: Bengal Dacoits and Tigers by Sunity Devee Maharani Of Cooch Behar - Short stories

@FreeBooksTue 06 Jun, 2023

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Dacoit Stories

The Jhee's Discovery Trapped by a Cobra Saved by a Bear Raghu Dacoit Girl as Kali-Ma The Deputy Magistrate All for Nothing A Punjabee Dacoit A Child's Experience Two Chinese Dacoits An Unfaithful Servant

Tiger Stories

The Bearer's Fate Through the Roof Earning the Reward A Burmese Monster The Palki and the Tiger An Assam Adventure A Thrilling Story A Cachar Tiger A Maharajah's Adventures

PART I

Dacoit Stories

The Jhee's Discovery

It was the month of Jaishta in Bengal, and the earth languished under the scorching rays of the sun and sent up a voiceless prayer to the Rain God to come soon and refresh the fields and jungles with the welcome "barsat" .

Yet, in spite of the intense heat, a young and delicately nurtured Bengali lady was travelling. She was on her way to pay a visit to her parents-in-law, for after marriage the bride returns to her childhood's home and remains there, paying visits from time to time to her husband's home until the day comes when she goes to live there.

It is a Bengali custom that ladies, especially young ladies, must always wear their jewellery, even when travelling. Arms, wrists, neck and ankles, bare of jewels, are a sign of widowhood or dire poverty. Out young heroine was accordingly adorned with jewels and she was also richly attired. Was she not the daughter of a wealthy man and going to visit her mother-in-law? So her mother had lovingly dressed her in an exquisite gold-embroidered Benares silk saree of finest texture and superb workmanship, and the jewellery, which adorned her graceful arms, neck and ankles, was in keeping with the richness of her costume.

Twelve bearers took turns in carrying the covered palanquin or palki in which she travelled. They had been in her father's service for many years and were known, to be trustworthy. A faithful jhee accompanied her, sometimes walking beside the palki and at other times sitting within, to fan her young mistress and help to enliven the weary journey with tales of former travels. Two men-servants, whom in Bengal we call durwans and who are permitted to bear arms in defence of their masters' goods, completed the party. One of them walked on either side of the palanquin and each carried a naked sword in his hand. These two men were tried and trusted retainers of the young lady's father, and were prepared to defend their master's daughter even at the cost of their lives.

The route lay through a lonely country district with stretches of rice-fields scattered between, and villages nestling here and there among groves of trees. At. one of these villages the party halted awhile for rest and refreshment, and then on again in the fierce heat of a close Indian day.

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