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CHAPTER XI.

1847-50.

IN January 1847 I lost my faithful friend and manager of one of the largest of my districts, Bulram Singh, who had been an officer of my police in 1827-29. He was one of the best natives I ever knew, most faithful and intelligent. The district under his charge was the worst in the country; but he had managed it wellhad encouraged the people to increase cultivation-and had laid a good foundation of eventual prosperity. With his last breath he committed his wife and children to my care.

On my return to camp I had to wait till daylight at a village about half-way, which I reached in the evening. The good old mother of the patell being sure, as she said, that I was very tired, had prepared a delicious warm bath for me, and a most abundant and well-cooked supper, consisting of various capital dishes of vegetables and light jowaree cakes. The family were strict Hindoos, and did not eat meat. They had also got ready a comfortable bed, with fresh clean sheets and pillows. This spontaneous hospitality touched me very much; and it was just the same wherever I travelled.

As the Resident had applied to me to report what

1847.1

REVENUE SURVEY.

187

kind of a revenue survey would be necessary for the country, I selected a village of average size, and began a regular survey of it, field by field, partly by cross-staff and chain, and partly by prismatic compass, for I had no theodolite, and finished all, including the map, myself; and then forwarded the whole of the papers, fieldbooks, and registries of proprietors to the Resident, with a report.

I was, however, in no hurry to begin a survey. I considered it would be time enough when the present settlement was at an end, as many of the occupants had measured out their own lands, and were becoming more and more correct. This season was the coolest I had ever felt in the Deccan. I find on the 25th February the thermometer varied from 68° to 76° in my tents, and at Poona there had been a frost. It did not, however, last long, and was succeeded by extreme heat.

In March the Rajah's youngest sister, a very pretty little girl of six years old, was married to the Rajah of Soondee, near Madras, aged twenty. He was a courteous, well-bred young man, and the little child was a great pet among us all, so pretty, and very fair, even rosy in cold weather, and quick and clever too. was being educated in Teloogoo, and her favourite book was extracts from the 'Pilgrim's Progress,' which, indeed, was liked by all classes at Shorapoor, and there were occasional readings of portions of it by the Brahmins.

As head of the State, and in loco parentis, I had to perform all ceremonies, except going to the temples, and others of a purely religious character. I wanted the parties to wait till the child was thirteen or fourteen, but her affianced could not delay, as he wrote to me to say he could not be installed as Rajah of Soondee

while he was single; and as royal families of Beydurs were very scarce, he was forced to take this child. There was no use preaching in such matters, so I remained neutral, and allowed them to do as they thought proper themselves. The Ranee came to me for 20,000 rupees for the expenses of the ceremony; I could but refer the request to the Resident, who would sanction only 3000 rupees expenditure by the State, and the Ranee was very much disgusted.

In May the Rajah had another terrible fever, and narrowly escaped death. He was brought up to my house for change of air, when a turn for the better came, and he recovered. If I could have kept him with me longer I would have done so, as the clear cool air on my hill would have renewed his strength, and he much preferred being with me, as his mother's horrible profligacy and want of chastity shocked him terribly: but this he could only tell me secretly, and weep bitterly, poor boy, at the shame it cast upon him.

My report for the revenue year past, 1256 Faslee, was considered by the Resident to be "eminently satisfactory;" but it is too long for insertion here, and too full of local questions to be interesting to the general reader. The result of the accounts was as follows:

At last I had a lakh in the treasury! safe after all

payments, including tribute to the Nizam.

1847.]

A STRANGE INTERVIEW.

189

About this time I had a very strange interview with the Ranee. She had been ailing for some days, and reports were rife as to the cause of her illness, which were disgraceful enough. However, she sent for me early one morning, having, as her servant said, passed a sleepless night, and being very much excited and troubled in her mind. As soon as I had taken my

breakfast I went to her. in her private room, seemingly very restless and in pain, moaning incessantly, but apparently dozing. I sat down in the outer room, as I did not wish to disturb her, and the little Rajah came to me crying bitterly.

I found her lying on her bed

"She is going to die, she says," he whispered. "She has abused me shamefully. She says I am not my father's child, and bade me go away. Where am I to go to? What am I to do? Indeed I am so frightened, and you are the only one I can look to. I have hidden all her shame and my own, and this is too much! I fear for my life!"

I comforted him as well as I was able, and told him I would bring his mother to reason if I could, and that if he really continued frightened, he should come to my house or go to the cottage at Bohnal. As we were speaking, I heard the Ranee call loudly

"Is he come? Is Taylor Sahib here?"

I went in at once. She was still excited, and her breathing seemed oppressed. I really thought she was dying, and she complained of being "all on fire inside." I had brought a small bottle of sal-volatile with me, and asking for one of her silver drinking-cups, dropped into it what was requisite; and when one of her attendants had added water, she drank it up, and fell back upon her pillows. After a time she roused herself, and

desired one of her servants to go for the purohit or family priest.

"I am dying," she said, "and must tell you all. You are the head of the family and the State, and should know everything."

When the priest arrived—a man I knew very well, as he was always in attendance, and one of the professors, as it were, in the Brahmin Sanscrit College—the Ranee told him to bring a certain box which contained the secret papers of the house; and when he had brought it she unloosed the key from a necklace she had on, and bade him open it. The man demurred.

66 These papers have never been seen by any one but my lord the Rajah, who is gone to heaven, yourself, and me. No one else knows of them," he cried; "why should you show them to Taylor Sahib ?"

The Ranee sat up straight in her bed, and glared at him. I had never seen such a look on any human face before.

"Do as you are told," she cried, savagely; "what is it to you what I do?”

The Shastree trembled all over, and without speaking he unlocked the padlock and opened the lid. The first thing I saw was a roll tied with red silk.

"Tell him first about that," said the Ranee, and fell back again.

"It is not fit you should hear it," said the Shastree, who spoke both Mahratta and Hindostanee fluently.

"It is the Rajah's horoscope which I wrote. The moment he was born I noted the time, and the conjunction of planets, and the result was bad."

"Yes, it is bad!" cried the Ranee, seizing my arm, as I was sitting on the ground by her bedside-"it is