lifornia onal ity NIL DARPAN; THE INDIGO PLANTING MIRROR, JUrama. TRANSLATED FROM THE BENGALI A NATIVE. CAL CUTTA : C. H. MANUEL, CALCUTTA PRINTING AND PUBLISHING PRESS, No. 10, WESTOX'S LANE, COSSITOLLAH* 1861. Tukcik S fa 2* rt -,.. NIL DARPAN, THE INDIGO PLANTING MIRROR, Brama, TRANSLATED FROM THE BENGALI A NATIVE. CAL CUTTA .- C. H. MANUEL, CALCUTTA PRINTING AND PUBLISHING PRESS, No. 10, WESTON'S LANE, COSSITOLLAJI. 1861. INTBODUCTION. THE original Bengali of this Drama the NIL DARPAN, OR INDIGO PLANTING MIRROR having excited considerable in- terest, a wish was expressed by various Europeans to see a translation of it. This has been madefy a Native ; both the original and translation are bond fide Native productions and depiclthe Indigo Plan ting System as viewed by Natives at large. The Drama is the favourite mode with the Hindus for describing certain states of society, manners, customs. Since the days of Sir W. Jones, by scholars at Paris, St. Peters- burgh, and London, the Sanskrit Drama has, in this point of view, been highly appreciated. The Bengali Prama imitates in this respect its Sanskrit parent. The evils of Kulin Brahminism, widow marriage prohibition, quackery, fanaticism, have been depicted by it with great effect. Nor has the system of Indigo planting escaped notice : hence the origin of this work, the NIL DARPANT, which, though exhibiting no marvellous or very tragic scenes, yet, in simple homely language, gives the " annals of the poor ;" pleads the cause of those who are the feeble ; it describes a respectable ryot, a peasant proprietor, happy with his family in the enjoyment of his land till the Indigo System compelled him to take advances, to neglect his own land, to cultivate crops which beggared him, reducing him to the condition of a serf and a vagabond ; the effect of this on his home, children, and relatives are pointed out in language, plain but true ; it shows how arbitrary power debases the lord as well as the peasant ; reference is also made to the partiality of various Magistrates in favor of Planters and to the Act of last year penally enforcing Indigo contracts. 2021470 Attention has of late years been directed by Christian Philanthropists to the condition of the ryots of Bengal, their teachers, and the oppression which they suffer, and the con- clusion arrived at is, that therels little prospect or possibility of ameliorating the mental, moral, or spiritual condition of the ryot without giving him security of landed-tenure. If the Bengal ryot is to be treated as a serf, or a mere squatter or day-labourer, the missionary, the school-master, even the Developer of the resources of India, will find their work like that of Sisyphus vain and useless. Statistics have proved that in France, Switzerland, Hg"land, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Saxony, the education of the peasant, along with the security of tenure he enjoys on his small farms, has encouraged industrious, temperate, virtuous, and cleanly habits, fostered a respect for property, increased social comforts, cherished a spirit of healthy and active independence, improved the cultivation of the land, lessened pauperism, and has rendered the people averse to revolu- tion, and friends of order. Even Russia is carrying out a grand scheme of serf-emancipation in this spirit. It is the earnest wish of the writer of these lines that harmony may be speedily established Jbetween the Planter and the Ryot, that mutual interests may bind the two classes together, and that the European may be in the Mofussil the protecting ^Egis of the peasants, who may be able " to sit eaph man under his mango and tamarind tree, none daring to make him afraid/' THE AUTHOK'S PEEFACE. I PRESENT " The Indigo Planting Mirror " to the Indigo Planters' hands ; now, let every one of them, having ob- served his face, erase the freckle of the stain of selfishness from his forehead, and, in its stead, place on it the sandal powder of beneficence, then shall I think my labour success- ful, Jfcod fortune for the helpless class of ryots, and preser- vation of England's honor. Oh, ye Indigo Planters ! Your malevolent conduct has brought a stain upon the English Nation, which was so graced by the ever-memorable names of Sydney, Howard, Hall, and other great men. Is your desire for money so very powerful, that through the instigation of that vain wealth, you are engaged in making holes like rust in the long acquired and pure fame of the British people ? Abstain now from that unjust conduct through which you are raising immense sums as your profits ; and then the poor people, with their families, will be able to spend their days in ease. You are now-a-days purchasing things worth a hundred rupees by expending only ten ; and you well know what great trouble the ryots are suffering from that. Still you are not willing to make that known, being entirely given up to the acquisition of money. You say, that some amongst you give donations to schools, and also medicine in time of need but the Planters' donations to schools are more odious than the application of the shoe for the destruction of a milch cow, and their grants of medicine are like unto mixing the in- spissated milk in the cup of poison. If the application of a little turpentine after being beat by Shamchaud,* be forming a dis- * Shamchand is an instrument made of leather, used by the Planters for beating the ryots. B ( 2 ) pensary, then it may be said that in every factory there is a dispensary. The Editors of two daily newspapers are filling their columns with your praises ; and whatever other people may think, you never enjoy pleasure from it, since you know fully the reason of their so doing. What a surprising power of attraction silver has ? The detestable Judas gave the great Preacher of the Christian religion, Jesus, into the hands of odious Pilate for the sake of thirty rupees; what wonder then, if the pro- prietors of two newspapers, becoming enslaved by the hope of gaining one thousand rupees, throw the poor helpless people of this land into the terrible grasp of your mouths. But misery and happiness revolve like a wheel, and that the sun of fcappi- ness is about to shed his light on the people of this country, is becoming veiy probable. The most kind-hearted Queen Vic- toria, the mother of the people, thinking it unadvisable to suckle her children through maid-servants, has now taken them on her own lap to nourish them. The most learned, intelligent, brave, and open-hearted Lord Canning is now the Governor- General of India ; Mr. Grant, who always suffers in the suf- ferings of his people, and is happy when they are happy, who punishes the wicked and supports the good, has taken charge of the Lieutenant-Governorship, and other persons, as Messrs. Eden, Herschel, etc., who are. all well-known for their love of truth, for their great experience and strict impartiality, are continually ex- panding themselves lotus-like on the surface of the lake of the Civil Service. Therefore, it is becoming fully evident that these great men will very soon take hold of the rod of justice in order to stop the sufferings which the ryots are enduring from the great giant Baku, the Indigo Planter. PERSONS OF THE DRAMA. GOLUK CHUNDER BASU. NOBIN MADHAB 7 , , _ >8ons of Goluk Chunder. BINDU MADHAB 3 SADHU CHURN A neighbouring Ryot RAY CHURN Sadhu'a brother. Gqji CHURN DAS The Dewan. J. J. WOOD ) T 7 . D7 } Indiqo Planters. P. P. ROSE J THE AJVIIN OR LAND MEASURER. A KHALASI, a Tent-pitcher. TAIDGIR Native Superintendent of Indigo Cultivation. Magistrate, Amla, Attorney, Deputy Inspector, Pundit, Keeper of the Gaol, Doctor, a Cow-keeper, a Native Doctor, Four Boys, a Latyal or Club-man, and a Herdsman. WOMEN. SABITRI Wife of Goluk Chunder. SOIRINDRI Wife of Nobin. SARALOTA Wife of Bindu Madhab. REBOTI Wife of Sadhu Churn. KHETROMANI Daughter of Sadhu. ADURI Maid-servant in Goluk Chunder 's house. PODI MOYRANI A Sweetmeat Maker. FIRST ACT FIKST SCENE. SVAROPUR GOLUK CHUNDER's GOLA OR STORE-HOUSE. GOLUK CHUNDER BASU and SADHU CHURN sitting. Sadhu. Master I told you then we cannot live any more in this country. You did not hear me however. A poor man's ivord bears fruit after the lapse of years. Goluk. O my child ! Is it easy to leave one's country ? My family has been here for seven ^nerations. The lands Avhich our fore-fathers rented have enabled us never to acknow- led

ah.-f* By the produce of only one corner of the field, we satisfied the mahajans. What shall we eat now, and what shall our children take ? This large family may die without food. Every morning two recas (nearly 5 fts) of rice are necessary. What shall we eat then ? Oh, my Ill-for- tune ! Ill-fortune (burnt forehead ) ! what has the Indigo of this white man done ? Sadhu. We were living in the hope of cultivating those bigahs of land ; and now, if these are gone, then what use is there of remaining here any more. And the one or two bigahs which are become saltish, they yield no produce. Again, the ploughs are to remain in the Indigo-field ; and what can we do. Don't weep now ; to-morrow we shall sell off the ploughs and cows, leave this village, and go and live in the Zemin- dary of Babu Basanta. KHETROMANI and REBOTI enter with water. Now, drink the water, drink the water ; what do you fear ? He who has given life, will provide also food. Now, what did you say to the Amin ? Ray. What can I say ? He began to mark off the ground, on which it seemed as if he began to thrust burnt sticks * Here the word is used sarcastically ; and is taken to mean the brother of the wife. t The name of a beautiful yellow flower. 10 NIL DARPAN, OR into my breast, I entreated, holding him by his feet, and wanted to give him money ; but he heard nothing. He said, go to your eldest Babu ; go to your father. When I returned, I only punished him with saying, " I shall bring this before the Court/' (Seeing the Amin at a distance.) Just see, that villain (Shdld) is coming; he has brought servants with him, and will take us to the Factory. The AMIN and the two Servants enter. Amin. Bind the hands of this villain. k (Ray Churn is bound by the two Servants.) Reboti. Oh ! What is this ? Why do they bind him ? What ruin ! What ruin ! (to Sadhu) Why do you stand looking on ? Go to the house of the Babus, and call the eldest Babu here. Amin. (To Sadhu.} Where shalt thou go now ? You are also to go with me. To take advances is not the business of Ray. We shall have much to bear with if we are to make signature by cross marks. And because you know how to read and to write, therefore you must go and make the signatures in the Factory Account-book. Sadhu. Sir, do you call this giving advances for Indigo ; would it not be better to call it the cramming down Indigo ?* Oh ! my Ill-fortune, you are still with me. That very blow through fear of which I fled, I have to bear again. This land was as the Kingdom of Rama before Indigo was established ; but the ignorant fool is become a beggar, and famine has come upon the land. Amin. (To himself, observing Khetromani^) This young woman is not bad-looking; if our younger Saheb can get her, he will, with his whole heart, take her. But * There is a play here on the words Dddan and Gddan. INDIGO PLANTING MIRROR. 11 white I was unable to succeed in getting a peshkar's (over- seer's) post by giving him my own sister, what can I expect from getting him this woman ; but still she is very beautiful ; I will try. Reboti. Khetra, go into the room. (Khetromani goes away.) Amin. Now, Sadhu, if you want to come in a proper manner, come with me to the Factory. (Going forward.) Reboti. Oh Amin ! have you no wKe nor children ? Have you kept only the plough, and this beating (mdrpit) ? Did he no% want to drink a little water ? By this time he ought to take a second meal, how can he then, without taking any food, go to the Saheb's house which is at such a distance. I ask for the Saheb's grace ; just let him have some food ; and then take him away. Oh ! he is so very much troubled for his wife and his children. Oh ! he is shedding tears, his face is be- come dry. What are you doing ? To what a burnt-up land am I come ? Destruction has come upon me both in life and money. Oh ! Oh ! Oh ! I am gone both in life and money. (Weeps.) Amin. Oh, stupid woman ! Now stop your grunting. If you want to give water, bring it soon ; else I shall take him away. (Ray Churn drinks water ; exit all.) EIEST ACT THIKD SCENE. THE FACTORY OF BEGUNBARI. THE VERANDA OF THE LARGE BUNGALOW. Enter J. J. WOOD and GOPI CHURN DAS, the Dewan. Oopi. What fault have I done, my Lord ? You are observing me day by day. I begin to move about early in the morning, and return home at three o'Clock in the afternoon. 12 NIL DARPAN, OR Again, immediately after taking dinner, I sit down to look over papers about Indigo advances ; and that takes my time to twelve and sometimes to one o'Clock in the night. Wood. You, rascal, are very inexperienced. There are no advances made in Svaropur, Shamanagar, and Santighata villages. You will never learn without Shamchand, (the leather strap). Gopi. My Lord I am your servant. It is through favour only that you have raised me from the peshkdri business to the Dewani. You are my only Lord, you can either kill me or can cut me in pieces. Certain powerful enemies have arisen against this Factory ; and without their punish- ment, there is no cultivation of Indigo. Wood. How can I punish without knowing them ? As for money, horses, latyals (club-men), I have a sufficiency ; can they not be punished by these ? The former Dewan made known to me about those enemies. You do not. I have scourged those wicked people, taken away their kine, and kept their wives in confinement, which is a very severe punishment for them. You are a very great fool ; you know nothing at all. The business of the Dewan is not that of the Kayt caste ; I shall drive you off, and give the business to a Keaot. Gopi. My Lord, although I am by caste a Kaystha, I do my work like a Keaot (a shoe-maker). The service which I have rendered in stopping the rice cultivation and making the Indigo to grow in the field of the Mollahs, and also to take (Idkhraj) his rent-free lands of seven generations from Goluk Chunder Bose, and to take away the iron crow* from the Government ; the work I have done for these, I can dare say, can never be done by a Keaot (a shoemaker). It is my * An instrument made use of for breaking down buildings. INDIGO PLANTING MIRROR. 