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.[1]
Cow-herd. I have also sent orders to prepare a pair of weeding knives.
Enter a Latyal or Club-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 Shamanagara; 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[2] can get your Indigo. The Munshies of Shamanagara entreated most earnestly to get ten
