This is a story that involves sex between males. If such a story is offensive, or illegal for you to read where you live, then do not continue, go and surf elsewhere.
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My thanks to John who has read this through and made a number of corrections and suggestions. Any remaining errors , grammatical, spelling or historical or whatever are entirely my fault.
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A Meeting of the Twain Part 6
The journey to Landerabad took just over two months. In the days before flight, before railways, and before the invention of the internal combustion engine and the improvement of the roads, the maximum speed was that of four or two legs. Most of the roads in Eighteenth Century India were poor. There were rivers to be crossed, some of which made the Thames look in Lex's eyes like a feeble stream. Few of the larger rivers were spanned by bridges Where ferries had to be taken if often took several hours to cross a river. Slowly the convoy of mules and a couple of elephants made its way towards its destination.
Lex found the experience exciting. He was seeing more of the wonderful land. Its vastness thrilled him. Always there seemed to be life and activity. When their way lay through forests or across more open country there was an abundance of wild life. There were the villages and towns full of people, colour and noise. Towards the end of their journey they were the first Europeans that some of the native population had seen. Often small children, some naked, others sparsely clothed, stood in open mouthed wonder as the four British men rode past. You could not have called them `white'; the open air and the sun, in spite of hats being worn, made their faces and hands very brown, but they were always a lighter shade than the skin of Indian people.
It was also an opportunity for Lex to get to know his companions. Lex's British secretary was an Alan Smith. He was in his early forties, and by his general attitude showed that he thought Lex was far to young to have been appointed a Resident. He thought himself far better qualified. He was thin, and most of his hair was grey. He wore a beard, and this made him look even more sombre and older than he actually was. He was in some ways a forerunner of those British tourists who really want fish and chips and a pub on every corner of a foreign shore. He regarded everything Indian as inferior. Though he had been in India for over twenty years he only knew enough Bengali to give orders to the servants. Any form of conversation was well beyond him, and regarded beneath him. For him the journey was a torture that had to be borne. He looked forward to their arrival, so that he could live with four walls around him and a roof over his head. Lex wondered just how loyal he would be.
Captain Samuel Green was a Yorkshireman. He was short, rather tubby, ginger haired, with blue eyes, and an irrepressible sense of humour. He enjoyed the travel, and looked forward to what work in Landerabad would entail. He was in command of the small detachment of sepoys, and most officers enjoy an independent command. He had been in India for nearly six years, and was fairly conversant in Bengali.
His sergeant was a Scotsman, who spoke with a strong accent. He was called Jock McGregor. Lex never did discover what his true name was. He was dark haired, with thick dark eye-brows over dark brown eyes. He tended to look ferocious, as though a direct descendant of some warring clansmen from the Glens of the north of Scotland. He was in fact a lowland Scot. He spoke with a thick accent, that took the rest of the party sometime to fully understand. He had been in India for a dozen years, and was fluent in Bengali, and had a colourful vocabulary that extended well beyond Lex's. Lex was to pick up from him all the words that would never be used in front of an English woman! He had seen action a number of times and had fought bravely, but he was caring of those under him.
The fact that there were four very diverse Britishmen in the party presented a problem. Lex was in over all command. He would give direct orders to his secretary, Alan Smith. Sam Green was in charge of the sepoys, and would be in command in any security or military emergency. He would frequently be giving orders to his sergeant, Jock McGregor.
For the first week of the journey Jock ate alone. He was the junior and `not one of us' as a twentieth century Englishwoman of some notoriety was to put it about another matter. [See Footnote 1] Lex soon detected that Jock was missing his N.C.O. mates back in Calcutta. A conversation with Peter Green revealed that he felt in between, in between the military and the civil side of the operation. Alan Smith appeared to be rather a loner, but Lex realised that letting him be just that ran its risks. As for himself he realised that command held a certain loneliness. He thought over how to ameliorate the situation.
So one evening Lex called the four British members of the expedition together. "I propose that when we make camp for the night we have one tent where we eat and relax together. As far as possible in that tent the distinctions of occupation, rank and class shall not be observed. We can use Christian names there, not just surnames, or Sir. Outside that tent then it has to be different, and such distinctions will be observed. We shall only do this if all four of us agree. What do you think?"
Lex turned to Peter Green, as he thought he would be the one least likely to object.
Peter Green thought for a moment. "I think it is a good idea, I am happy with that."
"You, Sergeant, what do you think?"
