CHAPTER XXXIV.
One evening my wife came into our rest house, from the other villages where the houses were nearly finished, and I saw that she was greatly pleased at something that had occurred. She said that the women had all come to her and almost their only question was about the looking-glasses. She asked, “Suppose there are no looking-glasses in Calcutta, then what am I to do?” Almost a wail of despair went up from the crowd. “O mem sahib, mem sahib! you must not say that, you promised and we know you won’t break your promise.” “All right,” she replied, “I will get you the glasses if I have to go to Wilayat for them,” and they were all as happy as some little girls would be at the promise of dolls from Paris. Bundles of twine, loads of pictures and boxes of looking-glasses were duly given and all were happy for many a day.
The greatest aid to me in making improvements was the village committees, each composed of five men, the majority ruling. For the selection of these committees I had appointed annual election days when all the men over twenty years of age, were each allowed to cast a ballot for the man they wanted. On the morning of the election days the school teachers took their places apart and the men one by one went to them and got a ticket written, of the names they chose. These tickets were folded and the men slipped them into a closed box, a teacher checking the names of the voters in a list that had previouslybeen made. The only collusion possible was with the teachers and they were strictly enjoined not to utter a word of suggestion but only to write the five names given to them. There was probably considerable electioneering beforehand and many an hour’s talk as they smoked their hookas, about the make-up of the new committee. There was considerable excitement over these elections and it increased year by year and made everybody feel that he was somebody, though he was only the village sweeper. There was great interest among the crowd at the close of the polls when the names of the candidates were read off and counted.
The committees thus chosen were clothed with authority and felt their responsibility. They acted with such discretion that I never heard a word of dissent against any action of theirs. This may be accounted for that there were no ranting babu pleaders among them and they had not learned the tricks and bribery of civilized people. They were very deliberate and assumed such a magisterial air and dignity, that could not be excelled by the judges of any High Court, and I do not doubt that their rulings were just as equitable. There was no Court of Appeals though the committees often came to me for advice and suggestions, but I never interfered after they had given their decisions, so that it became a saying amongst the people “The Committee has spoken,” as if nothing further was to be said or done. I had formed a set of rules which the committee executed. They settled all disputes, had charge of the tanks and fishing, looked after the drains and saw that the houses and streets were kept clean and in order. The system was one of self-government, and made the people think and act for themselves.
I had built only one tank near one of the villages. One day not long after the new houses in the other villages had been completed their committees came to me in a body. Their spokesman said that I had been very kind to them, that they did not wish to make any complaint and hoped I would not be angry with them for making another request, but as I had built a tank for one village from which its people had water for their fields and plenty of fish for food,they hoped that I, as their mabap, would also supply them with tanks. I asked if they would give the land. Certainly they would do this as they would make allotments of other fields to those occupying ground where the tanks would be placed. I gave them a favorable answer and received their hearty thanks. The tanks were soon dug, the people of the different villages, coming with their cattle and carts making gala days in helping each other. After the rains the tanks were stocked with fish which in a few years became very plentiful.
The villages were now in a most prosperous condition. I had insisted on their saving all the refuse and the soil became rich. My theory was that the man who impoverishes his land steals from his own pocket. There was an abundance of fuel from the trees that had been planted, so that the manure was not burned as formerly. There was a rotation of crops with different kinds of grain and vegetables. Every third year new seed was imported or got from other parts of India. Grass was grown which with the green stuff was preserved in silos so that there never was any scarcity of fodder. The silos were for the preservation of feed, what the manure pits were for the preservation of manure. The cattle were from imported stock and excellent, quite a contrast with the poor half-starved beasts of the surrounding villages.
I had quite a tussle with my friends on the milk and cow question. It was formerly the custom for them to let the calves run with the cows and no milk was procured. I insisted that the calves should not be allowed to go to their mothers even for a day after their births. The people said this was not the custom with their forefathers, that it was not possible, the cows would not give milk or allow themselves to be milked unless the calves were present. There was very near a rebellion. After reflection the committees quieted the rest, by saying that the sahib knew everything and should have his own way, which he had, with the result that the cows became as good milkers as on any dairy farm in Europe.
It was the custom when a calf died to stuff its skin with grass and every time the cow was milked this imitation calf was placed beside her.
I learned indirectly that I was extolled as a wonderful sahib, that I not only knew how to make lightning with a machine, but all about cows and how to make butter. I had thoroughly studied this latter subject during my foreign trip as well as about silos.
There was plenty of fruit from the trees that had been planted. The committee passed a rule that those appointed to gather the fruit should bring it to the Chibutra where at evening it was counted or weighed by the committee and each family given its portion.
