patriotic mind; but the mist of the cruel Indigo Planters withered all his good qualities in the bud.

Welcome, Sir!

Pundit. My body is naturally somewhat of a warm nature. I cannot hear the sunshine. The heat of the sun makes me, as it were, mad in the months of March, April, and May. I had a very severe head-ache for a few days; and was not able to attend Bindu Madhab at all.

D. Inspector. The Vishnu Toila (a kind of oil) can do you some good. The oil is prepared for Babu Vishnu, and to-morrow I shall send some to your house.

Pundit. I am much obliged to you for that. A man of a healthy constitution becomes mad by teaching children; such am I.

D. Inspector. Why don’t we see our elder Pundit any more?

Pundit. He is now trying some means to leave this doggish service. While his good son is making some acquisition of property, the family will be maintained like that of a King. It does not seem good for him now to go to and come from the College looking with his books under his arm like a bull bound to the cart. He is now of age.

Bindu. The Pundit is come.

Pundit. Did the sinful creature show so much injustice? You did not hear it; at Christmas he spent ten days continually in that Factory. The ryot is to have justice from him! Can the Hindu celebrate his religious services before the Kazi (the Mahomedan judge)?judge)?

Bindu. The decree of Providence.

Pundit. Whom did you appoint as Muktyar?

Bindu. Prandhan Mullik.

Pundit. Why did you appoint him as your Muktyar? It would have been better if you had engaged some other person. “All Gods are equal. To make a separation from the wicked, the village becomes empty.”^[32]

Bindu. The Commissioner has made a report to the Government recommending the release of my father.

Pundit. One is ashes and so is the other; as is the Magistrate such is the Commissioner.

Bindu. Sir, you know not the Commissioner; and, therefore, you spoke thus of him. The Commissioner is very impartial, and is always desirous of the improvement of the natives.

Pundit. Whatever that be; now if, through the blessing of God, your father be released, then all shall be well. In what condition is he in the gaol?

Bindu. He is shedding tears day and night, and for the last three days has taken no food. Just now I shall go to the gaol, and shall make him happy by giving him this good news.

Art thou a chaprasi of the gaol?

Chaprasi. Sir, come quickly to the goal. The Darogah has called you.

BinduBindu. Have you seen my father this day?

Chaprasi. Come, Sir. I cannot say anything.

BinduBindu. Come, Sir (to the Pundit). I don’t suppose all good. I go.

Pundit. Yes; let us all go. I think some bad accident has taken place.

---

The dead body of Goluk Chunder swinging, bound by his outer garment twisted like a rope; the Darogah of the Gaol and the Jamadar sitting.

Darogah. Who is gone to call Babu Bindu Madhab?

Jamadar. Manirodi is gone there. Till the Doctor comes, we cannot bring it down.

Darogah. Did not the Magistrate say, he will come here this day?

Jamadar. No, Sir, he has four days more to come. At Sachigunge on Saturday, they have a Champagne-party and ladies’ dance. Mrs. Wood can never dance with any other, but our Saheb; and I saw that, when I was a bearer. Mrs. Wood is very kind: through the influence of one letter, she got me the Jamadary of the Jail.

Darogah. Ah! The father of Babu Bindu Madhab expressed great sorrow at his not getting food. When Babu Bindu sees this, he will quit life.

All things are by the will of God.

Bindu. What is this! What is this! Ah! ah! My father is dead while bound above ground with a rope! I was coming to try some means for his release. What sorrow! (places his own head on the breast of the dead body, then clasps the corpse, and weeps). Oh father! Hast thou at once broken the ties of affection towards us? Shalt thou no more praise Bindu before other men for his English education? Calling Nobin Madhab by the name of “Bhima^[33] of Svaropur;” is that now put at an end? You have now made a treaty with Bipin (the son of Nobin) with whom you always had a quarrel, saying to the eldest Bou, “My mother, my mother.” Ah! as in the case of a heron and its mate, with their young ones flying in the air, in search of food, if the heron be killed by a fowler, the mate with her young ones falls into great danger, so shall my mother be when she hears of your being put to death, while hung above ground by a rope.

Darogah. (Bringing Babu Bindu aside by taking hold of his hands.) Babu Bindu do not be so impatient now. Get the permission of the Doctor, and try to take the corpse soon to the Amritaghata.

Bindu. Darogah, do not speak of anything to me. Whatever consultation you have to make, make that with the Pundit and the Deputy Inspector. Through sorrow, I have lost the power of speech; let me take my father’s feet once on my breast. (Sits up, taking the feet of Goluk on his breast.)

Pundit. (To the Deputy Inspector.) Let me take Bindu Madhab on my lap; you had better unloose the rope. It is never proper to keep such a godly body in this hell.

Darogah. It will be necessary to wait for a short time.

Pundit. Are you the chowkidar of hell, else why have you such a character?

DarogahDarogah. Sir, you are wise, you are reproaching me.

Doctor. Ho! Ho! Bindu Madhab! God’s will. The Pundit is come. Bindu must not leave the College.

Pundit. It is not proper for Bindu to leave the College.

Bindu. As to our estates and possessions, we have lost every thing; at last, our father has left us beggars (weeps); how can studying be any more carried on?

Pundit. The Indigo Planters have taken away the all of Bindu Madhab and his family.

Doctor. I have heard of these Planters from the Missionaries and also I have seen them myself. Once as I was coming from a certain Planter’s Factory at Matanagara, while I was sitting in a village, two ryots of the place were passing by the side of my palanquin; one of them had some milk with him, which I wanted to buy. Immediately, one whispered to the other, “The Indigo giant, the Indigo giant.” Then having left the milk, they ran off. I asked another ryot, and he said, that these persons ran off for fear of being compelled to take advances for Indigo; and as I had taken the advance, what reason is there for going to his godown. I understood, he took me for a planter; I gave the milk into that ryot’s hand, and went away from the place.

D. Inspector. A certain Missionary was passing through a village within the concern of Mr. Vally. As soon as the ryots saw him, they began to cry aloud, “The Indigo ghost is come out, the Indigo ghost is come out;” and having left that path, flew into their own houses. But as the ryots found, by and by, the bounty, mildness, and forgiving temper of these gentlemen, they began to wonder; and as much as the Missionaries showed heartfelt sorrow for the tortures which the poor people suffered from the Indigo Planters, so much the more they began to love them, and to have faith in them. Now the ryots say to each other, “All bamboos are of one tuft; but of one is made the frame of the Goddess Durga, and of another the sweepers basket.”

Pundit. Let us take away the dead body.

Doctor. We must be sharp. You can bring it out.