"Two things, Sir. Everybody calls me Jock, I've not used my Christian name since I was a nipper. Second, I'm not used to polite society."
Lex laughed. "We can call you Jock, if that's what you want. I don't think four of us makes `polite society'. I think I would ask that you don't use any of your more colourful Bengali language in the tent." Lex winked at Jock as he said that.
"All right, Sir."
"And you, Alan?" By using his Christian name Lex was showing friendship, rather than a professional relationship. This made it more difficult for Alan Smith, his secretary, to object.
Alan sniffed, and looked at Jock and sniffed, which eloquently showed that he did not like the prospect of eating in the company of someone from the back streets of Edinburgh. "I suppose so," expressed his grudging acceptance.
Over the next few weeks the four of them got to know each other. Lex told them about his life at Whitgest, though not the reason for him coming out to India. Strangely enough it was Peter Green who did most to integrate Alan Smith, and Lex who worked on Jock. He even got Jock to tell them about his rough childhood brought up in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle.
Also in the party were the fifty sepoys and all the servants. The total involved on that trek through India was just under one hundred. Lex made an effort to get to know as many as possible by name. They would be working for him, under his command, his welfare certainly depended on them and there may well be occasions when his safety too would be in their hands.
It was the best part of the year for such travelling. It was the driest and coolest season. There were a few occasions, when they had reached some town, when the four British men were able to stay within four walls. This was always to Alan Smith's relief, but most nights they camped. Sentries were posted, for there were known to be bandits in some parts. On three or four nights intruders were spotted. Shouts were made and shots fired, and the intruders disappeared quickly on meeting an awake and armed response.
Lex missed Abhijit. He knew it would be far to risky to even try to form some new relationship while on the march. He was in no way attracted to any of the other three Europeans, and though some of the sepoys caught his eye, especially when there was an opportunity to bathe in a river, he knew that to do anything except use his eyes would be to court trouble. He relieved himself with his hand, and longed for the time when he could do it with another man. He wondered what lay in store for him on that score.
One evening when the four were eating inside their mess tent, they heard something of a commotion outside. Lex ordered Jock to go and find out what was going on. About five minutes later, a rather embarrassed Jock returned.
"There's a bit of trouble among the muleteers."
"What sort of trouble?" asked Lex.
"Well." he paused before carrying on. "A couple of them were caught playing around together."
"What do you mean?"
"They were off in the bushes shagging each other."
"How disgusting!" muttered Alan Smith.
"Sure they weren't sepoys?" asked Peter Green.
"No. Their duties are definitely with the luggage and transport."
"Not my responsibility," added Peter Green , with some relief.
"And what was all the noise exactly?"
"Some were laughing that the two had been caught. Others thought the white men would want to punish them."
"Quite right too," muttered Alan.
"They want one of us to say what is to be done with them."
"By British law they should be hung, or at least spend some time in the pillory" said Alan.
"I will come out, and decide what to do when I have finished eating." Lex at least gaining some time to think before taking action.
Alan Smith spoke out. "I advise you as the representative of His Majesty King George III to take firm action. We do not want this sort of thing going on amongst us. The act of parliament passed in the reign of King Henry VIII was very definite on what should be done about this. In England men caught in Molly Houses [Male brothels] can be hung or at least pilloried."
Lex looked at him. "Are they subjects of his Majesty. Are they subject to British law?"
Alan looked confused. "I am not sure that they are, in all truthfulness. But they should be."
"There is a world of difference in legal matters between what should be and what is." Lex's inclination was to say to the two men, Just be more careful in future' but he knew he could not do that. He thought for a moment of Christ's words to the woman caught in the act of adultery, Go and sin no more'. He would need to find out how such acts were regarded by Hindus, he thought he knew, but he would need to have that confirmed in order to justify any action taken.
"Jock, would you please ask the havildar [man in charge of transport, and the two men's immediate superior] to join me in my tent.
A few minutes later a highly embarrassed and fearful havildar presented himself at Lex's tent.
"I need your help, and advice."
"Sahib!"
"These two men; how serious is what they were doing regarded among your people?"
"There are always men who like doing that. There are some men who like doing it when there are no wives around. Most of the time, it is just known. As long as they don't do it in public."
"Do you think where these men were doing it a public place?"
"Not really. They were behind bushes. Pity there were not more bushes."
"Thank you. I will decide what to do in a two or three minutes. I need to question the two men involved." Lex got a jacket and put it on, and placed an official hat on his head and emerged from the tent.