13 ill-fortune only (evil forehead) that I don't get the least praise for doing so much. Wood. That fool, Nobin Madhab, wants the whole account settled. I shall not give him a single cowrie. That fellow is very well versed in the affairs of the Court ; but I shall see, how that braggart takes the advances from me. Gopi. Sir, he is one of the principal enemies of this Factory. The burning down of Polasapore would never have been proved, had Nobin no concern in the matter. That fool himself prepared the draft of* the petition ; and it was through his advice and intrigues that the Attorney so rarned the mind of the Judge. Again, it was through his intrigues that our former Dewan was confined for two years. I forbade him, saying, " Babu Nobin, don't act against our Saheb ; and, especially as he has not burnt your house." To which he replied, " I have enlisted myself in order to save the poor ryots. I shall think myself highly rewarded, if I can preserve one poor ryot from the tortures of the cruel Indigo Planters ; and throwing this Dewan into prison, I shall have compensation for my garden." That braggart is become like a Christian Missionary ; and I cannot say what prepa- rations he is making this time. Wood. You are afraid. Did I not tell you at first, you are very ignorant ? No work is to be done through you. Gopi. Saheb, what signs of fear hast thou seen in me ? When I have entered on this Indigo profession, I have thrown off all fear, shame, and honor ; and the destroying of cows, of Brahmins, of women, and the burning down of houses are become my ornaments, and I now lie down in bed keeping the jail as my pillow (thinking of it}. Wood. I do not want words, but works. SADHU RAY, the AMIN, and the two Servants enter, making salams. Why are this wicked fool's hands bound with cords? 14 NIL DARPAN, OR Gopi. My Lord, this Sadhu Churn is a head ryot ; but through the enticement of Nobin Bose he has been led to engage in the destruction of Indigo. Sadhu. My Lord, I do nothing unjust against your Indigo, nor am I doing now, neither have I power to do any thing wrong ; willingly or unwillingly I have prepared the Indigo, and also I am ready to make it this time. But then, every thing has its probability and improbability ; if you want to make powder of eight inches' thickness to enter a pipe half-an-inch thick, will it not burst ? I am a poor ryot, keep only one-and-a-half ploughs, have only twenty bigahs of land for cultivation ; and now, if I am to give'nine bigahs out of that for Indigo, that must occasion my death, but my Lord, what is that to you, it is only my death. Gopi. The Saheb fears lest you keep him confined in the godown of your eldest Babu. Sadhu. Now, Sir Dewanji, what you say is striking a corpse (useless labor). What mite am I that I shall im- prison the Saheb, the mighty and glorious. Gopi. Sadhu, now away with your high flown language ; it does not sound well on the tongue of a peasant ; it is like a sweeper's broom touching the body. Wood. Now the rascal is become very wise. Amin. That fool explains the laws and magistrate's orders to the common people, and thus raises confusion. His brother draws the ploughshare, and he uses the high word pratdpshdli " glorious." Gopi. The child of the preparer of cow-dung balls is become a Court Naeb (deputy). My Lord, the establishment of schools in villages has increased the violence of the ryots. Wood. I shall write to our Indigo Planters' Association to make a petition to the Government for stopping the schools in villages ; we shall fight to secure stopping the schools. INDIGO PLANTING MIRROR. 15 Alain. That fool wants to bring the case into Court. Wood. (To Sadhu) You are very wicked. You have twenty bigahs, of which, if you employ nine bigahs for Indigo, why can't you cultivate the other nine bigahs for rice. Gopi. My Lord, the debt which is credited to him can be made use of for bringing the whole twenty bigahs within our own power. SadJm. (To himself) O oh ! the witness for the spirit- seller is the drunkard ? (Openly) K the nine bigahs which are marked off for the cultivation of the Indigo were work- ed % the plough and kine of the Factory, then can I use the other nine bigahs for rice. The work which is to be done in the rice-field is only a fourth of that which is necessary in the Indigo-field, consequently if I am to remain engaged in these nine bigahs, the remaining eleven bigahs will be without cultivation. Wood. You, dolt, are very wicked, you scoundrel (hdramjddd) ; you must take the money in advance ; you must cultivate the land ; you are a very scoundrel (kicks him). You shall leave off every thing when you meet with Shamchand (takes Shamchand from the wall.) Sadhu. My Lord, the Iwnd is only blackened by killing a fly, i. e., your beating me only injures you. I am too mean. We May. (Angrily) O my brother, you had better stop ; let them take what they can ; our very stomach is on the point of falling down from hunger. The whole day is passed, we have not yet been able either to bathe or to take our food. Amin. rascal, where is your Court now ? (Twists hia ears}. Ray. (With violent panting). I now die! My mother! my mother ! Wood. Beat that "bloody nigger," (beats ivith chand, the hatter strap}. 16 NIL DARPAN, OR Enter NOBIN MADHAB. Ray. O thou Babu ! I ain dying ! Give me some water. I am just dead ! Nobin. Saheb they have not bathed, neither have they taken the least food. The members of their family have not yet washed their faces. If you thus destroy your ryots by flog- ging them, who will prepare your Indigo ? This Sadhu Churn prepared the produce of about four bigahs last year with the greatest trouble possible ; and if with such severe beatings you make such cruel advances to them, that is only your loss. For this day give them leave, and to-morrow I myself thai I bring them with me, and do as thou do'st bid me. Wood. Attend to your own business. "What concern have you with another's affairs. Sadhu, give your opinion quickly, as it is my dinner time. Sadhu. What is the use of waiting for my opinion ? You have already marked off the four bigahs of the most productive land ; and the Amin has, to-day, marked off the remaining part. The land is marked without my consent, the Indigo shall be prepared in the same way ; and I also agree to prepare it without taking any advances. Wood. Do you say my advances are all fictitious you cursed wretch, bastard and heretic, (beats him). Nobin. (Covers with his hand the back of Sadhu). My Lord, this poor man has many to support in his family. Owing to the beating he has got, I think, he will be confined in bed for a month. Oh ! What pains his family is suffering ? Sir, you have also your family. Now, what sorrow would affect the mind of your wife if you were' taken prisoner at your dinner-time ? Wood. Be silent thou fool, braggart, low fellow, cow-eater. Don't think that this Magistrate is like that one of Amarana- gara, that you can, for every word, lay complaints before him, and imprison the men of the Factory. The Magistrate of INDIGO PLANTING MIRROR. 17 Iiidrabad is as death to you. You rascal, you must first give me a hand-note to state you have received the advance for sixty bigahs of land, or else I shall not let you go this day. I shall break your head with this Shamchand, you stupid. It is owing to your not taking ad- vances, that I have not been able to force advances on ten other villages. Nobin. (With heavy sighs.) O my Mother Earth! separate yourself that I may enter into you. In my life I never suffered such an insult. 0, oh ! GQpi, Babu Nobin, better go home, no use of making fuss. Nobin. Sadhu, call on God, He is the only support of the helpless. (Nobin Madhab goes away.) Wood. Thou slave of the slave. Take him to the Factory, Dewan, and give him the advance according to rule. ( Wood goes away.) Gopi. Sadhu, come along to the Factory. Does the Saheb forget his words ? Now ashes have fallen on your ready-made, rice; the Yama* of Indigo has attacked you, and you have no safety. FIEST ACT FOURTH SCENE. GOLUK CHUNDER BASU'S HALL. Enter SOIRINDRI preparing a hair-string. Soirindri. I never did prepare such a piece of hair- string. The youngest Bouf is the most fortunate, since whatever I do in her name proves successful. The hair- string I have made, is the thinnest possible. According to * Yama is Death, the king of terror. f This is a term which is applied to one's son's wife ; but sometimes, though rarely, it means wife. D 18 NIL DARPAN, OR the hair, the hair-string is made. Oh ! how beautiful the hair is ; it is like unto that of the Goddess Kali. The face is as the lotus, always smiling. People may say what- ever they choose to one whom they do not like. I don't attend to that. For my part, I feel pleasure when I see the face of the youngest Bou. I consider the youngest Bou in the same light, as I do Bipin. The youngest Bou loves me as her own mother. SARALOTA enters with a braid in her hand. Saralota. My sister, just see whether I have been able to make the under part of this braid ? Is it not made ? Soirindri. (Seeing the braid.) Yes, now it is well made. O ! my sister, this part is made somewhat bad ; the yellow does not look well after the red colour. Saralota. I wove it by observing your braid. Soirindri. Is the yellow after the red in that ? Saralota. No ; in that the green is after the red. But because my green thread is finished, therefore I placed the yellow after that. Soirindri. You were not able, I see, to wait for the market-day. I see, my sister, every thing is in haste with you. As it is said, "Hurry is in Brindabun; but as soon as the desire rises, there is no more waiting"* Saralota. Oh ! What fault have I committed for that ? Can that be got in the market ? At the last market-day, my mother-in-law sent for it ; but that was not got. Soirindri. When they write a letter this time to my husband's brother, we shall send to ask for threads of various colours. Saralota. Sister, how many days are there still remaining of this month. * This is only a quotation, explaining, by an example, the eagerness of the mind when the tlesire is once excited. INDIGO PLANTING MIRROR 19 Soirindri. (Laughingly.) On the place where the pain is, the hand touches. As soon as his* College closes, he shall come home, therefore you are counting the days. Ah ! my sister, your mind's words are come out. Saralota. I say truly, my sister ; I never meant that. Soirindri. How very good-natured our Bindu Madhab is ? His words are honey. When we hear his letters read, they Tain like drops of nectar. I never saw such love towards one's brother as his ; and also his brother shows the greatest affection for him. When he hears the name of Bindu Madhab, his taart overflows with joy, and it becomes, as it were, expanded. Also, as he is, so our Saralota is, (pressing Sara- lotas cheefy Saralota is as honesty itself (Saralota). Have I not brought with me my huka ? I see, that as I cannot remain without it for a moment, that is the first thing which I have forgotten to bring along with me. Enter ADURL Aduri, will you just go and bring me some ashes of tobacco ? Aduri. Where shall I now seek for it ? Soirindri. It is stuck on the thatched roof of the cook- room, on the right side of the steps leading into the room. Aduri. Then, let me bring the ladder from the thresh- ing floor ; else how can I reach to the roof ? Saralota. Very well. Soirindri. Why can she not understand our mother-in- law's word ? Don't you understand what steps are, and what Dain^f- signifies ? Aduri. Why shall T become a Dain ; it is my fate. As soon as a poor woman becomes old and her teeth fall out * This pronoun " his" refers to the husband of Saralota. t This is a Beugalli term signifying sometimes sight and sometimes a witch. 20 NIL DARPAN, OR she is immediately called a Dain. I shall speak of this to our mistress ; am I become so old as to be called a Dain ? Soirindri. (Rising up.*) Youngest Bon, sit down, I am coming ; to-day we shall hear the Betal of Vidyeasagar. (Soirindri goes away.) Aduri. That Sagar allows marriage to the widows ; fie ! fie ! Are there not two parties to that ? I am of the Ajah's * party. Saralota. Aduri, did your husband love you well ? Aduri. O young Haldarni, do not raise that word of sor- row now. Even up to this day, when his face comes Before my mind's eye, my heart, as it were, bursts with sorrow. He loved me very much. And he even wanted to give me a daughter-in-law. He even did not give me time to sleep. Whenever I felt drowsy, he said, "O my love, are you Saralota. Did you call him by his name ? Aduri. Fie ! fie ! fie ! The husband is one's Lord. Is it proper to call him by his name ? Saralota. Then, how did you call him ? Aduri. I used to say, " O ! do you hear me." Enter SOIRINDRI again. Soirindri. Who has irritated this fool again ? Aduri. She was inquiring after my husband, therefore I was speaking with her. Soirindri. (Laughing.) I never saw a greater fool than this our youngest Bou. While having so many subjects of talk, still you are exciting Aduri in order to hear from her about her husband. * The word Rajah is here pronounced in an odd form ; r.nd it has reference to those rajahs who were against w'n'ow marriage. As the word is pronounced by a woman of the lower cl;iss, it is spelt here incorrectly. INDIGO PLANTING MIRROR. 