The new houses were abodes of neatness, health and comfort, and each family took pride in keeping everything in good order. My wife instructed the women in various industries, among them making articles to adorn their houses and themselves, so that they were most willing to accede to her wishes. She gave them flower seeds and every house had its pots of flowers. The women instead of idling, were very busy in their household duties or carrying water for their flowers. The people from the surrounding country for miles came to see my villages as to a fair. It was something strange for them to see common natives enjoying so much health, comfort and pleasure and their admiration was a stimulant to the people.
I could but pity those around them living in poverty, squalor and filth, with constant sickness, whilst their landlords lived in cities, grasping everything they could from their miserable half-starved ryots.
There were several things from the absence of which we were blessed. There was not an accursed opium den, liquor shop or money-lender within our boundary, and I might add no oppressive, grasping zemindar. I had prevented these evils from the first and the committees insisted that no one should use opium or liquor; that no one should borrow money outside of their own circles, and passed a usury law that no one should charge more interest than six per cent per annum on pain of forfeiture of the amount loaned, so that these village committees, unlettered heathen, were considerably in advance of the great Government of India, that next to the twin curses of opium and liquor, fosters the other curse, the robbing of the poor by tolerating the incredible percentage of the money-lenders.
The Collector of the district in his cold weather tour, once encamped not far from one of the villages. The committee concluded to make up a present for the Barra Sahib. They collected vegetables, fruit, flowers, fish, milk and butter, quite a cart load. When well dressed they appeared before him, to his surprise and astonishment, as he afterwards told me, for he could not have got as good supplies from his own house and garden. This reception greatly pleased them, and he promised to pay them a visit on the following morning. Bright and early every one was at work. The clean streets were sprinkled, and all put on their gayest apparel. Nearly all went to the boundary to meet him, and followed him in procession with the village band in the lead. This band was quite a feature at our evening assemblies, melas and fairs. The instruments were all native, and the music was not such as is heard in the Grand Opera House in Paris, but it suited the people, so what more could be asked? The Collector was completely taken aback at the sight, and still more astonished when he saw the well built houses, every veranda adorned with flowers and the clean sprinkled streets. They escorted him to the Chibutra under the big tree, when he told them how pleased he was, and thanked them for the presents they had sent. The women were particularly happy when he complimented them on their appearance, the neatness of their houses, the beauty and variety of the flowers on their verandas. I was not aware of his going near the village, or I would have been present, but I was glad that the people had acted of their own accord and pleasure.
I have great faith in nature, that if man was not distorted by beliefs, traditions, customs, education and society, he would be as virtuous, honest and good as other animals; but that is another subject.
The committee sent me word of the Collector Sahib’s presence, so I went out to show him due respect as a loyal zemindar. The committee had a reason for my coming. The collector’s servants and camp followers had raided the gardens, fields and fruit trees, taking what they chose and refusing payment, as usual with them. Besides, some of them had nets and were catching loads of fish of all sizes.To excuse themselves they said they were the Barra Sahib’s servants, and wherever they went they took what they wanted and paid nothing. This was the truth, but did not make their robbery and insolence any more palatable to my people. On hearing this I told the committee to come with me to call on the sahib. I had not met him, as he was a new arrival in the station, and had not called on me for the probable reason that the cantonment magistrate—somewhat of a cad, always in debt to his servants and shop-keepers, having a lot of gambling IOU’s against him in the club at the end of every month—had dropped my name from the calling list which was in his charge, giving as a reason to some one that newcomers might not care to become acquainted with Eurasians. But then he was the second generation from a London tailor, and as some society expert has observed that it takes seven generations to make a gentleman, he was only two-sevenths of one, so no matter.
The Collector received me with great kindness. He told me of his public reception, how surprised and pleased he was, that the village was a paradise compared with others, that it was the model village of all he had ever seen. When about to take leave, I told him that the committee were outside the tent. We went out. They hesitated, expecting that I would talk for them, but I preferred to let them tell their own story. Their leader began by saying how glad their hearts had been made by his honor coming to them, that they were all his servants, that everything in the village was his, and they hoped his highness would not be offended if they said that some worthless fellows in his honor’s camp had gone into the fields and taken vegetables and fruit and had caught fish from the tank with nets which was against the rule, and given nothing in payment except gali, and threatened if they were reported to take much more. He told this with great effect in his own eloquent village language which would lose all its force by translation.