There was a crowd standing round, and the two men, looking very dejected, were being held by some others. The moment Lex appeared the crowd fell silent. "Who found these men?"
A man was pushed forward, reluctance on his face.
"Will you tell me what you were doing, and what you saw, and what happened?"
"I was going off into the bushes to shit, when I saw these two. One of them was shagging the other."
"So what did you do?"
"Ran back and got some of my mates to come and watch."
"Then what happened?"
"A whole crowd arrived and started laughing and making a noise. Some guys dragged them back into camp. There was a lot of laughter and shouting."
"Yes, I heard that." Lex stood for a moment. He turned to the two men. "What are your names?"
"Sahl," said the older of the two. "Mohi," said the second.
"Do you agree with that account of what happened?"
"Yes, Sir."
"I think you are guilty of doing something that some regard as wrong. I think the laughter, and being seen by so many is part of the punishment. For doing it in a semi- public place I sentence you to three days of helping the cooks prepare and clear up after the main meal in an evening."
This sentence was mild, the equivalent to having to do spud bashing duties in the mid twentieth century British army. It meant that for next three days the men lost their time of relaxation.
There were murmurs from the spectators. Lex sensed that they were not hostile.
Lex went back to his tent and sat down. He hoped he had done the right thing.
The next day Peter Green came up to him. "I thought, if I may say so, Sir, that you handled that situation yesterday evening well. It does not do to interfere in local customs and practices. I think everyone was happy with it, except perhaps the two involved. You had to do something, and you did little."
Later Alan Smith came and spoke to Lex. "The Indians are uncivilised, and need to be taught and shown, severely if necessary, what is right and what is wrong. You should at least have had those two men flogged."
"Where there is injustice and harm to another, then I agree we should take action. But wherever and whenever possible local laws and customs should be maintained."
"I respectfully beg to disagree, Sir."
"Your opinion is noted, Alan. Thank you."
Several days later they came over a rise in the ground and saw in the distance a line of higher hills, rising some seven or eight thousand feet above the plain.
The man who was guiding them came up to Lex. "Sahib? Can you see those hills in the distance, we have to go through them. They guard the approach to Landerabad. In two days we leave this main road, which goes along by the hills. We turn in and follow the canyon though to the land of Landerabad."
There was an air of excitement in the camp that evening as all knew they were approaching their journeys end. The next day the hills drew closer. Then they turned off the main road, and made their way on a lesser road towards the hills. They seemed to present an impenetrable barrier. It was only that evening when they stopped for the night that they saw that there was a considerable river emerging from the hills, and that the way lay up by the river.
They camped by the river, in rather idyllic surroundings. The river at this point was broad and shallow, the banks low and grassy, with a few trees lining its banks. There was the usual turmoil of pitching camp, preparing food, and tending to the animals. Lex went a short way off up a small grassy hill, from where he could see the road leading into the hills. He sat, enjoying the time alone, and wondering what the future held for him.
Lex was only too conscious of his relative youth, and inexperience for the work ahead. But the Governor General had appointed him, Warren Hastings was known to be a decisive man, and according to Hugh North, a good judge of character and of a man's abilities. Lex hoped that judgement was not misplaced.
Lex sat there thinking over how various men in his life had exercised leadership. He thought of his father, but that was a sad reflection because it made him recollect and miss his home. He thought of the headmaster at school. He had been a remote and rather forbidding figure. Lex decided he did not want to be like him. Then there was his brother Edward. Lex felt little love for his elder brother. But Edward had acted to make sure Lex was saved from both the full savagery of English law, and the ridicule and contempt of society. Brother Edward had been decisive in the way he had dealt with the situation, he had sent Billy Blackstone away from Whitgest, and provided him with the means to keep life and soul together until he could find some reasonable employment. He had secured for Lex his position with John Company and his passage to India. But Edward has exercised another aspect of leadership with the estate and its tenants at Whitgest. He had shown a practical concern for their welfare, and was continuing to do so, according to Thomas. Lex looked down the hill act the bustle going on in the camp below. The men, and even the animals, were in his charge. He had a duty towards them every bit as much as Edward had to the villagers of Whitgest.