21 Enter REBOTI and KHETROMANI. Welcome, my dear sister, I have been sending for you for these many days ; still I see, you don't get time to come. O our youngest Bou, here take your Khetra ; here she is come. She was troubling me for these days, saying, My sister Khetra, of the Ghose family, is come from her father-in-law's house ; then, why is she not yet coming to our house ? Reboti. Yes, such is your love towards us. Khetra, bow down before your aunt. (Khetr^mani bows down.) Sbirindri. Remain with your husband for life ; wear vermillion even in your white hair ; let your iron circlet* continue for ever, and the next time you go to your father- in-law's house, take your new-born son with you. Aduri. The young Haldarni speaks most fluently before me ; but this young girl bowed down before her ; and she spoke not a single word. Soirindri. Oh ! what of that. Aduri, just go and call our mother-in-law here. (Aduri goes out.) The fool knows not what she says. For how many months is shef with child ? Reboti. Did I yet express that ? The bad turn of my fortune (broken forehead) is such, that I yet cannot say whether that is actually the case or not ? It is because that you are very familiar with us, that I tell it you : at the end of this month she will be in her fourth month. Saralota. Khetra, why did you cut off the curls of your hair ? KJietro. The elder brother of my husband was much displeased at seeing the curls in my hair. Our mistress said, * 1 he iron circlet worn by a woman 011 her left hand, is the maik or sign of the husband being alive. f Referring to Khelromani. 22 NIL DARPAN, OR that curls agree best with prostitutes and women of rich families. I was so much ashamed at hearing his words, that from that very day I cut off my curls. Soirindri. Youngest Bou, the shades of evening are spreading about ; just go, my sister, and bring the clothes. Enter ADURI again. Saralota. (Standing up.) Aduri, come with me ; let us go up, and bring down the clothes. Aduri. Let young ( f aldar first come home, ha ! ha ! ha ! (Ashamed, Saralota goes aivay.) Soirindri. (With anger, yet laughing.} Go thou unfor- tunate fool ; at every word, you joke. Where is my mother- in-law ? Enters SABITRI. Yes, she is come. Sabitri. Ghose Bou, art thou come, and hast thou brought your daughter with you ? Yes, you have done well. Bipin was making noise, therefore, I sent him out and am come here. Rcboti. My mother, I bow down before you. Khetra, bow down before your grand-mother. (Khetromani bows down.) Sabitri. Be happy, be the mother of seven sons. (Coughing aside.} My eldest Bou, just go into the room, I think my son is up. Oh ! my son has no regular time for bathing, neither for taking food. My Nobin is become very weak by mere vain thoughts (aside, " Aduri ") Oh ! my daughter, go in soon, I think, he is asking for water. Soirindri. (Aside, to Aduri.) Aduri, calling for you. Aduri. Calling for me, but asking for you. Soirindri. Thou burnt-faced. Sister Ghose meet me another day. (Exit Soirindri.) INDIGO PLANTING MIRROR. 23 Rebotl O my mother, here is none else. Some great danger has fallen upon me, that Podi Moyrani came to our house yesterday. Sabitri. Rama ! Kama ! Rama ! who allows that nasty fool to enter his house ? What is left of her virtue ? She has only to write her name in the public notices. Reboti. My mother, but what shall I do ? My house is not an enclosed one. When our males go to take dinner outside, the house is no more a housfc ; but you may call it a mart. That strumpet says (I do shrink at the thought), she ftiys, that the young Saheb is become, as it were, mad at seeing Khetromani ; and wants to see her in the Factory. Aduri. Fye ! fye ! fye ! bad smell of the onion ! Can we go to the Saheb. Fye ! fye ! bad smell of the onion ! I shall never be out any more alone. I can bear every other thing, but the smell of the onion I can never bear. Fye ! fye ! bad smell of the onion ! Reboti. But, my mother, is not the virtue of the poor actual virtue ? That fool* says, he will give money, give grants of lands for the cultivation of rice ; and also give some employment to our son-in-law. Fie ! fie ! to money. Is virtue something to be sold ? Has it any price ? What can I say ? That fool was an agent of the Saheb, or else I would have broken her mouth with one kick. My daughter is become thunder-struck from yesterday ; and now and then, she is starting with fear. Aduri. Oh, the Beard ! When he speaks, it is like a he-goat twisting about its mouth. For my part, I would never be able to go there as long as he does not leave off his onions and beard. Fie ! fie ! fie 1 the bad smell of the onion. Reboti. Mother, again that unfortunate fool says, if you * Referring to Podi Moyrani (sweet-meat maker). 24 NIL DARPAN, OR do not send her with me, I shall take her away by certain latyals Sabilrl. What more is the Burmese (Mug) power? Can any one take away a woman from a house in the British Dominion ? Reboti. O my Mother ! Every violence can be commit- ted in the ryot's house. Taking away the women, they bring the men under their power. In giving advances for Indigo they can do this ; onlyHhey cannot commit this before one's eyes. Don't you know, my mother, the other day, because certain parties did not agree to sign a fictitious receive of advances, they broke down their house and took away by force the wife of one of the Babus. Sabitri. What anarchy is this ! Did you inform Sadhu of this. Reboti. No, my mother. He is already become mad on account of the Indigo ; again, if he hear this, will he keep quiet ? Through excessive anger he will rather smite his head with the axe. Sabitri. Very well, I shall make this known to Sadhu, through my husband ; you need not say anything. What misfortune is this ! The Indigo Planters can do anything. Then why do I hear it generally said, that the Sahebs are strict in dispensing justice. Again, my son Bindu Madhab speaks much in praise of- them. Therefore I think that these are not Sahebs ; no, they are the dregs, (Chanddl) of Sahebs. Reboti. Respecting another word which Moyrani has said, I think the eldest Babu has not heard of it that a new order has been proclaimed, by which the wicked Sahebs, by opening a communication with the Magistrate, can throw any one into prison for six months ; again, that they are making preparations for doing the same with the Babus. INDIGO PLANTING MIRROR. 25 Sabitri. (Sighing deeply.} If this be in the mind of God it will be. Reboti. Many other things she said, my mother ; but I was not able to understand her. Is it the fact, that there is no appeal when once a person is imprisoned ? Aduri. I think, the wretch has aggravated this impri- soning. Sabitri. Aduri, be silent a little, my child. Reboti. Moreover, the wife of the Indigo Planter, in order to make her husband's case strong (pcucka), has sent a letter to the Magistrate, since it is said that the Magistrate hears her words most attentively. Aduri. I saw the lady ; she has no shame at all. When the Magistrate of the Zillah (whose name occasions great terror) goes riding about through the village, the lady also rides on horseback, with him. The Bou riding about on a horse ! Because the aunt of Kesi once laughed before the elder brother of her husband, all people ridiculed her; while this was the Magistrate of the Zillah. Sabitri. I see, wretched woman, thou wilt occasion some great misfortune one day. Now it is evening, Ghose Bou, better go home. There is Durga. Reboti. Now, I go my mother. I shall buy some oil from the shop ; then there will be light in the house. (Exit Reboti and Khetromani.) Sabitri. Can't you remain without speaking something at every word. Enter SARALOTA ivith clothes on her head. Aduri. Here, our washerwoman is come with her clothes. Sabitri. Thou fool, why is she a washerwoman ? She is my Bou of gold, my Goddess of good Fortune (patting her back). Is there no one in my family excepting you to 26 NIL DARPAN, OR bring down the clothes ? Can't you, for one dunda* sit quiet in one place ? Art thou born of such a mad woman ? How did you tear off your cloth. I think you bruised yourself. Ah, her body is, as it were, a red lotus ; and this one bruise has made the blood to come out with violence. Now, my daughter, I tell you, never move up and down the steps in the dark, in such a manner. Enter SOIRINDRI. Soirindri. Now, o$r young Bou, let us go to the ghdt. Sabitri. Now, my daughters, while the evening light con- tinues, you two together go and wash yourselves. p (Exit all) SECOND ACT FIRST SCENE. THE GODOWN OF BEGUNBARI FACTORY. Torapa and four other Ryots sitting. Torapa. Why do they not kill me at once ? I can never show myself ungrateful. That eldest Babu, who has pre- served my caste ; he through whose influence I am living here ; he, who by preserving my plough and the cows, is preserving my life, shall I by giving false evidence throw the father of that Babu into prison ? I can never do that ; I would rather give my life. First Ryot. Before sticks there can be no ivords ; the stroke of Shamchand is a very terrible thrust. Have we a film on our eyes ; did we not serve our eldest Babu ? But, then, what can we do ? If we do not give evidence they will never keep us as we are. Wood Saheb stood upon my breast and blood began to fall drop by drop. A nd the feet of the horse were, as it were, the hoofs of the ox. * A dunda is equal to 24 Knglish minutes. INDIGO PLANTING MIRROR. 27 Second Ryot. Thrusting in the nails ; don't you know the nails which are stuck under the shoes worn by the Sahebs ? Torapa. (Grinding his teeth with anger.) , Why do you speak of the nails ? My heart is bursting with having seen this blood. What do I say ? If I can once get him in the Vataramari field, with one slap I can raise him in the air ; and at once put a stop to all his " gad dams" and other words of chastisement. Third Ryot. I am only a hireling,* and keep men under me. When I heard about the plan which our master fornfcd, I immediately refused to take any Indigo busi- ness on my hand, saying I shall never work for that. Why was I then confined in the godown ? I thought that serving under him at this time, I shall be able to make a good collection and shall be able to attend to my friend; but I am rotting here in this place for five days, and again I am to go to that Andarabad. Second Ryot. I went to that Andarabad once or twice ; as also to that Factory of Bhabnapore, every one speaks good of the Saheb of that place ; that Saheb once sent me to the Court, then I saw many things pleasant in that place. Torapa. Did he find any fault with you ? The Saheb of Bhabnapore never raises a false disturbance. " By speaking the truth, we sliall ride on horseback." Had all Sahebs been of the same character with him, then none would have spoken ill of the Sahebs. Second Ryot. My heart over-flows with joy. Now his torturing is all put a stop to. In his godown there are now seven persons ; one of them a child. The vile man has filled his house also with kine and calves. Oh, what robbery is he carrying on ! Torapa. As soon as they get a Saheb who is a good man they want to destroy him. They are holding a meeting to drive off the Magistrate. 28 NIL DARPAN, OR Second Ryot. I cannot understand whether they have found fault with the Magistrate of this or the other Zillah ? Torapa. He did not go to dine in the Factory. They prepared a dinner for the Magistrate, in order to get him within their power, but the Magistrate concealed himself like a stolen cow ; he did not go to dinner. He is a person of a good family. Why should he go to the Indigo Planters ? We have now understood, these Planters are the low people of Belata.*^ First Ryot. Then how did the late Governor Saheb go about all the Indigo Factories, being feasted like a bride-g^oom just before the celebration of the marriage.^ Did you not see that the Planter Sahebs brought him to this Factory well- adorned like a bride-groom ? Second Ryot. I think he has some share in this Indigo Company. Torapa. No ! can the Governor take a share in Indi- go affairs ? He came to increase his fame. If God pre- serve our present Governor, then we shall be able to procure something for our sustenance ; and the great burden of Indigo shall no more hang on our shoulders. Third Ryot. (With fear.) I die. If the ghost of this burden once attack a person, is it true that it does not quit him soon ? My wife said so. Torapa. Why have you brought this my brother here ? For fear of the Sahebs, people are leaving the village ; and my uncle Bochoroddi has formed the following sentence : " The man with eyes like those of the cat, is an ignorant fool ; " So the Indigo of the Indigo Factory is an instrument of punish- ment." * Belata means England. t This refers to a certain practice in India of the Bride-groom going to the houses of relatives amid great feasting, before the celebration of the marriage, INDIGO PLANTING MIRROR. 29 Bochoroddi is very expert in forming such sentences. Second Ryot. Did not you hear another sentence which was composed by Nita Atai ? " The Missionaries have destroyed the caste ; " The Factory monkeys have destroyed the rice." Torapa. Aola Nochen has composed " Destroyed the Caste," what is it ? Second Ryot " The Missionaries have destroyed ftie caste : " The Factory monkeys have destroyed the rice." Fourth Ryot. Ha ! I do not know what is taking place in my house ; I am become the inhabitant of three villages at once. I came away to Svaropur, and through the advice of Bose, I threw away the advance which was offered me. When my young child was sick I came to Bose to get from him a little sugar-candy. Ah ! how very kind he was ; how agreeable and good-looking in countenance I found him ; and sitting as solemn as an elephant. Torapa. How many bigahs have they given this year ? Fourth Ryot. Last year I prepared ten bigahs ; but as to the price of that, they raised great confusion. This year again, they have given advances for fifteen bigahs ; and I am doing exactly as they are ordering me ; still, they leave not off insulting me. First Ryot. I am laboring with my plough for these two years, and I have cultivated a little piece of ground. That piece of ground which I prepared this year, I kept for sesa- mum ; but one day, our young Saheb, riding on his horse, came to the place, and waiting there himself, took posses- sion of the whole piece. How can the ryots live if this is to continue ? Torapa This is only the intrigue of the wicked Amin. Does the Saheb know every thing about land ? This fool 30 NIL DARPAN, OR goes about like a revengeful dog : when he sees any good piece of land, he immediately gives notice of it to the Saheb. The Saheb has no want of money, and he has no need for borrowing money on credit. Then, why is it that the fool does so ; if he have to cultivate Indigo, let him do so ; let him buy oxen ; let him prepare ploughs ; if he cannot guide the plough himself, jet him keep men under him. What want have you of lands ? If you can cultivate the whole village ; and we do not refuse to give the village. In that case the land can overflow with Indigo in two years. But he will not do it. (Aside, ho! ho! ho! md! md!) Gazi-Saheb ! azi- Saheb ! Durga ! Durga !