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Read Ebook: Carlyon Sahib: A Drama in Four Acts by Murray Gilbert
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Ebook has 1096 lines and 15265 words, and 22 pages
Where? Why at "Stratford-atte-Bow!" More precisely at Limehouse. All nationalities come in course of time to London Docks. But Bhoj?li is my last acquisition--since my book. I came across my Bhoj?li by accident a year ago. And now I can talk pretty well with him.
VERA.
Then, all the more, why go to Bhoj?l?
ADENE.
Well, you see, it is history rather than philology that I have in mind for the moment.
VERA.
Not the history of Bhoj?l?
ADENE.
The history of the Indian Frontier--from the native's point of view!
VERA.
Do you mean an account of the various small wars?
ADENE.
VERA.
Isn't it all in the Blue Books?
ADENE.
VERA.
It is like the programme of a Baboo Protection Society. I hope the officials will like it.
ADENE.
I have thought of that. But I know too much of India to be even suspected of thinking ill of the officials. And Sir David's recommendation will soften them.
VERA.
"Please give bearer every facility for attacking the reputation of my late colleagues;" is that it?
ADENE.
VERA.
"Foul play!" It is to be as bad as that?
ADENE.
I suppose even Englishmen have occasionally done wrong?
VERA.
And you go there expecting to find crimes committed by English officers?
ADENE.
VERA.
How considerate of you to begin with Bhoj?l!
ADENE.
Oh, let us start fair again! I begin with Bhoj?l because a certain Sir David Carlyon was the Political Agent there, a gentleman who was afterwards Chief Commissioner of the province of Rajpoor.
VERA.
Don't be ironical!
ADENE.
Everybody who has heard of India has heard of his marvellous power of governing; also, everybody knows that if ever there was a war forced upon us against our will, it was the war of the annexation of Bhoj?l.
VERA.
And then?
ADENE.
Then, I want to begin my studies with the best possible instance.
VERA.
Well, it makes me somewhat impatient. Suppose you do discover that in the summer of 1820 an English major threw a bootjack at his syce?
ADENE.
Forcing an unjust war on a weak tribe is a different thing from misdirecting a bootjack.
VERA.
How are you to know the war was unjust? The people who made it had full knowledge. You come to judge them with very imperfect knowledge; and you appeal to the public, which has no knowledge at all!
ADENE.
When I write a book there is no danger of its appealing to the public.
VERA.
ADENE.
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