Lex then thought of Captain Webb on the London. He smiled to himself at the thought of the cabin boy. No doubt it was another boy who now shared the captain's bunk at night. But there were lessons to learn from Captain Webb. He ran a fair ship. When justice had to be administered it was fair. When the ship was in any danger, especially in the storms, Captain Webb was there on the bridge, concerned not only about the preservation of the ship, but also the welfare of the crew.
Lex knew that the next few days were going to be of vital importance. The first impressions that he made in Landerabad may well decide the success or failure of his mission. He knew that he could trust Peter Green and Scottish Jock, but he had doubts about Alan Smith.
As the sun began to sink, and there were occasional wafts of the smell of cooking coming up from the camp, he thought about his sexual needs. It would be a very bleak time for him if there was no one with whom he could enjoy a physical relationship. He wondered for a moment about the two men he had caught, whether they could be trained to be servants as Abhijit had been, preparing his bath tub, and seeing to his more intimate needs. He did not think so. He would not be able to get that past the eagle eyes of Alan Smith.
Lex saw a man coming up the hill to him, no doubt to tell him that his meal was ready. It was only when the man came close that he recognised him as one of the two caught in a compromising act a week or ten days before.
The man bowed. "Sahib, all is prepared now.
Lex looked up at him. "Sahl, isn't it?"
The man gave a big smile at having his name known by Lex. "Yes, Sahib."
"Thanks. I like some quiet at the end of the day. Do you enjoy your work, Sahl?"
"Oh, yes Sir. Very, very much. It is interesting to come to new country, see new places."
"I am pleased you are enjoying it."
"Sahib, can I say something?"
"Of, course."
"Sahib. My friend, Mohi, and I would like to thank you for not punishing us too hard for what we did."
"Do you get together often?"
The man hesitated before answering rather sheepishly. "Yes, Sir, when we can."
"Just make sure there are more bushes around in future. But don't go too far off in case a tiger bites off your unds, [balls]."
The man looked shocked for a moment. Then a dazzling smile of bright white teeth burst on his face. "Yes, Sahib. Thank you very much, Sahib."
Lex rose to his feet, and Sahl followed him back down to the camp.
The next day they began their journey through the gorge that led to Landerabad. Though they had turned off the more important road, the road they were on was still greatly used. All Landerabad commerce with the outside world had to pass through the canyon. The road was narrow and not useable by wheeled traffic, as there were many tight twists and turns, and in places the gradients were steep. It was a well engineered route, cut into the hillsides, with cliffs above and sheer drops below. There were several short tunnels that had been cut through some of the ridges. But these had all been made big enough even for elephants to pass. Lex remembered his classical education and Roman history, and how Hannibal had taken elephants across the Alps many centuries before.
The gorge itself was about thirty miles long as the crow flies. The twists and turns of the river, and the road having to take the easiest way, meant that the actual miles to be travelled were many more.
The road had been made with an eye to defence. Lex now saw how difficult it would be for an army to break through into the heartland of Landerabad. In its long history no alien army had conquered Landerabad. The great Moghul a hundred years before had attacked with a huge army. But numbers did not count, where the road was only a few feet wide. At the cost of thousands of men the Great Moghul Aurangzeb had forced his way through as far as the last major defensive position. But there he had been held. He changed his tactics and decided to blockade Landerabad. This was easily done. For fifteen years no one came in and out of Landerabad. Then contact between the two sides was resumed, but it took another five years before an agreement was made. Landerabad independence was secured at the trivial cost of having a Moghul garrison posted at the bottom end of the canyon and a small annual tribute. Landerabad survived the embargo and isolation comparatively well. There was nothing from outside they depended on for life, though there were a number of minor discomforts. The mining of diamonds had continued. The then Rajah of Landerabad wisely did not let the market be flooded with the twenty year diamond production but fed it onto the market over the next thirty years.
When the Moghul Empire went into decline on the death of Aurangzeb the garrison was soon withdrawn, and it was now a small contingent of Landerabad soldiers that manned the outer defence.
It was mid-morning of the first day when they arrived at the outer defensive position. The road turned a sharp corner, with cliffs towering above and falling away below. There was an archway, with slit windows and battlements above. It would have been extremely difficult to get a battering ram round the corner and into position to attack the gate.
The gate was wide open for the Company's contingent to pass through, as a rider had gone on ahead, and it was known that sometime there would be the arrival of the next East India Company representative to Landerabad.
Peter Green was full of admiration for the positioning of the first gate. "I'm glad I'm not attacking today. It's one of the best defensive positions I have seen."