* call your Rama. Within this there are ghosts. Be silent, be silent. (Aside, Oh Indigo ! You came to this land for our utter ruin. Ah ! I cannot any more suffer this torture. I cannot say how many other Factories there are of this Concern. Within this one month and-a-half, I have already drunk the water of fourteen Factories ; and I do not know in what Factory I am now ; and how can I know that, while I am taken in the night from one Factory to another, with my eyes entirely shut. Oh ! my mother where art thou now 1 ) Third Ryot. Rama ! Rama ! Rama ! Kali ! Kali ! Durga ! Ganesha ! Ashra ! Torapa. Silence, silence. (Aside, Ah ! I can make myself free from this hell, if I take the advance for five bigahs of land. Oh ! my uncle, it is now proper to take the advance. Now, I see no means of giving the notice ; my life is on the point of leaving the body. I have no more any power to speak. Oh my Mother, where art thou now ? I have not seen thy holy feet for a month-and-a-half.) * These are 'all words used by Mahomedans in times of great alarm ; and here it is used to express the fear of ghosts. INDIGO PLANTING MIRROR. 31 Third Ryot. I shall speak of this to my wife ; did you hear now ? Although these are become ghosts after death, still have they not been able to extricate themselves from the Indigo advances. First Ryot. Art thou so very ignorant ? Torapa. A person of a good family ; I have understood that by the words. My uncle Prana, can you once take me up on your shoulders, then I can ask him where his resi- dence is ? First Ryot. Thou art a Musulman. TojKipa. Then, you had better rise on my shoulders and see (sits down) rise up (sits on the shoulders) take hold of the wall ; bring your face before the window (seeing Gopi Churn at a distance) come down, come down, my uncle, Gopi is coming (first Ryot falls down). Enter GOPI CHURN and MR. ROSE with his Ramkanta* in his hand. Third Ryot. Dewan, there is a ghost in this room. Now, it was crying aloud. Gopi. If you don't say as I teach you, you must become a ghost of the very same kind. (Aside, to Mr. Rose) These persons have known about Mojumdar's confinement, we must no more keep him in this Factory. It was not proper to keep him in that room. Rose. I shall hear of that afterwards. What ryot has refused ; what rascal is so very wicked? (Stamps his feef). Gopi. These are all well-prepared. This Musulman is very wicked ; he says, I can never show myself ungrateful, (nimak hardmi). Torapa. (Aside.) O my father ! How very terrible the stick is! Now I must agree with them ; as to future considera- * It is very like Shamchand. 32 NIL DARPAN, OR tions I shall see what I can do afterwards. (Openly) Pardon me, Saheb ! I, also, am become the same with you. Planter. Be silent, thou child of the sow ! This Ram- kant is very sweet. (Strikes with Ramkant and also kicks him). Torapa. Oh ! oh ! my mother, I am now dead ! My uncle Prana, give me a little water ; I die for water. My father, father ! Rose. Shall not filth be discharged into your mouth? (Strikes with his shoes'). (9 Torapa. Whatever thou shalt say, I shall do. Before God, I ask pardon of thee, my Lord. Rose. Now the villain has left his wickedness. To-night all must be sent. Just write to the Attorney, that as long as the evidence is not given, not one of these shall be let out. The Agent shall go with them. (To the Third Ryot}. Why art thou crying ? (Gives a kick). Third Ryot. Bou, where art thou ? These are murdering me. O my mother ! Bou ! my mother ! I am killed, I am killed. (Falls upside down on the ground). Rose. Thou, stupid, art become (bonra) mad. (Exit Mr. Rose). Gopi. Now, Torapa, have you got your full of the onion and the shoe ? Torapa. Oh Dewanji, preserve me by giving a little water. I am on the point of death. Gopi. The Indigo ware-house and the steam-engine room these are places where the sweat shoots forth and water is drunk. Now, all of you, come with me, that you may at once drink water. (Exit all.} INDIGO PLANTING MIRROR. 33 SECOND ACT SECOND SCENE. THE BED-ROOM OF BINDU MADHAB. Saralota sitting with a letter in her hand. Saralota. Now, my dear love with an honest tongue is not come, and an elephant, as it were, is treading on the lotus-like heart. I have become hop^ess amid very great hope. In expectation of the coming of the Lord of my life, I was aiting with greater disquietude of mind than the swallow (chdtak) does when waiting for the drops of rain at the ap- proaching rainy season. The way in which I was counting the days exactly corresponded with what my sister said, that each day appeared, as it were, a year, (deep sigh). The expectation as to the coming of my husband is now of no effect. The, course of his life itself will prove successful, if the great action in which he is now engaged, can prove so. Oh, Lord of my life ! We are born women, and cannot even go out to walk in the garden ; we are unable to walk out in the city ; can by no means form clubs for general good ; we have no Col- leges nor Courts, nor Brahma Samajs of our own ; we have nothing of our own, to compose the mind, when it is once disturbed ; and, moreover, we can never blame a woman when she feels any disquietude. O my Lord, we have only one to depend upon, the husband is the object of the wife's thought, of her understanding, her study, her acquisition, her meeting, her society; in short, this jewel the husband is all to a virtuous woman. O thou letter ! thou art come from the hand of the dear object of my heart, I shall kiss thee, (kisses it) ; in thee is the name of my Lord ; I shall hold thee on my burnt heart, (keeps it on her breast}. Ah! how sweet are the words of my Lord ; as often as I read it, my mind is more and more charmed (reads'). F 34 NIL DARPAN, OR MY DEAR SARALA, In my letter I cannot express what anxiety my mind feels, to see your sweet face. what inexpressible pleasure do I feel when I place your beautiful (moonlike) face on my breast ! I thought that that moment of happiness is come ; but pain im- mediately overtook pleasure. The College is closed, but a great misfortune has come upon me ; through the, grace, of God, if 1 be not able to extricate myself from it, I shall never be able any more to show my face to thee. The Indigo Planters have secretly brought an accusation against my ' father in the Court ; their main design being, in some- way or other, to throw him into Jail. I have sent letters, one after another, to my brother, giving him this information ; and I myself am remaining here with the greatest care pos- sible. Never disturb yourself with vain thoughts ? The mer- ciful Father must certainly make us successful. My dear, 2 have not forgotten the Bengali translation of " Shakes' peare ;" it cannot be got now in the shops ; but one of my friends, Bonkima by name, has given me one copy. When I come home, I shall bring it with me. My dear, what a great source of pleasure is the acquisition of learn- ing ! I am conversing with you, although at such a great distance, Ah I what great happiness would my mind have enjoyed if my mother did not forbid you to send letters to me. " I am, yours, " BINDU MADHAB." As to myself I have a full confidence as to that. If there be any fault in your character, then who should be an example of good conduct ? Because I am fickle ; cannot sit, for some time quietly in one place, my mother-in-law calls me the daughter of a mad woman. But, where is my fickleness now. In the place, where I have opened the letter INDIGO PLANTING MIRROR. 35 of my dear Lord, I have spent nearly a fourth part of the day. The fickleness of the exterior part has now gone into the heart. As, on the boiling of the rice, the froth rising up makes the surface quiet, but the rice within is agitated ; so am I now. I have not that smiling face now. A sweet smile is the wife of happiness ; and so soon as happiness dies > the sweet smile goes along with it. My Lord, when thou shalt prove successful, every thing shall be preserved ; if I am to see your face disquieted, all sides will ^e dark unto me. O my restless mind, wilt thou be not quieted ? If you remain unqu^t, that can be suffered. As to your weeping, none can see it, nor can hear it ; but my eyes ! you shall throw me into shame, (rubbing her eyes) ; if ye are not pacified, I shall not be able to go out of doors. Enter ADURI. Aduri. What are you doing here ? The elder Haldarni* is not able to go to the tank-side. All whom I see are of a disturbed countenance. Saralota. (A deep sigh.) Let us then go. Aduri. I see you have not yet touched the oil. Your hairs are yet dusty, and you have not yet left the letter. Does our young Haldar write my name in the letter ? Saralota. Has the Bara Takur (the eldest brother of the husband) finished his bathing ? A duri. The eldest Haldar is gone to the village. A law-suit is being carried on. Was that not written in your letter ? Our master was weeping. Saralota. (Aside.) Truly, my Lord ! Thou shalt not be able to show thy face, if thou can'st not prove successful. (Openly) Let us now rub ourselves with oil in the cook-room. (Exit both.) * Referring to Soirindri, the wife of Nobin Madhab. 36 NIL DARPAN, OR SECOND ACT THIED SCENE. A ROAD POINTING THREE WAYS. Enter PODI MOYRANI, Podi. It is the degenerate Amin who is ruining the country. Is it through ray own choice that I am levelling the axe at my feet,* by giving the young woman to the Saheb ? As to that preparation which Ray made, had it not been caught-f by Sadhu, she would have been provided with food and clothing for life. Ah, it bursts my heart wl sn I see the face of Khetromani. Have I no feelings of com- passion, because I have made a paramour my companion ? Whenever she sees me still, she comes to me, calling me Aunt ! Aunt ! Can the mother, with a firm heart, give such a golden deer into the grasp of the tiger ? How detestable is this, that for the sake of money, I have given up my caste and my life ; and also am obliged to touch the bed of a Buno (rude tribe). That libertine, the elder Saheb, has made it a practice to beat me whenever he finds me, and has also said, he will cut off my nose and ears ; that vile man is come to an old age, can keep women in confinement, and can kick them ; such a vile man, I have not seen in the present day. Let me go to the black- mouthed Amin and tell him that shall not be effected by me. Have I any power to go out in the town? When- ever the nasty fellows of the neighbourhood see me, they follow me as the Phinga (a kind of bird) does the crow. (Aside, a song.} Whenever I sit down to reap the rice in the field, his eyes immediately come before my sight. * This expression " striking the axe on my feet" signifies ruining myself, t That is, had the intrigue used by Ray not been detected, it would have proved very advantageous. INDIGO PLANTING MIRROR. 37 Enter a Cow-herd. Cow-herd. Saheb, have not insects attacked thine Indigo- twigs ? Podi. Let them attack thy mother and sister, thou degenerate fool. Leave off thy mother's breast, go to the house of Death ; go to Colmighata, to the grave.* Cow-herd. I have also sent orders to prepare a pair of weeding knives. Enter a Latyal or Clitb-man. Oh ! the Latyal of the Indigo Factory. The Cow-herd flies off swiftly. Latyal. Thou, Oh lotus-faced, hast made the tooth-powder very dear. Podi. (Seeing the silver chain round the waist of the Latyal?) Your chain is very grand. Club-man. Don't you know, my dear, the clothing of the bailiff and the dress of the dancer ? Podi. I wanted a black calf from you a long while ago, but yet you did not give it me. My brother, I shall not ask from thee any more. Club-man. Dear lotus-faced, don't be angry with me. To-morrow, we shall go to plunder the place called Shama- nagara ; and if I can get a black calf, I shall immediately keep that in your cow-house. When I shall return with my fish, I shall pass by your house. (Exit the Club-man) Podi. The Planter Sahebs do nothing but rob. If the ryots be loaded in a less degree with exactions they can preserve their lives ; and you*f* can get your Indigo. The Munshies of Shamanagara entreated most earnestly to get ten * All these signify that let Death come upon thee. f The word " you" refers to the Indigo Planters. 38 NIL DARPAN, OR portions of land free. " The Thief never hears the instruc- tions of Religion." The wretched elder Saheb remained quiet, having burnt his wretched tongue. Enter four Boys of a Native Patskala. Four Boys. (Keeping down their mats, and expressing great mirth with the clapping of their hands.) My dear Moyrani, where is your Indigo ? My dear Moyrani, where is your Indigo ? My dear Moyrani, where is your Indigo ? Podi. My child Kesoba, I am your aunt. -Never use such words to me. Four Boys. (Dance together.) My dear Moyrani ; where is your Indigo ? Podi. My dear Ambika, I am your sister ; don't use me in this manner, Four Boys. (Dance round Podi.) My dear Moyrani, where is your Indigo ? My dear Moyrani, where is your Indigo ? My dear Moyrani, where is your Indigo ? Enter NOBIN MADHAB. Podi. What a shame is this, that I exposed my face to the elder Babu. (Exit Podi, covering herself with a veil) Nobin. Wicked and profligate woman. (To the children) You are playing on the road still ; it is now too late, go home now. (Exit four boys.) Ah ! I can within five days establish a school for these boys, if only the tyranny of the Indigo be once stopped. The Inspector of this part of the country is a very good man. How very good a man becomes, if only learning be acquired. He is young ; but in his conversation he has the experience of years. He has a great desire that a school be INDIGO PLANTING MIRROR. 