Page:Nil Durpan.djvu/112

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want of judgement. Our madam and the eldest Bou forbade 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 Rupees, I shall fall at the Saheb's feet, and thus stop the cultivation of the Indigo on the side of the tank: nothing of the dispute in such a dangerous time." With this intention our eldest Babu took me and Torapa with him, and going there with tears in his eyes, said to the Saheb, "Saheb, I bring you a present of 50 Rupees; 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 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[1] 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 Babu's knees, he said "This is the gift for your father's ceremony."

Priest.   Narayan; Narayan[2] (Placing his hand on his ears).

Sadhu.   Instantly the eyes of the eldest Babu became red like 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 (certain grass). Kes Dali,[3] who is now the Jamadar of the Factory, and other ten spearmen immediately stood round him. The eldest Babu

  1. This term 'Yabana' has reference to the Mohammedan, the European, or any other person not belonging to Hindu religion.
  2. The name of Vishnu, God.
  3. Dali, i.e. Dhali: a certain low caste of Bengal employed by landlords for rioting etc.

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