So they continued to make their way through the gorge. No one wanted to ride any animal, everyone preferring the security of their own two feet. There were places where the valley sides were more gentle, and there were grass and bushes growing, giving a rest to the eyes, and relaxation to the mind after the concentration on the perils of the more precipitous parts of the route. Three nights would have to be spent getting up the gorge, but fortunately there were places where a camp could be made. This was after all an important route. It was carefully controlled so that they never met anyone going the other direction while on the move. There were passing places, and at each a Landerabad soldier, either directed them on, or made them wait for a whatever was coming the other way.
Their progress was slow, as everyone knew how dangerous it would be to hurry. There were long stretches where one false step would be disastrous. Each animal was led by hand, with the rider walking alongside the head of his animal on the outside, so as to take something of the sight of the drop away from the animal. One mule went over the edge on the first day, and went with a series of bounces down into the river nearly 1000feet below, fortunately the man who was leading him did not go over the edge as well. Strangely enough the most sure footed and careful of all the beasts were the two elephants. They negotiated the way with a calm dignity, encouraged by the gentle words of their mahouts.
It was late of the second day when everyone was feeling tired, and was looking forward to their camp for the night, when trouble came. They could see the rest site less than a mile ahead, after they had done a detour to get round a side valley. One of the mules, never the most tractable of beasts, decided enough was enough and wanted to return the way it had come. It was the beast immediately in front of Lex. Somehow it managed to break free of it rider, who had been walking beside it, and had managed to turn round. Suddenly Lex was confronted with an angry mule, rearing, and trying to get past. Lex considered himself to be good with animals and tried to catch hold of the loose reins. He had just caught hold of it, when he was roughly pushed to the rock side of the road, by two men as they grabbed for the reins to control the animal. For a moment it looked as though both men and mule were going to plunge down the cliff to the rocks below. One man did lose his foothold over the side and was beginning to topple when the man grabbed his arm and hauled him back, while still holding on to the mule. Eventually the mule was pacified, and two shaken men stood there gasping for breath and still white eyed with the fright they had had.
"Why did you push me to one side?" asked Lex rather angrily. "I could have held the brute."
The two men stood rather sheepishly in front of Lex, they were Sahl and Mohi, the two men who had been found in the bushes a few days before.
"Your life is important, Sahib. We only servants."
Lex began to think straight and realised that he might have gone over the side and lost his life. He nodded. "Thank you, you may have saved my life. I shall remember that."
They managed to turn the mule round again by making it face into the rock face, and they continued on their way.
Later that evening Alan Smith came up to Lex. "You shouldn't allow those two near you. They could have killed you, by pushing you over the edge."
"But, Alan, they did not. In fact they acted to save my life."
"But you cannot trust a native. They would have good reason to get their revenge on you."
"Alan you accused me of being too lenient in my judgement. If I had been harsher they may have been tempted, but they did not."
"If I'd been in your place I would have hanged them, or if I was feeling merciful, I would have sent them back to Calcutta. I would not have trusted such men near me."
"I think what has happened proves that I was right in my judgement."
"But you cannot trust these people. They're little more than savages."
"Alan, their civilisation is far older than ours. Their ancestors were building cities, writing books, composing music, making waterways, and irrigating the desert, when our ancestors were running around painted in woad. Because of our industry, and invention we happen to be stronger than them now. But we must respect their civilisation."
"I think, Sir, with due respect, that you are in danger of going native."
Lex just laughed.
The morning of the final day saw them going up a long series of zig-zags from river level up 4500feet to the highest point of this part of their journey. When the breasted the summit the most amazing prospect opened in front of them. A large part of the State of Landerabad lay like an open map before them open in front of them. The gorge opened up to an open valley averaging about ten miles across. It stretched away into the distance for thirty or more miles. There appeared to be a number of smaller valleys off to the sides. The bottom of the valley was flat, and a century or more later geologists would say that it was once the bed of a lake. The same geologists would explain the existence of the gorge to the fact that the river was older than the mountainous range through which the river ran. The mountains were a part of the collision of tectonic plates, and had risen so slowly that the river had been able to erode downwards at the same rate as the hills rose.
Everyone stopped on that summit and gazed at the beauty before them. The fertile valley ahead was green with forests and paddy fields. To one side on a spur from the surrounding hills there was the town of Landerabad. The town was on the lower slopes, but on the summit, about 500feet above the plain was the Rajah's palace. Even from those ten miles away it looked beautiful. Lex looked thoughtfully at the scene. This was to be the place where his work as Resident was to be carried out. The words of the psalm in the Prayer Book they had used back in Whitgest came in his mind, `My lot is fallen to me in a fair ground.'