39 established in this country. I am also not unwilling to give money for this purpose ; the large Bungalow which I have, can be a good place for a school ; moreover, what is more happy than to have the boys of one's own country to read and write, and study in his own house, this is the true success of wealth and of labour. Bindu Madhab brought the Inspector with him, and it is his desire, that all with one mind try to establish the school. But observing the unfortunate state of the country, he was obliged to keep his design to himself; how vory mild, quiet, good- nat^red, and wise is he become now ! Wisdom in younger years is as beautiful as the fruits in a small plant. In reading of the sorrow which my brother has expressed in hig letter even the hard stone is melted and the heart of the Indigo Planter would become soft. I cannot now rise up to go home, I do not see any means ; I was not able to bring one of the five to my side, and I cannot find where they are taken away.* I think Torapa will never speak a lie. It shall be a great loss to us, if the other four give evidence ; especially as I was not able to make the least preparation ; and again the Magistrate is a great friend of Mr. Wood. Enter a Ryot, two Peadas or Bailiffs of the Police, and a Taidgir of the Indigo Factory. Ryot. My elder Babu, preserve my two children ; there is no one else to feed them. Last year, I gave eight carts' load of Indigo, and I did not get a single pice for that, and also I am bound, as with cords, for the remainder. Again, they will take me to Andarabad. Guard. The advance-money of the Indigo and the mark- ing nut of the washer-man, as soon as they come in contact, * This number, five, here referred to, are the persons whom he was trying to bring on his side for the law-suit. 40 NIL DARPAN, OR become mostly joined. You villain come ; you must first go to the Dewanji ; your elder Babu also shall come to this. Ryot. Come, I don't fear this. I would rather have my body rot in the Jail than any more prepare the Indigo of that white man. My God ! my God ! none looks on the poor (weeps). My elder Babu, give my children food ; they brought me to the field ; and I was not able to see them once. (Exit all, except Nobin Madhab.) Nobin. What injustice ! These two children will die without food in the same way as the new-born young o the hare suffer when the hare is in the hand of the savage hunters. Enter RAY CHURN. Ray. Had not my brother caught hold of us, I would have put a stop to her breathing. I would have killed her ; then, at the utmost, I had been hanged within six months.* That villain ! Nobin. Ray Churn, where art thou going ? Ray. Our mistress ordered me to call Putakur. The stupid Podi told me that the bailiff will bring the summons to-morrow. (Exit Ray Churn.} Nobin. Oh! oh! oh! That which never took place in this family, has now come to pass. My father is very peaceful, honest, and of a sincere mind ; knows not what disputes and enmities are ; never goes out of the village ; trembles with fear at the name of Court affairs, and even shed tears when he read the letter. If he is to go to Indrabad, he will turn mad ; and if, to the jail, he will throw himself into the stream. Ah, such are the misfortunes that are to fall on him, while * This expression " had been hanged for six month*," is only used sarcas- tically. INDIGfO PLANTING MIRROR. 41 I, his son, am living ! My mother is not so much afraid as my father is ; she does not lose hope at once ; with a firm mind, she is now invoking God. My deer-eyed is be- come, as it were, the deer in my volcano* ; she is become mad with fear and anxiety. Her father died in an Indigo Factory ; and her fear, now, is lest the same happens to her husband. How many sides am I to keep quiet ? Is it proper to fly off with the whole family ; or, is it not right that to do good unto others is the highest virtue ? I shall not turn aside hastily. I see, I am not able to do any goo% to Shaman agara ; still, what work is. there which is beyond the po\ver of exertion ? Let me see what I can do. Enter tiuo Pundits. First P. My child, is the house of Goluk Chunder Bose in this quarter.? I heard from my uncle, that person is very honest the grandeur of the Bose family. Ndbin. (Bowing before hir.i.) Sir, I am his eldest son. First P. Yes ! yes ! very honest ! To have such a son is not the result of a little virtue. Second P. We had been invited by Babu Arabindu, of Sougandha. To-day, we remain in the house of Goluk Chunder ; and shall do good unto you. Nob in. This is my great fortune. Sirs, come by this way. " (Exit all.) THIED ACT FIEST SCEXE. BEFORE THE FACTORY IN BEGUNBARI. Enter GOPI CHURN and a Native Jailor. Gom. Ao long as your share is not less, don't bring anything to my notice. * That is, as the doer feels disquieted when exposed in a volcano, so is uiy mate troubled by the many nnxieties in my mind. G 42 NIL DARPAN, OR Jailor. Can that filth be digested by one person eating the whole ? I told him, if you eat, give a part to the Dewanji ; but he says what power has your Dewan? He is not so much the son of a Keat, (shoemaJcer caste) that he shall direct the Saheb like unto one leading a monkey, Gopi. Very well, now go ; I shall show that Kaot (what a club) how strong he is. (Exit Rhdldsi.) The fellow has got sb much power through the authority of the younger Saheb. I shall also say it is a- very easy thing for one to carry on his work, if his master be 1 the husband of his sister ; the elder Saheb becomes very angry at this word. But the fellow is very angry with me ; at every word, he shows me the Shamchand. That day he kicked me with his stockings on. These few days, I see that his temper is become somewhat mild towards me ; since Goluk Bose is summoned, he has expressed a little kindness. A person is considered very expert by the Saheb, if he can bring about the ruin of many. " One becomes a good Physi- cian by the death of one hundred patients" (Seeing Mr. Wood.) Here he is coming ; let me first soften his mind by giving him some information about the Boses. Enter MR. WOOD. Saheb, tears have now come out of the eyes of Nobin Bose. Never was he punished more severely. His garden is taken away from him ; the small pieces of land he had are all included among the lands which are given to Gada, Poda (low castes) ; his cultivation is nearly put a stop to; his magazines are all become empty, and he was sent into Court twice ; in the midst of so many troubles, he still stood firm ; but now he has fallen down. INDIGO PLANTING MIBROR. 43 Planter. That rascal was not able to do any thing in Shamanagara. Gopi. Saheb, the Munshis came to him ; but he told them, my mind is not at rest now, " my limbs are become powerless through weeping for my father, and I am, as it were, become mad." On observing the wretched condition of Nobin, about seven or eight ryots of Shamanagara have all given up, and all are doing exactly as your Honour is ordering them. Planter. You are a very good Dewan, and you have fornjf d a very good plan. Gopi. I knew Goluk Bose to be a coward, and that if he were obliged to go to Court, he would turn mad. As Nobin has a great affection for his father, he will of course be punished ; and it was for this reason that I gave the advice to mako the old man the defendant. Also, the plan which your Honour formed was not the less good. Our Indigo cultivation has been newly made on the sides of his tank ; thus laying the snake's eggs in his heart. Planter. With one stone two birds have been killed ; ten bigahs of land are cultivated with Indigo, and also that fool is punished. He shed much tears, saying that if Indigo be planted near the tank we shall be obliged to leave our habitation ; but I said, to cultivate Indigo in one's habita- tion is to the best advantage. Gopi. And the fool brought an action in the Court, on hearing that reply. Planter. That will be of no effect ; that Magistrate is a very good man. If the case turn into a civil one it will never be concluded in less than five years. That Magistrate is a great friend of mine. Just see, by the new Act, the four rascals were thrown into prison only by making your evidence strong. This Act is become the brother of the sword. 44 NIL DARPAN, OB Gopl. Saheb, in order that those four ryots might not suffer loss in their cultivation, Nobin Bose has given his own plough, kine, and harrow for the ploughing of their lands ; and he is trying his utmost that their families might not suffer great trouble. Planter. When he is required to plough this land, for which advances are allowed, he says, my ploughs and kine are less in number. He is very wicked ; and now he is very well punished^. Dewan, now you have done very well, and now I see work may be carried on by you, without loss. " | Gopi. Saheb, it is your own favour. My desire is, that advances should be increased every year. But that cannot be done by me alone ; some confident Amin and Khalasis are necessary. Can the Indigo cultivation be improved by those who, for the sake of two rupees, occasioned the loss of the produce of three bigahs of land ? Planter. I have understood it, the rascally Amin oc- casioned this confusion. Gopi. Saheb, the new habitation, and the taking of ad- vances of Chunder Goladar are not allowed here. The Amin once, according to regular custom, threw one rupee on his ground as an advance. That person, in order to l)e allowed to return that rupee even shed tears and came along with the Amin as far as Ruthtollah, begging him earnestly to take it back. There he met with Nilkanta Babu, who has chosen the profession of an Attorney imme- diately after leaving the College. Planter. I know that rascal ; he, it is, who writes every thing concerning me in the newspapers. Gopi. Their papers can never stand before yours, can by no means bear a comparison ; and, moreover, they are as the earthen bottles for cooling water compared to tlie jars of Dacca. But, to bring the newspapers within your in- INDIGO PLANTING MIRROR 45 fluence, great expense has been incurred. That takes place according to time ; as is said, ' ' According to circumstances, the friend becomes an enemy : " The lame ass is sold at the price of the horse." Planter. What did Nilkanta do ? Gopi. He sharply rebuked the Amin ; and the Amin with, no little shame brought back that one rupee, with two rupees more, from Goladar's house. Chunder Goladar would have been able very easily to supply the Indigo for three or four bigalis. Is this the work of a servant ? If I canSonduct the Dewanny and the business of the Amin ; then this kind of ingratitude can be stopped. Planter. Great wickedness this is ; evident ingratitude. Gopi. Saheb, grant pardon for this bad conduct ; the Amin brought his own sister to our younger Saheb's room. Planter. Yes ! Yes ! I know ; that rascal and Podi corrupted our young Saheb. I must give that wicked fool some instruction very soon. Send him to my sitting room. (Exit Mr. Wood) Gopi. Just see, in whose hand the monkey plays best. The Khali is one rogue, and the Crow another. " Now have you fallen under the stroke of the Khait ; where even the grand-father of the sister's husband loses the game." THIBD ACT SECOND SCENE. THE BED-ROOM OF NOBIN MADHAB. NOBIN MADHAB and SOIRINDRI sitting. Soirindri. Lord of my soul, what is preferable, whether the ornament or my father-in-law ? That, for which thou art wandering about day and night ; that, for which thou hast 46 NIL DARPAN, OR left thy food and sleep ; that, for which thou art shedding tears incessantly ; that, for which thy pleasant face has been depressed ; and that which has occasioned thy head-ache ; my dear Lord, can I not for that give away this my trifling ornament. Nobln. My dear, you can, with case, give ; but with what face shall I take it ? What great troubles the husband is to undergo in order to dress his wife : he has to swim in the rapid stream, to thro\v ( himself into the deep ocean, engage in battles, to climb mountains, to live in the wilderness, and to go before the mouth of the tiger. The husband a^rns his wife with so much trouble ; am I so very foolish as to take away the ornament from the very same wife. O my lotus-eyed, wait a little. Let me see this day, and if, filially I cannot procure it, then I shall take your ornaments afterwards. Soirindri. O my heart's love ! We are very unfortunate now ; and who is there that shall give you on loan the sum of Co.'s Us. 500 at such a time. I am entreating you again, take my ornaments and those of our youngest Bou, and try to procure money from a banker. Observing your troubles the lotus-like young Bou is become sad. Nobin. Ah ! my sweet-faced, the cruel words which you used struck on my heart like arrows of fire. Our youngest Bou, she is a girl ; good clothes and beautiful ornaments are objects of pleasure to her. What understanding has she now ? What does she know of family business. As our young Bipin cries when his neck-lace is taken from him in play, so our youngest Bou weeps when her ornaments are taken away. Oh, oh ! am I formed so mean-spirited a man ? Am I to be so cruel a robber ? Shall I deceive a young girl ? This can never be, as long as life exists. The worthless Indigo Planters even cannot commit such a crime. Mv dear, never use such a word before me. INDIGO PLANTING MIRROR. 