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Article HASSAN AND ZOOLMA; ← Page 17 of 18 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Hassan And Zoolma;
mised never to divulge it except under certain conditions , which were not likely to accrue . He had himself never used the passage , but it was always kept ready in case necessity should require it . There was , however , but little chance of discovery , since besides the absence of all suspicion of the existence of the cave , the moveable stones in the wall are , as you saw , so covered with ivy and bush , that it is impossible to observe any difference between them and the solid part of the building .
" Thus stood matters when on the evening of your arrival I heard of the destined fate of another victim , though but little did I then think how dear to my early recollections that person was . I heard Ghuffoor Khan relate to my father that he expected to find in the traveller a fine prey , since you had money on your person , and had besides a horse of great value , which , as you had confessed yourself to be a stranger in that part of the country , might be easildiposed of
y without suspicion . He further mentioned how he had fallen in with you , and had nearly effected his object in the grove where you put up at mid-day . The beyl or burying place had been selected , the graves were being dug , and the words " Hookah lao , " or bring the hookah , ( which in their language signifies that the murder should be commenced , ) had actually been spoken , but the approach of a body of troops , who must have discovered the crimesaved you . It was likewise
recom-, mended , that as you were a powerful man , and though you could not effectually resist those who would have strangled you , you might have caused more trouble and noise than usual , a narcotic should be administered to you in your food or drink . The food of which you saw my father and Ghuffoor Khan partake could have done you no harm ; but had you acceded to their request to eat , the attendant would have spiced
it well . In that case , though you would not have perished , you would have been unable to act with that vigour on which your life depended . I need not describe my astonishment at discovering who was the intended victim , nor the instantaneous resolution which I formed of liberating and fleeing with you . 1 alone might , had I been inclined to fly and incur the risk which would have been consequent thereon , have escaped in the day time by the gates ; on you were shut the entrances and places of exit of my father ' s house . Had you passed themthe
, gates of the town were impassable ; and those who were in league with my father would' have easily informed him of your escape from his tent . This too must prove my excuse for what might otherwise appear an unprovoked crime , in drowning the chokedar ; but either his death or ours was the alternative . Had he seen me and you together , and surprised me at that hour and place , he could not but have . suspected our actionsand would have raised an alarm . I knew him well ; many is
, the unfortunate that he has decoyed to his destruction , and this hand but anticipated his doom by a few years . That must , indeed , be sooner or later the doom of them all , for God cannot permit such great wickedness to remain longer in the land . " The prophecy of Zoolma proved true . The government of India at last became convinced of that which had been before doubted , i . e . —the existence of the fraternity of Thugs or stranglerswho perambulated
, Hindoostan , committing murders by thousands , and with perfect impunity . Among many measures which Lord William Bentinck , when Governor General of India , carried into effect , some of which have proved failures , and others have created against him bitterness of feeling , that for the suppression of Thuggee , and the sister measure of
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Hassan And Zoolma;
mised never to divulge it except under certain conditions , which were not likely to accrue . He had himself never used the passage , but it was always kept ready in case necessity should require it . There was , however , but little chance of discovery , since besides the absence of all suspicion of the existence of the cave , the moveable stones in the wall are , as you saw , so covered with ivy and bush , that it is impossible to observe any difference between them and the solid part of the building .
" Thus stood matters when on the evening of your arrival I heard of the destined fate of another victim , though but little did I then think how dear to my early recollections that person was . I heard Ghuffoor Khan relate to my father that he expected to find in the traveller a fine prey , since you had money on your person , and had besides a horse of great value , which , as you had confessed yourself to be a stranger in that part of the country , might be easildiposed of
y without suspicion . He further mentioned how he had fallen in with you , and had nearly effected his object in the grove where you put up at mid-day . The beyl or burying place had been selected , the graves were being dug , and the words " Hookah lao , " or bring the hookah , ( which in their language signifies that the murder should be commenced , ) had actually been spoken , but the approach of a body of troops , who must have discovered the crimesaved you . It was likewise
recom-, mended , that as you were a powerful man , and though you could not effectually resist those who would have strangled you , you might have caused more trouble and noise than usual , a narcotic should be administered to you in your food or drink . The food of which you saw my father and Ghuffoor Khan partake could have done you no harm ; but had you acceded to their request to eat , the attendant would have spiced
it well . In that case , though you would not have perished , you would have been unable to act with that vigour on which your life depended . I need not describe my astonishment at discovering who was the intended victim , nor the instantaneous resolution which I formed of liberating and fleeing with you . 1 alone might , had I been inclined to fly and incur the risk which would have been consequent thereon , have escaped in the day time by the gates ; on you were shut the entrances and places of exit of my father ' s house . Had you passed themthe
, gates of the town were impassable ; and those who were in league with my father would' have easily informed him of your escape from his tent . This too must prove my excuse for what might otherwise appear an unprovoked crime , in drowning the chokedar ; but either his death or ours was the alternative . Had he seen me and you together , and surprised me at that hour and place , he could not but have . suspected our actionsand would have raised an alarm . I knew him well ; many is
, the unfortunate that he has decoyed to his destruction , and this hand but anticipated his doom by a few years . That must , indeed , be sooner or later the doom of them all , for God cannot permit such great wickedness to remain longer in the land . " The prophecy of Zoolma proved true . The government of India at last became convinced of that which had been before doubted , i . e . —the existence of the fraternity of Thugs or stranglerswho perambulated
, Hindoostan , committing murders by thousands , and with perfect impunity . Among many measures which Lord William Bentinck , when Governor General of India , carried into effect , some of which have proved failures , and others have created against him bitterness of feeling , that for the suppression of Thuggee , and the sister measure of