The army of Aurangzeb had got as far as this summit and his soldiers, and possibly he himself must have had this tantalising view of the state they had come to conquer.
For Lex and his party the way led down another series of zigzags, almost to the river again, before going through a short rocky defile. This was the last defence of Landerabad against any invading enemy. Then they turned a final corner and they were down onto the plain. They were another couple of hours in making their way to the town. A party of horsemen came out to meet them. the most lavishly dressed introduced himself as a member of the Rajah's Council, or an Omrah.
Lex stepped forward. "I am Alexander Penbarton, appointed by the East India Company to be their Resident in the State of Landerabad."
The minister bowed, and then stepped forward to shake hands. "You are tired after your long journey. I will escort you to the Residency. Tomorrow morning I shall come to escort you to the Rajah. You will be expected to attend only with the other Englishmen in your party."
The Residency had been built by the previous Rajah for Lex's predecessor. It was a large comfortable house, situated about half way up the hill on which the palace stood. It was expected that Lex's secretary, Alan Smith, would also live at the Residency, so as to be always available. This prospect did not please Lex, as he sensed there were going to be many more clashes between himself and his narrow minded and bigoted secretary.
On arrival Lex, accompanied by Alan Smith, did a quick inspection of the premises. It was built with the main large reception room in the middle of the house, which spread out on both sides. The two wings were suitable for more private and residential apartments.
Lex turned to Alan. "I have made a decision. I will live in that wing, pointed to the east wing, which commanded the best views over the valley to the hills beyond. You can live in the west wing. Each will be our private domain. If I wish to speak with you, I shall ask either admission to your apartments, or request your presence in mine. You will observe the same respect to my privacy. There are rooms upstairs in the centre of the house which will be where we work. You can have your room, and I will have mine."
"What if there is an emergency, Sir, you never know what may happen in these outlandish parts."
"I just don't want you breaking in on me when I am in bed, or in my bath! And I certainly don't want to break in upon you when you are in your bath!"
"Sir," Alan gave a curt bow and retreated to his own part of the house. The rest of the day was spent beginning to settle in.
Meanwhile the sepoys were shown to some barracks down on the plain. Peter Green and sergeant Jock were busy settling their man and themselves down there.
The next morning at 9.30 the Omrah, or Councillor from the Rajah's Court presented himself at the Residency. He was again accompanied by a man who would endeavour to translate from English to Landerabadese. The four Englishmen, dressed in their best English clothes, were escorted by twenty armed soldiers of the Rajah up the hill to the palace. All four observed carefully as this was going to be familiar territory for them all for what might well be a long while. The palace was surrounded by a high wall, with only one strong gateway. Once through this they were in a large open area, with barracks for the soldiers and guards of the Rajah. They went up a steep path through another wall, into a smaller courtyard surrounded many buildings.
"The zenanna [The living quarters of the women and girls and young boys] is over to the right," whispered the interpreter to the Englishmen. nodding towards another wall with yet another gateway, but this gate was shut.
They continued to ascend, and they went through the gateway in a third wall. The four Englishmen halted in surprise. They were in a courtyard with pools and fountains, with trees and flowers. It was the Char Bagh and was a surprising change after what they had seen in their time in Landerabad.
Their halt was momentary, and they continued across the courtyard into a building. It was a graceful Indian building, with small pillared turrets and much external decoration. As they approached the main door it was opened, and the Omrah led the way inside. They were in a huge hall, beautifully decorated. "This is where the Rajah meets his subjects and holds his big court. We are going into a smaller hall as there are only a few of us," whispered the interpreter.
They turned right and went through a large doorway into another hall. This was smaller than the main one, but by any reckoning is was a good size. It was elaborately and splendidly decorated. A quick glance made Lex realise that there was much gold involved. He heard a soft gasp of astonishment from Jock. Lex had never seen anything like it in Britain, how much more of a surprise it must have been for Jock from the back streets of Edinburgh. At the far end was a throne, and on the throne sat a young man dressed smartly in white. The Minister and interpreter stopped and bowed, the four Britishmen followed suit.
The party advanced to the middle of the hall where they bowed again. Then to the steps before the throne, where they bowed a third time.