The Collector at once became very angry and calling his servants denounced them for committing robbery and disgracing him, and threatened that if any of them dared to go near the village again he would have them brought up and flogged. He offered to pay for the stuff stolen but thecommittee refused payment as they did not care for the value, but did not like the insolence and abuse. The Collector then thanked the committee for reporting the matter. He remarked to me that this probably happened wherever he went, and no one dared to report to him for fear of ill treatment. I replied that I had heard of men boasting that they liked to travel with Government officials, as it never cost them anything to live. He asked me about the villages and I gave him their history, of the fish supply in the tank and the rules about taking fish, not omitting the committee compelling Gulab, as a punishment, to eat the fish raw that he had caught, at which he was greatly amused. He afterwards made several visits to the village, calling upon me. We had some excellent fishing in the mornings at the tank, for he was one of Izaak Walton’s followers. On his return to the station he and his wife called on us, and we became the warmest friends, dining with each other frequently, in spite of the fellow who had charge of the calling list.
I had another experience soon after, that was not quite so pleasant. The time for the settlement or re-assessment of the village lands arrived, and I went out to look after my interests while the Settlement Officer was present. I had never met this man, but I knew all about him from a to zed. I called at his tent and sent in my card, when it came back written upon, “Please state your business.” Had I not known it before, this would have shown me at once that he was English, for this is one of their ways of showing their self-importance and of snubbing, as I never met it in any other class. I wrote that I was the zemindar of the village, and left him to infer what he chose. Had I stated that I wished to become acquainted with him, he would likely have replied that he did not wish my acquaintance, or some similar remark to show that he was a gentleman; or if I had stated my business he might have sent word that he would send for me when he wanted me; and this would also have been English, you know.
I was admitted to the august presence, with scarcely a nod from him, nor was I offered a seat. “Well,” said he with a brazen stare, “what can I do for you?” treating meas if I were some itinerant beggar. I was flustered and angry, for he had brass enough in his face and insolence in his manner to upset the temper of a saint. I mildly replied that as zemindar of the village I had come out of courtesy to him. “Well,” said he, “as I am about to take my bath, I will bid you good morning,” and out he went into another apartment.
I concluded to remain at the village, come what would, without expecting the pleasure I enjoyed with my Scotch friend, the Collector. The village committee took the Settlement Officer a fine present, but he treated them with such contempt that they never went near him again. His servants robbed the gardens and fruit trees, but I suggested to the people to say nothing. He every morning fished at the tank and made large hauls, while his servants came with nets and took away loads of small fish as well as large. This was done daily, until it became irritating beyond endurance. The committee came to me with complaints, and I saw that I must do something or lose my position in their estimation; so I concluded to beard the lion or jackass, whatever might happen. I saw him seated in front of his tent. He did not rise or even nod, or say anything. I did not know why he should have treated me with such insolence, unless it was in the nature of the beast to do so.
“Well, what is it?” he finally asked. I replied, “I hope you will excuse me for troubling you, but your men have gone into the gardens of the villages and taken vegetables and fruit and abused the people when they objected.” He stopped me with, “I don’t believe a word of it; Chuprassi!” and up came a sleek villain whom I had seen in the gardens. “Did any of the servants go into the village gardens and take vegetables?” “Khudawand!” said the fellow with his hands together. “Lord, why should we become bastard thieves when we have all we want in his highness’ camp?” “There!” said the Khudawand, “I told you that it was not so.” “But,” I remarked, “I saw this very man in the garden with his arms full of vegetables.” He made no reply. I continued, “The people do not mind the loss of the stuff, but they don’t likethe abuse they receive.” He only listened. Have you ever remonstrated with a man when he only stared? Is there anything more irritating? I went on, “I built a tank and stocked it with fish at considerable expense, and the rules are that no outside natives shall fish in it, and the villagers themselves shall not take fish under a certain size, and that no nets shall be used; but your servants are daily using nets and carrying away loads of small fish.” At this he sprang to his feet, blustering out, “I have had enough of this. That is a public tank, and my servants shall fish there if they want to.”
“No,” I said, “that is my tank,” when he cut me short, saying, “I have had enough; I want to hear no more. It seems to me that you are putting on a good deal of side for a damned Eurasian, if I must tell you so.” “Eurasian or not,” I replied, “my father was and is H. J. Smith of Jalalpur, and as you are his nephew we are cousins; and it comes with bad grace for you to twit me of being an Eurasian when it was from no sin of mine, but at the pleasure of your own virtuous, Christian uncle.” This all came out in a volley before he had time to interrupt me. He sprang to his feet, for he had taken his seat, his face all aglow with anger, and shaking his fist at me while he stamped upon the ground, he fairly shouted, “It’s a lie; all a damned lie! Do you wish to insult me? You must leave at once. Chuprassi!” But I was off and away before his minion could come around the tent.