47 Soirindri. Beloved of my soul, that pain with which I told these words, is only known to me and the omniscient God. What doubt is there, that they are fiery arrows ? They have burst my heart and burnt my tongue, and then having divided the lips, have entered your heart. It is with great pain that I told you to take the ornaments of the youngest Bou. Can there be any pleasure iu the mind, after having observed this your insane wander- ing, this weeping of my father-in-law, Jiie deep sighs of my mother-in-law, the sad face of the youngest Bou, the deject- ed c^intenance of relatives and friends, and the sorrowful mournings of the ryots \ If by any means we can restore safety, then all shall be safe. My Lord, I do feel the same pain in giving the ornaments of our youngest Bou, as if I had to give those of Bipin ; but if I give away the or- naments of Bipin, before giving those of the youngest Bou, that would prove an act of cruelty to her ; since, she might think that my sister looks on me as a stranger. Can I give pain to her honest heart by doing this ? Is this the work of the elder sister who is like a mother ? Nobin. My dear love ! Your heart is very sincere. There is not a second to you in sincerity in the female race. Is this my family reduced to this state ! What was I, and what am I now become ! The sum of my profits was seven hundred Rupees. I had fifteen warehouses for corn, sixteen bigahs of garden land, twenty ploughs and fifty harrows. What great feasts had I at the time of the Puja ; the house filled with men, feasting the Brahmins, gifts to the poor, the feasting of friends and relations, the musical entertainments of the Voishnabas, and also pleasant theatrical representations. I have expended such large sums, and even given as donations one hundred Rupees. Being so rich, now I am obliged to take away the ornaments of my wife, and the wife of my young brother. What affliction ? God, thou didst 48 NIL DARPAN, OR give these, and thou hast taken them again. Then, what sorrow ? Soirindri. My dear, when I see you weep, my life itself weeps (tears in her eyes). Was there so much pain in my fate ; am I thus destined to see such distress in my Lord ? Do not prevent m> 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 I 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 subpoenas 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. (Exit Magistrate, Mr. Wood, Mr. Rose, Chaprasi, and Bearers.) Sheristadar. Nazir, take the security-bond from the defendant properly. (Exit sheristadar, agent, the plaintiff's attorney, the ryots.) Nazir. (To the Defendant's Attorney.) How can we write now, while it is evening ; moreover, I am somewhat busy now. 62 NIL DARPAN, OR 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 cul- tivation. This is my whole stock. It is for your sake only that I have agreed to take Rupees 1 00. Let us go to our lodging. Be careful that the Dewan does not hear this- Have not they got something as their own. (Exit all.) FOUKTH ACT SECOND SCENE.r INDRABAD, THE DWELLING of BINDU MADHAB. NOBIN MADHAB, BINDU MADHAB, and SADHU sitting. 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* 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 foqd 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 * This pronoun refers to the father of Nobin. INDIGO PLANTING MIRROR. 63 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 place where he was made to sit down at first, is still that where he now is. Being entire- ly silent, and remaining weak in body and without power to move, he is become like a dead pigeon in this cage- like prison. This day is the fourth, and to-day I nrust make him take food. You had better go lnjine, and I shall send a letter every day. Nyfrin. 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. 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. Enter the Deputy Inspector. 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. 64s NIL DARPAN, OR 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 Jiad better start, for there is a long way to go. (Exit Nobin, Bindu, and Sa^hu.) 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. Enter the Pundit of the College. Welcome, Sir ! Pundit. My body is naturally somewhat of a warm na- ture. I cannot bear 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? INDIGO PLANTING MIRROR. 65 Pundit. He is now trying some means to leave this doggish service. While his good son is making some acqui- sition 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. Re-enter BINDU MADHAB. Bindu. The Pundit is come. * Pundit. Did the sinful creature show so much injustice 1 You^d not hear it ; at Christmas he spent ten days conti- nually in that Factory. The ryot is to have justice from him ! Can the Hindu celebrate his religious services before the Kazi (the Mahomedan 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." * 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, there- fore, you spoke thus of him. The pommissioner 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 ? * This is a proverb, signifying you cannot separate the tares from wheat. K 66 NIL DARPAN, OR 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. Enter a Chaprasi. Art thou a chaprasi of the gaol ? Chaprasi. Sir, come quickly to the gaol. The Darogah has called you. Bindu. Have you seen my father this day ? Chaprasi. Come, Sir. I cannot say anything. Binda. Come, Sir (to the Pundit). I don't suppose all good. I go. (Exit Binda Madhab and Chaprasi.) Pundit. Yes ; let us all-go. I think some bad accident has taken place. (Exit loth.) FOURTH ACT THIRD SCENE. THE PRISON-HOUSE OF INDRABAD. The, dead body of Ooluk 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 ? \Tamadar. 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. INDIGO PLANTING MIRROR. 67 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. Enter BINDU MADHAB. 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 owi'Mhead 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* 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 Jwld 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. Enter Deputy Inspector and the Pundit, 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 * Bhima or Brikadar was the .second brother of Yudliistira and the second son of Pandu. 68 NIL DARPAN, OR 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?,. Daroga. Sir, you are wise, you are reproaching me. Enter the Doctor. ** 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 arid 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. INDIGO PLANTING MIRROR. 69 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 tor- tures which the poor people suffered from the Indigo Planters, so much the more they began to love them, and to ha VA 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 sweeper's basket." Pundit. Let us take away the dead body. Doctor. We must be sharp. You can bring it out. (Bindu Madhab and the Deputy Inspector loosening the rope bring out the corpse) (Exit all) FIFTH ACT FIKST SCENE. BEFORE THE OFFICE OF THE BAGHUNBARI FACTORY. Enter GOPINATH DAS and a Herdsman. Gopi. How did you get so much information ? Cowherd. We are their neighbours ; day and night, we go to their house. Whenever we are in want of any thing, either a little salt or a ladle of oil, we immediately go to them and bring it ; if the child cry, we bring a little molasses from them and give it ; we are getting our support for nearly seven generations from the Bose family ; and can't we get information about them ? Gopi. Where was Bindu Madhab married ? Coivherd. Oh, it is in a village to the west of Calcutta. 70 NIL DARPAN, OE lu which they wanted to have the Kaistas* wear the poita. We cannot satisfy all the Brahmins now in existence in a great feast, and still they wanted to increase the number. The father- in-law of our young Babu is greatly respected. The Judge or Magistrate when they come to him take off their hats. Do such men give their daughters to men of these places ? Observing the improvements in learning made by our young Babu, they did not care about the village belonging to ryots. People say that the women in cities are showy, and that there is no distinction between those who live within the house and those who live in the bazar, f But WP. do not at all find a young woman of a mild temper as the Bou of the Bose family is. The mother of Goma goes to their house every day, still, although she has been married for nearly five years, she has never seen her face. We saw her only on that day when she came here. We thought that the Babus in the city keep company with the Euro- peans ; therefore they have brought their females into public like English ladies. Gopi But the Bou is always engaged in attending on her mother-in-law. Cowherd. Dewanji, what shall I say ? The mother of Goma says, I heard a report that, had not the youngest Bou been in the house when the news of Nobin being bound by the rope and thus killed came, the mistress of the family would have died. We heard also that the women in the city treat their husbands as sheep (slaves) and murder their parents by not giving them any support ; but observing this Bou, I now know that it is a mere report. Gopi. I think, the mother of Babu Nobin Chunder also loves her. * The writer class among the Natives of this country t Signifying the distinction between the women of a good and that of a licentious character. INDIGO PLANTING MIRROR. 71 Cowherd. I don't see any one in the world whom she does not love. Ah ! She is an Annapurnah* (full of rice). But have you kept the rice that she shall be full of it ?-f- The vile Planters have swallowed up the old man, and they are now on the point of swallowing up the old woman. Gopi'. Thou braggart fool, if the Saheb hear this; he will bring out your new moon.J Cowherd. What can I do ? Is it my desire to sit in the Factory and abuse the Sahebs ? Gopi. I am very sorry that I have destroyed this man of jjjQ&t honour by a false law-suit. I have also felt great pain on hearing of Nobiu's severe head-ache and the miser- able condition of his mother. Cowherd. It is the cold attacking a frog. Dewanji, don't be angry with me, I am as a mad goat ; shall I pre- pare the tobacco ? Gopi. This stupid fellow of Nanda's family is very senseless. Cowherd. The Sahebs are doing all : they themselves are blacksmiths and at the same time the cimeter ; where they make one to fall, there they themselves also fall. If ruin come upon these Sahebs' Factories, then the people of the villages save themselves by ba thing. || * .-' Gopi. You are very foolish. I don't want to hear any more ? Go out, the Saheb will come very soon. Cowherd. Now, I am going. You must attend to my milk bill, and also give me one rupi to-morrow. We shall go to bathe in the Ganges. (Exit Cowherd.) * This is one of the nnmes of Durga, meaning the goddess of Plenty. t Signifying, have you not taken away her whole possession ? Then, how can she show her pity by supporting the poor ? J That is, he will make every thing dark to you, as at the time of the new moon. In short, he will kill you. That is, nothing ; us the cold has no effect on the frog. |J That is, purify themselves by bathing. 72 NIL DARPAN, OR Gopi. I think the thunder-bolt will strike this head, which is aching. No one will be able to stop the Saheb in sowing the Indigo seed on the sides of your tank. The Sahebs did something improper. These persons engaged themselves to sow Indigo on fifty bigahs of land, although they did not get the full price for the last year. Yet the Sahebs are not satisfied ; these disputes arose only for certain pieces of grounds ; and it would have been good for Nobin Bose to have given them the^e to keep the goddess Sitola* well- pleased is the best. Nobin will bite once more even after his death. (Seeing the Saheb at a distance). Here the wfc te- bodied man with a blue dress is coming. I think, I am to remain as a companion with the former Dewan for some days. Enter MR. WOOD. Wood. There will be a great quarrel at Matanagara : and all the latyals will be there. Let no one hear this ? For this place, make a collection of ten of the poda caste of (Surki) brickpowder makers or sellers. I, Mr. Rose, and you are to go there. The fool while he has taken his cachaf will not be able to increase the row greatly. He is sick ; then how can he go to bring assistance from the Darogah. Gopi. The extreme weakness to which these are reduced, makes it unnecessary to bring any surkiwalld among the Hindus, for a person to die with a rope round his neck, especially within a prison is very disgraceful ; so he is greatly punished by this occurrence. * Sitola is the goddess of the small-pox; and the meaning of the above is that if that goddess be kept satisfied, the disease of the sinall-pox cannot come; and if coine, will pass away. t This refers t^ Nobin Bose. The cacha signifies tho piece of cloth kept by the sons on the death of their parents for one month, when the pinda or offering to the dead is made. INDIGO PLANTING MIRROR. 