Lex looked up and saw that the Rajah was indeed a young man. He was dressed in white. From both ears hung pendant ear rings, each one having a medium sized diamond. On his head he wore a turban, and above the centre of his forehead was fastened a broach with a large diamond surrounded by rubies. Lex reckoned that they would have found a prominent place in the crown jewels of any European monarch. The Rajah was dark skinned, with brown eyes, and black hair.
He was seated on a divan, and his back rested against a low wall which was topped by a jali [a lattice screen] and behind that a curtain. Lex remembered being told back in Calcutta that the present Rajah owed his throne to the previous Rajah's favourite wife, his own mother was a relatively insignificant person in the intrigues of Landerabad politics. The former Rajah's favourite was known to whisper to him through the jali on important occasions. Either side of the throne were various men, most of them fairly old. Counsellors and advisors, all of them from the previous reign, or appointed by the former Rajah's favourite wife.
The escorting minister stepped forward. "The new Resident of the East India Company of Great Britain and Ireland to present his credentials." He bowed.
Alan Smith handed the piece of parchment, with its two heavy seals hanging from it, to the Minister. He in turn handed it to one of those present, a dubash or interpreter. This old man knew a very little English, and could barely read it. He did however know the formula for such occasions. "The Governor General of the East India Company appoints mister, " he paused as he tried to spell out the name. "A -lex- an-der" a ripple of interest went round the audience chamber. There were some whispered comments.
"Say that name again." said the Rajah.
"A- lex-an-der, Alexander."
"Is that Sircander in our language?"
"I believe so, your excellency." There were now more audible comment.
Lex wondered what was going on, he could not understand the pause in the reading of the document.
The Rajah must have seen the puzzled look on Lex's face. "Tell him why we are all so interested."
The man was in difficulties as his English was far from perfect. "Much times ago, Sircander come to India. Much soldiers. Our beloved Rajah is descended from Sircander, Alexander you say." His accent was very poor and Lex only understood about three out four of the words spoken.
Lex spoke in Bengali, "Does any one here speak Bengali."
There was another stir of surprise. They had never come across an Englishman who could speak an Indian tongue. Another old man stepped forward, and spoke to Lex. "Many centuries ago Alexander came to India from Greece. He nearly conquered us. It is believed he fathered many children, and our beloved Rajah is a direct descendant of him. He is interested that you are called in your language this name."
"Finish reading," said the Rajah.
"He is appointed Resident to the State of Landerabad." The old man reading looked up. "Then there is one of their dates and two red seals fastened to this document."
The Rajah appeared to be listening to someone speaking from behind him.
"Can you ask Mr Penbarton if he was born in India?"
This was translated into Bengali.
"No," replied Lex. "I was born in England."
This in turn was translated into Landerabadese.
"How long has he lived in India, he looks very young?"
"Two years," replied Lex. This caused a ripple of comment.
"Ask him why he learnt Bengali, and if he knows any other language."
"I learnt Bengali because it was the language being spoken in Calcutta. I also know Latin and Greek which I learnt at school. Greek was the language of Alexander the Great." When this was translated for the Rajah it caused further comment. "I also can speak French. I have also started learning Persian, but the one who was teaching me is back in Calcutta."
"Ask him if he intends to learn to speak Landerabadese."
"I would like to," replied Lex.
"I will send him someone to teach him," said the Rajah. "Now ask him to introduce the other men from Britain."
Lex introduced Alan Smith, his secretary, Peter Jones, the officer in charge of the sepoys, and Jock, the non commissioned officer of the sepoys.
"In five days time we have the great festival remembering the crowning of the first Rajah of Landerabad. There is a parade of all my elephants and soldiers through the streets of the town to the place where he won a famous battle 800 years ago. The elephants and sepoys of the East India company are requested to join in the parade. I wish to see them." The Rajah nodded, and rose to his feet. Everyone bowed low as he left the hall.
The same man who had escorted them into the Rajah's palace took them back to the Residency. The four British men breathed a sigh of relief that the formal part was over.
Later Alan Smith spoke to Lex. "The Rajah is far too young and inexperienced to rule. Fancy a man wearing such earrings, and that diamond in his turban. He will need careful watching. I gather the last Rajah's favourite woman is the real power behind the throne. If I may respectfully say, Lex, I thought you were unwise to reveal that you had learnt Bengali. It is a common language."
