of the planter, where the ryots are tortured to make them take advances and cultivate Indigo and where the planter in person flogs, and kicks them.
In the third Act, third scene, two brave ryots rescue the beautiful daughter after she had been brought to Mr Rose's chamber by the procuress who, however, had previously expressed great sorrow at the wicked part she had been compelled to act by the planter. One of the two gives the planter a good beating, though the other urges him "not to be cruel because they are so." The Magistrate in Court openly favours Wood the planter; takes his advice; writes private letters during the examination; sends off a note to Mrs. Wood and a message to his steward, that Mr. Wood will dine with him whilst the trial is going on, and before any decision or order is given. The father of the family is put in the jail by the Magistrate; will take no food, and hangs himself.
In the fifth Act, second scene, the eldest son is brought in with his skull fractured by the blow given him by the saheb, notwithstanding the brave resistance of the same neighbour who saved the maiden, and who, when wounded on the breast with a sword by the young saheb, flew at the nose of the elder one, and bit it off. "That nose," he says in triumph, "I have kept with me, and will shew to the dead Baboo when he rises up alive again." He expresses regret that he had not taken off the planter's ears also, adding that "I would not have killed him, as he is a creature of God."
One wife dies of grief; another becomes insane, kills a beautiful girl of the family; and the maiden whose virtue was attempted by the planter, dies also. In the words of the author "the whole family is destroyed by Indigo—the great destroyer of honour. How very terrible are the arms of indigo."
So terminates this drama—"the favorite mode with the Hindoos for describing certain states of society, manners and customs", and which, in this instance, is vouched for by Mr. Long to "be written in simple homely language, plain but true."
On the side of ryots every one is pure and virtuous; and they express nothing but the most exalted and noble sentiments, which guide all their actions.
To the European, language, practices, and crimes only to be imagined by the Bengalee are imputed, whether he be a
195