73 Wood. You do not understand this. The rascal is become very happy on the death of his father. He took the ad- vances for a long time only through fear of his father ; now that fea,r is gone, and he will do as he likes. The rascal has given a bad name to my Factory, and I will im- prison him to-morrow and keep him along with Mojum- dar. If the Magistrate be of the same character with him of Amaranagara, the wicked people will be able to do every thing. , Gopi. With respect to what they planned about the case of Mo^imdar, I cannot say how very terrible it would have been, had not Nobin Bose fallen into this great danger. I cannot say what they still will do ? Moreover, as the Magistrate, who is coming, we have heard, is on the side of the ryots ; and when he comes to the villages, he brings along with him his tents. Observing this, we may say it might occasion great confusion, and also it is somewhat fearful. Wood. You are always puzzling me with speaking of fear ; the Indigo Planters, in nothing whatever, have any fear. If you don't desire it, leave your business, thou great fool ! Gopi. Sir, fear comes on good grounds. When the former Dewan was put in prison, his son came to ask for the last six months' salary of his father. On which you told him to make an application. Then, on his making the application, you again said the salary cannot be given before the accounts are closed. Honored Sir, is this the judgment on a servant when he is put in prison ? Wood. Did not I know this ? Thou stupid, ungrateful creature ! What becomes of your salaries ? If you did not devour the price of the Indigo, would there be any deadly Commission ? Would the poor ryots have gone to the Missionaries with tears in their eyes? You, rascal, have L 74 NIL DARPAN, OR destroyed every thing. If the Indigo lessen in quantity, I shall sell your houses and indemnify myself ; thou arrant coward, hellish knave ! Gopi. Sir, we are like butcher's dogs : we fill our bellies with the intestines. Had you, Sir, taken the Indigo from the ryots in the very same way as the (Mahajans) factors take the corn from their debtors, then the Indigo Factories would never have suffered such disgrace ; there would have been no necessity for an ovejpeer and the khalasis, and the people would never have reproached me with saying " Cursed Gopi ! Cursed Gopi 1" ^ Wood. Thou art blind, thou hast no eyes. Enter an Umadar (an Apprentice). I have seen with my own eyes (applying his hand to his own eyes) the Mahajans go to the ricefield, and quarrel with the ryots (their debtors). Ask this person. Apprentice. Honored Sir, I can give many examples of that. The ryots say, it is through the grace of the Indigo Planters only that we are preserved from the hands of the Mahajans. Gopi. (Aside, to the Apprenticed) My child, it is vain flattery. No employment is vacant now. (To Mr. Wood) It is true that the Mahajans go to the rice-fields and dispute with the ryots ; but if your Honor had been acquainted with the mysterious intention of the Mahajans in going to the fields and raising disputes, you would never have com- pared with the going of the Mahajans to the fields, the punishment of the poor with Shamchand resembling the tortures which Lakhman, the son of Sumitra, suffered by the Sacti-sela,* while they are without food. * Lakhman was the brother of Rama. When they were gone to make war with Ravana of Lunka, (Ceylon) in a certain battle Lakhman suffered rery much by the Sacti-sela (the name of a superior engine in a battle). INDIGO PLANTING MIRROR. 75 Wood. Very well, explain it to me. There must be some reason why these fools speak to us of every thing else ; but of the Mahajans they don't say a single word. GopL Honored Sir, these debtors, whatever sum of money they require for the whole year, they take from the Mahajans, and that quantity of rice which is necessary for them for that time, they also take from their creditors. At the end of the year, the debtors clear their debts either by selling the tobacco, sugar-cane, sesamum, and other things which they have, and then giving the sum collected to their creditors with the_ interest on the sum for the time ; or by giving those very articles according to the market price : and of the corn which grows, they send to the Mahajans' houses, a part half- prepared. That which remains proves sufficient for the ex- penses of the family for three or four months. If through famine or any improper expenses of the debtors, there fall any arrears in their supplies, the remainder of the debt is carried into the new account-book. Then, by and by, the re- mainder is filled up. The Mahajans never bring an action against their debtors ; consequently the falling into arrears appears to them, as it were, a present loss. I suppose the Mahajans for that reason, sometimes go to the fields, observe the preparation of the rice and also enquire whether the extent of land for which the debtors have asked the revenue from them, is all cultivated with grain. Some inexperienced persons, taking under false pretences a larger sum than is necessary, and thus being burdened with heavy debts, cause losses on the part of the Mahajans and also themselves suffer great trouble. The Maha- jans go to the fields for stopping these, and not like " Indigo Giants" (strikes his tongue}* Sir, the stupid, shameless Mahajans speak thus. * This is a sign of shame or fear. 76 NIL DARPAN, OR Wood. I see, Saturn * has come upon you to your des- truction ; else why art thou become so very inquisitive, and why so presumptuous, you stupid, incestuous brute ? Gopi. Sir, we are made to swallow abuse, to submit to shoe-beating, and also we are the men to go to the Shrighurf* (the prison) ; the men should there be a dispensary or school in the Factory you get the credit ; should there be murders, we are the men. When I come to you for advice, you, Sir, become angry. That anxiety which I have felt for the law-suit of the Mojumdars, is only known to the Lord of all. Wood. The fool is such, that whenever I tell him ta do any action requiring courage, he brings to my ears the law-suit of the Mojumdar. I am saying always that thou art an ig- norant fool ; why don't you become satisfied with sending Nobin Bose to the godown of Sochigunge. Gopi. Thou, Sir, art the parent of this poor man ; it would be good, if for the benefit of thy poor servant, thou sendest him once to Nobin Bose to ask him about this case. Wood. Stop, thou upstart of a son. Shall I go to meet a dog for you ? You coward son of a Kaista^: (throws him down with kicks'). Were you sent as a witness to the Com- mission, you would have ruined every thing, you diabolical niggar (two kicks more) ; with such a tongue you shall do your work like a Caot, you stupid Kaet. Were it not for your work on to-morrow, I would send you to the jail. (Exit Mr. Wood and the Apprentice.) Gopi. ( Rubbing his body all over and rising up ). A person becomes the Dewan of an Indigo Planter after being * The planet Saturn is said to have a very bad influence. Whenever it comes upon one, the utter ruin of that persou is thought very near. f Ironically, the house of Prosperity. J The Kaista is the caste of writers. Caot is the name of a mean caste, and the word Kaet is only a common orm of expression for the term Kaista. INDIGO PLANTING MIRROR. 77 born a vulture* seven hundred times ; else, how are numberless stockings digested ?j- Oh ! what kickings ! Oh ! the fool is, as it were, the wife of a student who is out of College.} (Aside) Dewan, Dewan. Gopi. Your servant is present. Whose turn is it ? " In the sea of love are many waves." (Exit Gopi.) * FIFTH ACT SECOND SCENE. THE BEDROOM OF NOBIN BOSE. Aduri crying when preparing Nobin' s bed. Aduri. Ah ! ha ! ha ! where shall I go ? My heart is on the point of bursting. They have beaten him so Severely that the pulse is moving very slowly ; our mistress will die as soon as she sees this. When Nobin was taken by force to the Factory, they were tearing themselves and weeping under the shade of that tree ; but when brought towards our house, they did not see that. (Aaide.J We shall take him into the house. Aduri. Bring him into the house. None of them are here. Enter SADHU and TORAPA bearing the senseless Nobin on their shoulders. Sadhu. (Making Nobin Madhab to lie on the bed.) Madam, where art thou ? Aduri. They began to see, standing under the tree. When this person (pointing to Torapa) flew away with him, we thought he was taken to the Factory. They began to * The vulture is tnken for a detestable bird. t Signifying, else how can he bear so many kickings ? J This is said only in reference to his dress. 78 NIL DARPAN, OR tear themselves under the tree. I came to the house to call certain persons. Will our mistress remain alive when she sees this dead son? Do you stand here; let me call them here. (Exit Aduri.) Enter the Priest. Priest. Oh God, hast thou killed such a man ! Hast thou stopped the provision of so many men ! We do not find any such symptom that our eldest Babu will sit up again. Sadhu. God's will. He can give life to a dead man^ Priest. On the third day, Bindu Babu, according to the Shastras, celebrated the offering of the funeral cake(pindaddri) on the banks of the Ganges ; it is only through the entreaties of his mother that preparations are being made for the monthly ceremony (shradh). It was determined that after the cele- bration of the ceremony, their dwelling place is to be removed ; and I also heard that they will no more meet with that cruel Saheb ; then why did he go there to-day ? Sadhu. Our eldest Babu has no fault, nor has he any want of judgment. "Our madam and the eldest Bou forbad him many times. They said, " During the days we are to remain here, we will bathe with the water of the well, or Aduri will bring the water from the tank ; we shall have no trouble." The eldest Babu said " With a present of 50 Rupis, I shall fall at the Saheb's feet, and thus stop the cultivation of the Indigo on the side of the tank, and shall speak nothing of the dispute in such a dangerous time." With this inten- tion our eldest Babu took me and Torap with him, and going there with tears in his eyes, said to the Saheb, " Saheb, I bring you a present of 50 Rupis ; only for this year, stop the cultivation of the Indigo in this place : and if this be not granted, take the money, and delay that business only till the time when the ceremony is to be performed." There is sin INDIGO PLANTING MIRROR. 79 even in repeating the answer which the wretch gave, and the hairs of our body stood on an end. The rascal said, " Your father was hung in the jail of the Yabans* with thieves and robbers ; therefore keep your money for the sacrifice of many bulls which are necessary for his ceremony." Then placing his shoe on one of the eldest Babus knees, he said " This is the gift for your father's ceremony." Priest. Narayan! Narayan.f (Placing his hand on his ears). ^ Sadhu. Instantly the eyes of the eldest Babu became red ^Lke blood, his whole body began to tremble, he bit his lips with his teeth and then remaining silent for a short time gave the Saheb a hard kick on the breast, so that he fell on the ground upside down like a bundle of bena (a certain grass). Kes Dali, who is now the jamadar of the Factory, and other ten surkiola immediately stood round him. The eldest Babu had once saved these from the hands of robbers ; so they felt a little ashamed to raise their hand against him. Mr. Wood gave a blow to the jamadar, took the stick out of his hand and smote with it the head of the eldest Babu. The head was cracked, and he fell down senseless on the ground ; I tried much, but was not able to go into that crowd. Torapa. was observing this from a distance : and as soon as the men stood round the eldest Babu, he with violence rushed into this crowd like an obstinate buffalo, took him up, and flew off. Torapa. I was told " to stand at a distance, lest they take me away by force." The fools hate me very much ; do I hide myself when there is a tumult ? If I had gone a little before, I would have brought the Babu safe, and would have sacrificed two of those rascals in the Durgah of Borkat Bibi * This term Yabans has reference to the Mahomedans, the Europeans, t The name of Vishnu, God. 80 NIL DARPAN, OB (the temple of Benediction). My whole body is shrunk on ob- serving the head of the Babu ; then, when shall I kill these? Oh ! oh ! the eldest Babu saved me so many times, but I was not able to save him once. (Beats his forehead and cries.) Priest. I see a wound from a weapon on his breast. Sadhu. As soon as Torapa rushed into the crowd, the young Saheb struck the Babu with the sword. Torapa saved the Babu by placing^ his hand in front of his own, which was cut, and there was the sign of a slight bruise on the Babu's breast. Priest. (Deeply thinking for some time, reads). " Man knows this for certain, that understanding and goodness are necessary in the friend, the wife, and in servants." I do not see a single person in this large house ; but a person of a different caste and of another village, is weeping near the Babu. Ah ! the poor man is a day-laborer, and his very hand is cut off. Why is his face all daubed over with blood ? Sadhu. When the young Saheb struck his hand with the sword, like an ichneumon making a noise when its tail is cut off, he in agony from the pain of his hand flew off after seizing with a bite the nose of the elder Saheb. Torapa. That nose I have kept with me, and when the Babu will rise up alive again I will show him that ( shows the nose cut off). Had the Babu been able to fly off himself, I would have taken his ears ; but I would not have killed him, as he is a creature of God. Priest. Justice is still alive. The Gods were saved from the injustice of Ravana, when the nose of Surpanaka was cut off : shall not the people be saved from the tyranny of the Indigo Planters by the cutting off of the elder Saheb's nose ? INDIGO PLANTING MIRROR. 81 Torapa. Let me now hide myself ; I shall fly off in the night. That fool will overturn the whole village on account of his nose. (Exit Torapa bowing down twice on the earth near Nobin Madhab' s bed.) Sadku. So very weak is our madam become by the death of her husband, that there is no doubt she will die, when she sees Babu Nobin in this condition. I applied so much water, rubbed my hand over the head,so long ; but nothing is bringing him to his senses again. You, Sir, call him once. Finest. Eldest Babu ! Eldest Babu ! Nobin Madhab ! ( with tears in his eyes ) Guardian of ryots ! Giver of food ! moving his eyes now ! Ah ! The mother will die immediately. When she heard of his being bound with ropes above ground, she resolved not to take the rice of this sinful world for ten days. This is the fifth ; this morning, Nobin Madhab taking hold of her shoulders shed much tears and said, " Mother, if thou dost not take food this day, then I shall never take the rice with the clarified butter ; thus placing the sin of disobedience to the mother on my head ; but shall re- main without food/' On which the mother kissing her son Nobin, said, " My son, I was a queen, now am I become- the mother of a king. I would never have been sorry, had I once been able to place his* feet on my head at the time when he departed this life. Did such a virtuous person die an inauspicious death ? It is for this reason that I am remain- ing without food. Ye are the children of this poor woman ; looking on you and Bindu Madhab, I shall, this day, take for my food the orts of our reverend priest. Do not shed your tears before me." (Aside, cries of sorrow.) Coming. * This pronoun " his" stands for Goluk Chunder, the father of Nobin Madhab. 