Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-13

The authorities will take proceedings
against only those whom we have
chosen to bear the brunt. I wish they
would prosecute me, for this would in
spire confidence in the persons for
whom I am working. The more lenient
the government is to me. the more In
clined will the BrahminS Of Manga
lore be to consider me a renegade.
Whether T openly attack the members
of the prieStly caste, or show forbear-
ance toward them, I am just as likely
to be misunderstood. 1t is far from
easy to walk straight forward through
a dark forest"
Another brilliant day dawned over
Mangalore. Before the Jul had tipped
with gold the submits of the brown
pagodas, I was riding through the
swampy mangrove thickets along the
lower reaches of the river, accompanied
by Panya, who had a foreboding OF dam
ger and would not let me out OF his
the plants. all seemed strange to me. I
was reminded of the day I left Can
nanore upon my pilgrimage through the
jungle. .
AS the light grew stronger, men,
cries and images of this journey
Surged through my mind. / thought Of
its joys and sorrows, and of my never
ceasing desire to make this country my
home, and to acquire those ties which
lead through intimacy to love. Hue,
the monkey Of my vision, was once
again seated in front of me, prophetic
and wise, wearied by the hopes of suf-
fering cre~atureS-hopeS that are as old
as the destinies of the earth.
Was it the unrest, the hatred and
bitterness Of my new acquaintances,
was 1t their petty and yet important
interests, that had destroyed the faith
in harmony that contact with virgin
nature and the expanse of ocean had
aroused in my mind? Never had I felt
more hopelessly astray in the world of
busy human activities than on this par
ticular morning.
1t all behind me-: to seek once again the
green shadows of the wilderness. There,
perhaps, my physical welfare might be
endangered, but for my soul there would
open the pathway that leads to peace.
Soon, however, ! began to feel that
this longing was merely the expression
OF an impulse toward flight. 7 began
to feel that there were duties awaiting
me in another land: in q realm with
whose forces and aims I was associated
by birth and training. For the first
oAAlC oitci oCfCIdl years, my eyes CuTIeQ
homeWardS across the sea.
7 recalled that the man with whom
FOR some time I had been peculiarly in
that his own race was decadent; I re-
membered that he had spoken with en-
thusiasm OF the future that awaited my
own people; and I felt the vigor of his
faith glowing in my mind with the
promise OF a mighty heritage.
The Incidents of the day accorded
with Mangeshe RAGS expectations. At
noon a subaltern accompanied by three
privates called at the house. He dis
charged his duty with as much self
Importance as If he had been the King
moniously asked for my pocket-knife. I
handed 1t him with a flourish. as IL I
had been surrendering a sword. He
could not helf laughing. but he fully re-
suned his Official manner when the
papers were discovered, and at his re-
quest I accompanied him to head
quarters in a bullock cart.
After this invasion of the private
rights Of a number Of the inhabitants of
Mangalore, the military mission had
suddenly assumed a far more important
aspect. From the windows Of Govern
ment House I could see the low, angu-
uar outlines of a gunboat, black and
threatening on the quiet, blue sea, as II
sketched with charcoal. The courtyard
OF, the building was SWarming with SOL
diers. For a moment I was seriously
concerned about Mangeshe Rao's fate.
When we are not behind the scenes,
immediate impressions are peculiarly
forcible. T was haunted by the memory
of Panya's pale visage when had left
him standing as II petrified at the gar
den gate. ! did not know whether he
had understood my parting words that
he was to expect me home in the eve
ming, and I was seriously afraid lest he
should commit some piece Of heroic
stupidity.
I was kept waiting two hours. Then
the collector appeared, accompanied by
the English colonel. to whom the civilian
official was surety for my innocence.
Obviously my cas- had been fully dis
cussed.
The collector was a~pologetic, though
q tri1e annoyed. He remembered that
it was through his instrumentality that
I had made Mangeshe RAGS acquaint-
ance, and he did not think there had
been time for me to develop into a dan
gerous conspirator.
The impression produced on my mind
was that Mangeshe Rao was to be
shielded. A private was sent to fetch
my horse, and ] was dismissed with
scant ceremony.
Panya welcomed my return with de-
light, a little ashamed of his fears now
that I had come back safe and sound.
But neither his joy nor my own Keller
put an end to my anxiety.