It was some minutes before I recovered from my terrible anger, and then I cursed myself by the hour for being such an ass, such an extra long-eared one, for making a stupid blunder as to quarrel with a Settlement Officer who had the valuation and taxation of all my lands in his power. Though I had the satisfaction of telling the truth and getting rid of some of my bilious indignation, it would have been better not to have gone to him after the repulse of the first call; rather to have lost all the fruit and vegetables, all the fish, both small and great, before angering a settlement officer.
It is said that there are two parts in a man, right and left, to dominate the brain in turn. When one part hadspoken as above, the other said, “Who cares what such a man can do? Is it not better to be a man and stand up for your rights than to cringe like a coward and quietly submit to the oppression of a tyrant? Was not the heavy blow that you gave that insolent bully’s head worth more than all the increased assessments he can make?” Thus the two parts of me alternately held the floor, the one lamenting the probably increased taxation, the other pleading for the rights of my manhood.
The officer did not depart for some days, and though I could do nothing, I also remained. The whole of the camp followers, taking their cue from their master, ravaged the gardens and fruit trees. Their delight was in fishing with nets, a score of them, taking loads of small fish, out of sheer sport. I remonstrated with them, but they replied with the insolence of their master that their sahib had told them to catch all the fish they wanted. The result was that there was not a minnow left in the tank. The villagers were terribly wrought up. They proposed to attack the thieves, but this would only have increased the trouble, as my party would have got the worst of it, not in a fight, but in the courts, where they would have been brought up for riotous conduct. Many or all of them would have been taken away from their work or their homes, kept in jail awaiting trial, and then likely be imprisoned for years as criminals, for the sahib and his whole camp would have sworn that my people were the aggressors. “He should hae a lang-shafted spune that sups kale wi’ the deil,” and I knew that our “spune” had a very short shaft compared with that of the English gentleman and his crew.
To vindicate myself, I explained to the villagers what I had done, and was obliged to let them know what I thought of the sahib. The whole village was intensely agitated, and nothing was talked of but the tyranny of the settlement officer, comparing him with the collector sahib, who was so kind and pleased.
It happened just as I anticipated, the assessments were increased twenty per cent. Great stress was laid on the rich productive land, compared with adjoining villages, on the valuable fruit trees, the comfortable houses, on the tank yielding a large amount of fish.
On hearing of the officer’s report I wrote to the Government in the Revenue Department, making a long statement, showing in what condition I had found the villages, a lot of dilapidated huts; that I had contributed several thousand rupees for the construction of houses; that the soil had been very poor, which I had enriched with fertilizers and judicious cultivation; that many acres were absolutely barren, usar land, which I under-drained and fertilized with lime and manure, and after years of labor and much expense, had changed it to productive soil; that I had built drains for the streets, and made the villages healthy; and lastly, I had built the tank and stocked it with fish, employing men to go a great distance, and bring the best kinds. I might have told how the tank had been robbed by the camp of the Settlement Officer, but caution controlled me to say nothing that would irritate, as I was now a supplicant for mercy, since I knew I could not get justice. I prayed that under the circumstances, the assessment might remain as formerly, or at the same rate as of the villages in the vicinity.
My application was denied, on the plea that the Revenue Department could not upset a report of the Settlement Officer who had been upon the ground and thoroughly understood the whole matter.
I went to the Collector and laid the whole subject before him, asking for justice, omitting all mention of anything unpleasant that had occurred. He wrote to the Department stating that he had spent some days at these villages; that they were models, not only of the district but of all India; that he had never seen any to compare with them; that they were like villages at home; that he was surprised and delighted to find that such improvements could be made in India; but it was all due to the energy and personal attention of Mr. Japhet, who had spent large amounts of money in the improvements. He hoped, therefore, that the Board would reconsider its decision, as it would only be just to Mr. Japhet to make some concession. The reply was that in view of the representations of the Collector the assessment would be reduced to ten per cent. above the former rate, but “further than that it would not be advisable, etc.”
This was a gain, and somewhat satisfactory. If a robber waylays you, and empties your pockets, it is better to accept a sovereign that he generously offers you out of your own purse, than go without supper and bed.
I had then the pleasure of re-stocking my tank with fish and in the evening after it was finished, at our assembly, we had a kind of a jubilee meeting, thanking our stars that another settlement officer would not come again for thirty-three years.