82 NIL DARPAN, OK Enter SABITRI, SOIRINDRI, SARALOTA, ADURI, REBOTI, the Aunt of Nobin, and other ivomen of the neighbour- hood. There is no fear, he is still alive. Sabitri. (Observing Nobin . on the point of death.) Nobin Madhab ! my son, my son, my son, where, where, where art thou ! Oh ! Alas ! (Falls senseless.) Soirindri. (With tears in her eyes.) Oh young Bout take hold of our mother-in-law ; let me once see the Lord of my life, in the fulness of my heart. (Sits near the mouth of Nobin.) Priest. (To Soirindri.) My daughter, thou art a great lover of thy husband, a woman of constancy ; the frame of thy body was created in a good moment. For one who is so entirely devoted to her husband, and who has every thing good on her part, Fortune may give life to her husband again ; he is moving his eyes, serve him without fear. Sadhu, remain here till our madam be in her senses. (Exit Priest.) Sadhu. Just see and place your hand on her nose. The body is become stiffer than that of a dead body. Saralota. (Speaking slowly to Reboti, after placing the hand on the nose.) Her breathing is full, but the fire com- ing out of the head is so very intense that my throat, as it were, burns. Sadhu. Has the Gomastah (head clerk) fallen into th e hands of the Sahebs while he is gone to bring the physician ? Let me go to the lodging-house of that physician. '(Exit Sadhu.) Soirindri. Ah ! Ah, my Lord ! that mother for whose abstinence from food thou hast grieved so much ; that mother, INDIGO PLANTING MIRROR. 83 for whose weakness thou hadst served her feet ; that mother, who for some days was, by no means, able to sleep without placing thee in her lap, that very same dear mother is now lying senseless before thee, and thou art not seeing her once (seeing jSabitri). As tJie cow losing her young one wanders about with loud cries, then being bit by a serpent falls down dead on thejield ; so the mother is lying senseless on the ground being grieved for her dear son. My Lord open thine eyes once more ; call thy maid-servant* once more with thy sweet voice and thus satisfy her ears onca . ifie sun of happiness has set at noon for me; what shall my Bipin do 1 (With tears in hW eyes falls upon the breast of Nobin Madhab.) Saralota. Ye who an here take hold of our sister. Soirindri. (Rising up). I became an orphan while very young ; it is for this death-like Indigo that my father was taken to the Factory, and he returned no more. That place became to him 'the residence of Yama (Death). My poor mother took me to the house of my maternal uncle, and there through grief for her husband, she bade adieu to the world. My uncles preserved me ; I remained like a flower accidently let fall from the hand of the gardener. My Lord took me up with love and increased my honour. I forgot the sorrow for my parents, and in the life of my husband my parents were, as it were, revived (deep sigh). All my griefs are rising up anew in my mind. Ah ! If I be deprived of that husband who keeps every thing under the shade of his protection, I shall again become the same helpless orphan. Nobin' s Aunt. (Raising her with the hands}. What fear my daughter ? Why become so full of anxiety ? A letter is sent to Bindu Madhab to bring a doctor. He will be cured when the doctor comes. (Falls down upon the ground. ) * The term maid-servant here refers to Soiriudri, tho wife of Nobin MadLab. 84 NIL DAEPAN, OR SoirindrL My aunt-in-law, wliile I was a girl I made a celebration of a certain religions observance ; and placing my hands on the Alpana* (the white-washing prepared for the festival) prayed for these blessings : that my husband be like Rama, my mother-in-law like Kousalya, my father-in-law like Dasaratha, my brother-in-law like Lakshman. My aunt ! God gave me more than I prayed for. My husband is as Ra- ghunath (Rama) brave and a provider of his dependants ; my mother-in-law is as Kousalya. having a sweet speech and an earnest love for her sons' wives ; my father-in-law is always happy in saying Badhumata, Badhumata,-f and is the bright- ener of the ten sides.! Bindu Madhab, who surpasses the au- tumnal moon in purity, is dearer to me than was Lakshman- deva to Sita-devi. My aunt, all has taken place according to my desire ; only there is one in which I find some disagree- ment I am still alive. Rama is making preparations for going to the forests, but there is no preparation for Sita's going with him Ah ! he was so much grieved on the abstinence of his father ; again, he took the cacha for the celebration of his funeral ceremony ; but before that was done he is preparing to go up to heaven (to die.) (Looking on his face with a steady sight} Ah ! his lips are dry. Oh ! my friends and com- panions, call my Bipin at once from the school ; I shall once more (with weeping eyes) through his hands pour a little water of the Ganges into his dry mouth. (Places her mouth on that of his) * It is a general custom in this country to apply the alpaua on the floor nearly in all religious observances. t This term signifies the wife of one's son. J This expression, " the brightener of the ten sides " signifies that he did good wherever he went. The ten sides are the north, south, east, west, north-east, north-west, south-east, south-west, the top, and the under sides. The reference here is to the wanderings of Rama in the wilderness of the Deccan. The signification of the original is that while the husband Nobin is he on the point of death, there is no preparation for hia wife to die with him. INDIGO PLANTING MIRROR. 85 All at once. Ah ! Ah ! Nobin s Aunt. (Takes hold of her body and raises her.") My daughter, do not speak such words now (weeps) ; if my sister were in her senses, her heart would have been burst. Soirindri Oh ! mother, my desire is that my husband be happy in a future state in the same proportion as he had suffered misery in this. My Lord, I your bond-maid will pray to God for life ; thou wast most virtuous, the doer of great good to others and the supporter of the ipo&L The Great Lord of the Universe, who provides for the helpless, must give you a place. Ah ! take me, my Lord, with thee, that I may supply thee, with the flowers for the worship of God. " Ah ! what loss ! what ruin ! I see that Rama is going to the wilderness leaving his Sita alone. What shall I do? Where shall I go ? and how shall I preserve my life ? Oh friend of the distressed, Oh Romanath ! Oh Great Wealth of the woman, supply me some means in this distress, and pre- serve me. I see that Nobin Madhab is now being burnt in the fire of Indigo. Oh, Lord of the distressed ! Where is my husband going now, making me unfortunate and without support," (placing her hand on the breast of Nobin, and raising a deep sigh). The husband now takes leave of his family, having placed all at the feet of God. Oh Lord, thou who art the sea of mercy, the supporter of the helpless, now give safety, now save ! Saralota. Sister, our mother-in-law has opened her eyes ; but is looking on me with a distorted countenance, (weeping). My sister, our mother-in-law never turned her face towards me with eyes so full of anger. Soirindri. Ah ! ah ! our mother-in-law loves Saralota so much, that it is through insensibility only that with such an angry face she had thrown this champa on the burning 86 ^ NIL DARPAN, OR pot.* Oh my sister, do not weep now ; when our mother-in- law becomes sensible she will again kiss you and with great affection call you "the mad-woman's daughter." (Sabitri rises up and sits near Nobin ; and looking steadily on him, with certain expressions of pleasure). Sabitri. There is no pain so excessive as the delivery of a child, but that invaluable wealth which I have brought forth made me forget all my sorrows on observing its face {weeping}. Ah ! if Madam Sorrow did not write a letter to Yama (Death) and thus* kill my husband, how very much would he have been pleased on seeing this child. (Clasps with her hand). All at once. Ah ! ah ! she is become mad. Sabitri. Nurse, put the child once more on my lap ; let me pacify my burnt limbs. Let me once more kiss it in the name of my husband. (Kisses Nobin}. Soirindri. Mother, I am your eldest Bou ; do you not see me. Your dear Hama is senseless ; he is not able to speak now. Sabitri. It would speak when it shall first get rice. Ah, ah, had rny husband been living what great joy ! .How many musical performances ! (Weeps). Soirindri. It is misfortune upon misfortune ! Is my mother-in-law mad now ? Saralota. Take our mother-in-law from the bed, my sister; let me take care of her. Sabitri. Did you write such a letter, that there is no musical performance on this day of joy ? (Looking on all sides and having risen from the bed by force, then going to Saralota) I do entreat thee, falling at thy feet, madam, to send another letter to Yama, and bring back my husband for once. Thou art the wife of a Saheb ; else, why shall I fall at thy feet ? * That is, she liad expressed so much anger against her j or as the origi- nal, thrown her into the burning-pot of disgust and hatred. The Champa is the name of a fragrant yellow flower. INDIGO PLANTING MIRROR. 87 Saralota. My mother-in-law, thou lovest me more than a mother, and such words from your mouth have given me more pain than that of death. (Taking Jiold of the two hands of Sabitri) Observing this your state, my mother, fire is, as it were, raining on my breast. Sabitri. Thou strumpet, stupid woman, and a Yabana, why dost thou touch me on this eleventh day of the moon ?* (Takes of her oivn hand}. Saralota. On hearing such wor^s from your mouth I cannot live (lies down on the ground taldng hold of her tnGjfyer-in-law's feef). My mother, I shall take leave of this world at your feet. (Weeps). Sabitri. This is good, that the bad woman is dead. My husband is gone to heaven ; but thou shalt go to hell. (Claps with her hand and laughs). Soirindri. (Rising up}. Ah ! ah ! our Saralota is very good-natured. Now having heard harsh words from her mother-in-law, she is become exceedingly sorry ! (To Sabitri) Come to me, mother. Sabitri' Nurse, hast thou left the child alone ? Let me go there. (Goes to Nobin hastily, and sits near him). Eeboti. (To Sabitri). Oh my mother ! Dost thou call that young Bou a bad woman, who you said was incomparable in the village ; and without whose taking food you never took food. My mother, you do not hear my words ; we were trained by you, you gave us much food. Sabitri. Come on the Ata Couriaf of the child, and I shall give you many sweetmeats. Nobin' s Aunt. My sister, Nobin will be alive again ; do not be mad. * This day is kept sacred by the widows of this country. t A certain ceremony performed on the eighth day after the lirth for securing its goo~^ the mind in the contemplation of that Being who is full of pleasure. Accidentally, a hole small as a line is observed in the field, and immediately that most pleasant bank falls down into the stream. How very sorrowful ! The Bose family of Svaropur is destroyed by Indigo, the great destroyer of honour. How very terrible are the arms of Indigo ! The cobra de capello, like the Indigo Planters, with mouths full of poison, threw all happiness into the flame of fire. The father, through injustice, died in the prison ; the elder brother in the Indigo-field, and the mother, being insane through grief for her husband and son, murdered with her own hands a most honest woman. Getting her understand- ing again, and observing my sorrow, the ocean of grief again swelled in her. With that disease of sorrow came the poison of want ; and thus without attending to consolation, she also departed this life. Incessantly do I call, Where is my father ? Where is my father ? Embrace me once more with a smiling face. Crying out, Oh mother ! Oh mother ! I look on all sides ; but that countenance of joy do I find no where. When I used to call, Mama, she immediately took me on her breast, and rub- bed my mouth. Who knows the greatness of maternal affec- tion ? The cry of mama, mama, mama, mama do I make in the battle-field and the wilderness whenever fear arises in the mind. Oh my brother, dear unto the heart, in the place 102 NIL DARPAN. of whom there is not one, as a friend in this world ! Thy Bindu Madhab is come ! open thine eyes once more and see. Ah ! ah ! it bursts my heart, not to know where my heart's Sarala is gone to. The most beautiful, wise, and entirely devoted to me ; she walked as the swan,* and her eyes were handsome as those of the deer. With a smiling face and with the sweetest voice, thou didst read to me the Betal. The mind was charmed by thy sweet reading which was as the singing of the bird in the forest. Thou, Sarala, hadst a most beauteous face, and didst brighten the lake of my heart. Who did take away my lotus with a cruel heart ? The beautiful Jake became dark. The world I. look upon is as a desert full of corpses ; while I have lost my father, my mother, my brother, and my wife. Ah ! where are they gone to in search of the dead body of my brother ? I am to prepare for going to the Gauges as soon as they come. Ah \ how very terrible, the last scene of the drama of the lion-like Nobin Madhab is ? (Sits down, taking hold of Sabitris feefy [The curtain falls down. * The gait of the swan is considered in this country the most beautiful model of the motion of the feet. FINIS. Calcutta Printing and Publishing Press, No. 10, AYcston's Lane. from which It was borrowed. Hill Hill Hill A 000026036 4 Univen Soul Lit