"I must remind you, Alan, that one of the reasons why I was appointed Resident was my ability with languages. If I am to be of any influence with the Rajah I believe I must speak his own language. Why don't you learn with me?"
"No, Sir. I don't propose to waste my time learning some heathen tongue that will be of no use when I eventually leave this God-forsaken country and return home."
"And as for the diamonds he was wearing, that shows the wealth of this State. The three we could see today are worth a King's ransom. I reckon old Farmer George would like to get his hands on them, or at least his Ministers would. I think, Alan, we got off to a good start."
Lex was seated at his desk, talking over with Alan Smith the sending of a report back to Calcutta , when one of the servants came in.
"Sir, there is a man sent by the Rajah here, he says he is to teach you the Landerabad language."
"Some old grey beard, no doubt," said Lex to Alan.
"I hope you will be able to trust him. We don't want him teaching you swear words, and you not knowing it."
Lex laughed, which brought a frown of disapproval to Alan's face at such flippancy.
"I'm serious, Lex."
"I don't think I am in any danger of being corrupted by an old language teacher." Lex turned to the servant. "Show him to my quarters, I'll be with him presently." Lex rose, and spoke to Alan, "I'll go and make arrangements with him, and I will be back in a few minutes."
Lex went through into his private quarters. He went into the room and his preconceptions were challenged. There in front of him stood a young man. He looked three or four years older than Lex, he was slim with large brown eyes.
"Are you to be my munshi?" [Language teacher or can be used also for an Indian secretary] said Lex in Bengali.
"The Rajah has sent me to teach you Landerabadese?"
"Yes. I know a few words of English, but you speak Bengali well. There is no one here who is a good speaker or reader of English."
"I seem to have no difficulty speaking Bengali. So how do you propose to teach me?"
"There are two ways, Sir. There is a slower way, where we spend an hour together each day. There is the much quicker way, where I spend as much time as possible with you each day. Obviously it would not be right for me to be with you when you are doing important work. But the more time we spend together the quicker you will learn."
Lex thought for a moment. "I think we should do it the quick way. You can move in here. There are plenty of rooms for you to have one. We can eat together. I am liking more and more Indian food, which is very different from our English food back home. There is no reason why you should not be with me when I am out and about. If there is anything confidential being done I will ask you to stand aside. What is you name?"
"Ravi, Sahib."
"So if I'm to call you Ravi, you can call me Sahib Lex." Lex said this knowing that Alan would have an apoplectic fit when he knew, he gave an inward smile at the prospect.
"Ravi, I've more work to do. I eat later this afternoon. Bring down your things, and make yourself comfortable, and we will start this evening."
Lex returned to his room where Alan was busy working at some papers.
"Well? How did it go?"
"He's not an old grey beard, but a few years older than me, I think. I am going to do sort of rapid study. He is going to live in my part of the Residency, and spend as much time as possible teaching me the lingo."
"Sir, I must protest. You are trusting yourself to this man. He may be an assassin. You may get stabbed in your bed."
"Alan, I don't think the Rajah would send an assassin. He might be a spy, and I will be careful on that score. But an assassin, no. The Rajah wants me to learn the language, and has sent this man. I want to learn quickly."
"I want it to be recorded that I advised caution."
"Record it if you wish. Tell Calcutta. His excellency the Governor General expects me to learn the bloody language, and that I will do, as quickly as possible." Lex glared angrily at Alan.
The learning of Landerabadese began at the meal table later that day. They conversed briefly in Bengali, and then Ravi started. He pointed to various things set before them, and gave them their Landerabadese name. Lex copied, listening careful to the sounds and intonations. very so often they lapsed into Bengali to explain some point. Very quickly Lex realised that here was an opportunity not only to learn the language but to understand more about the culture of this State. They talked together for a couple of hours after they had finished eating.
Eventually Lex began to feel tired. He always bathed before going to bed. this was not done as it had been done with Pierre Montmorency with a bevy of servants in attendance washing and towelling, and when wanted doing other things. Lex servants prepared the bath tub, and left him to it. He enjoyed that end of the day ritual, lying back in the warm water, relaxing and thinking over the day.
Lex made his way to the room where the bath was placed. He nodded at the servants who withdrew for the night. His night clothes, a light silky coat, was ready, and a towel for drying himself. He undressed, discarding his clothes in a heap on the floor. He got into the bath and lay back.
Footnote:-
- Margaret Thatcher.
Jeff - jeffyrks@hotmail.com