Page:Nil Durpan.djvu/50

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pleting her seventh month of pregnancy, 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; 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 much fun in that place. Ha! just as the Magistrate, sitting at the tails of the two Mukhtears (lawyers) shouted "Hyal" (Hallo), the two brother-in-laws in the persons of the Mukhtears kicked up a row. The wordy battle they fought made me think there was literally a bull-fight as between the white ox of Sadhukhan and the bull-calf of Jamadar on the field of Moyna.[1]

Torapa.   Did he find any fault with you? The Saheb of Bhabnapore never raises a false disturbance. "By speaking the truth, we shall ride on horseback." Had all Sahebs been of the same character with him then none would have spoken ill of the Sahebs.

Second Ryot.   Don't be overjoyous. There is a saying: "I thought Kelo's mother was chaste. But she sleeps with her son-in-law". Now this torturing[2] 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!

Toarpa.   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.

Second Ryot.   I cannot understand how the Magistrate of this Zillah has found fault with the Magistrate of the other Zillah.

  1. The two Mukhtears have been compared here with two fighting bulls.
  2. Torturing: the word in the original is 'Ikshul' the meaning of which has not yet been found out. According to some the word may also mean 'unjustified detention'.

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