Page:Nil Durpan.djvu/52

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Second Ryot.   Did not you hear another verse which was composed by Nita Atai?

"The Missionaries have destroyed the caste;
"The Factory monkeys have destroyed the rice."

Torapa.   What a composition! But what is really meant by "Destroyed the caste?"

TORAPA repeating the words of the second Ryot

"The Missionaries have destroyed the caste:
"The Factory monkeys have destroyed the rice."

Fourth Ryot.   Alas! I do not know what is taking place in my house: I am a ryot of a different village. How could I then claim to have come to Svaropur, and at the instigation of Bose, thrown away the advance offered me? When my youngest child had a fever I came to Bose to get from him a little sugar-candy. Ah how very kind he was; how agreeable and good-looking in countenance I found him; and sitting as solemn as an elephant.

Torapa.   How many bigahs have they thrust on you this year?

Fourth Ryot.   Last year I prepared ten bigahs but as to the price of that, they raised great confusion. This year again, they have given advances for fifteen bigahs and I am doing exactly as they are ordering me, still, they leave not off insulting me.

First Ryot.   I am labouring with my plough for these two years, and I have cultivated a little piece of ground. That piece of ground which I prepared this year, I kept for sesamum; but one day, young Saheb, riding on his horse, came to the place, and waiting there himself, took possession of the whole piece. How can the ryots live if this is to continue?

Torapa.   This is only the intrigue of the wicked Amin. Does the Saheb know everything about land? This fool goes about like a revengeful dog; when he sees any good piece of land, he immediately gives notice of it to the Saheb. The

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