Evening star., 1928-12-23

Minis, in all concerns of their domestic
! life. The white rulers have learned
| that the existence of caste divisions
and divergent customs makes it easier
to govern the country. Few as they
are in numbers when compared with
the natives, they form a united and
compact society which is more potent
than the most powerful of the castles.
| X n X
T BETHOUGHT myself that I could
look for no protection from gov
ernment by whose canons such action
as designed would be most emphati-
| cally condemned-all the more II the
aggressor were a German.
| Nevertheless, was determined to
carry out my design, and I decided to
| send Panya to the king early in the
morning to request an audience. 1t is
remarkable how much easier We find it
| to do cruel or unjust things than to
| tolerate them when done by others.
| Throughout a sleepless night, spent
in the oppressive heat under a mosquito
net the thought of the miseries of this
/ imprisoned woman inspired me with
intense wrath against her tormentor.
| The next day I went to interview
| the king.
You are keeping woman prisoner
in your garden" said roughly. 1T is
unworthy of a great prince to treat a
| helpless creature thus. demand that
| you should set her free, Instantly"
| For moment the Hindu sovereign
was nonplussed. Then he assumed a
| supple manner, simultaneously obSti-
| nate and deferential, while continuing
| to display ceremoniousneSs that
would have wearied the patience of a
saint. Panya was extremely serious,
and translated everything literally. I
| felt that on the present occasion he
shrank from taking any responsibility.
81 see that you are unwilling 20
comply with my request" I said, so I
must remind you of the law of the
government which forbids murder and
Furnishes it with DEATH"
The king turned pale. and his lips
trembled; but his manner remained
friendly, and he endeavored to convince
me that he had inflicted no more than
trif1ing punishment which was well
within his rights. Besides, was inter-
ceding without knowing anything of
the woman'S offenSe Thinking I was
English, he said he was aware that the
British were severe, but never yet had
he had reason to doubt their justice.
He would more readily believe that an
unjust man was not an EngllShman,
than that an EngliShman could COM
nit an injustice.
Once more did I grasp the cunning
and tenacity of these people; once
again did l realize the crafty manner
in which they can make a weapon of
the most trifling doubt, without ostensi-
bly, giving offense.
Strictly speaking, it behooved me to
give way, pending an examination into
the rights Of the matter, or until had
heard why the punishment had been
inflicted. But the fact that I had been
| driven into a corner made me angry
instead OF circumSpect, and I therefore
retorted in anger:
IF the British had learned their JUS
tice from Indian princes you would find
| yourself behind that grating before
had made my way back to Bombay"
1t is not my usual practice to treat
kings so rudely, but after my opening
moves, this was the only possible
course. / saw in Panyas face that he
thought my rejoinder good one. He
| now stepped forward and said quietly:
THE prisoners legs from the knees
downward have been gnawed by the
ants"
| The king made Panya no answer. He
looked straight in front of him, as If the
affair had suddenly ceased to interest
him, and at my opponents change of
manner fear for the first time stole into
my heart I felt that he was meditating
the use of force. against which spiritual
weapons are of no avail His was the
image of the outward dispassionatenesS
In which evil, at bay. meditates perfidy.
u Will set the prisoner free, Sahib,
he said quietly.
In his weary eyes there cleaned the
dark poison of the jungle night, hatred
OF the foreigner, and the racial animos-
ity OF an oppressed nationality. Il
X X
DEEMED it prudent to be satisfied
with the concession and to wait the
| issue. I therefore took leave of the
king, and at our parting we outvied one
another in ceremoniouS politeneSs. /
had the tent struck and made all prep
arationS for departure. but was fixed in
my resolve not to embark until I had
learned of the event.
hardly had time to wonder whether |
barrassing, for ere the last box had |
been packed, two of the kings retainers |
brought the prisoner. The young /
woman wore white saree. She walked
slowly and with difficulty. When she
stood before me, little more than her
eyes was visible. and the look of terror
in them utterly disconnected me. i
Panya began to talk to her. and with
great difficulty was at length able to
make her understand that she owed her
liberation to us, and that she was free I
to 60 wherever she pleased.
She sank to the ground in her eX-
lauStiOn. continually closing her ewes