A Galahad of the Creeks, and other stories

Front matter

A GALAHAD OF THE CREEKS AND OTHER STORIES ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY PRESS A GALAHAD OF THE CREEKS AND OTHER STORIES BY S. LEVETT-YEATS LONGMANS, GREEN, AND GO. 39 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON AND BOMBAY 1897 A ll rights reserved CONTENTS. A GALAHAD OF THE CREEKS PAGE I. The Coming of the Woon i II. A Dinner a Deux 15 III. Father Fragrance Limes a Twig 26 IV. Ruys Smalley 37 V. "Furiis Agitatus Amor" 48 VI. Anthony Pozendine Speaks Up 54 VII. The Ruby Bracelet 67 VIII. The Sirkar's Salt 73 IX. His Lady's Gage 83 X. An Atonement 93 XI. The Patience of Habakkuk Smalley ... ... 102 XII. The Episode of Li Fong no XIII. An Overreach 121 XIV. Pallida Mors 130 XV. The Passing of the Woon 141 THE WORTHY AND PITIFUL QUEST OF SUSANNA HOPE. (A LOST HAKLUYT.) The Worthy and Pitiful Quest of Susanna Hope. (A Lost Hakluyt) — The First Chapter 147 The Second Chapter 157 The Third Chapter 165 The Fourth Chapter 173 The Fifth Chapter CONTENTS.

VI THE WIDOW LAMPORT. PAGE I. At the Door of the Tabernacle 185 II. A Cup of Tea 190 III. A Billet-Doux !95 IV. Yes 2°2 V. Mrs. Bunny Doubts 209 VI. Master Edward Bunny ... ... 214 VII. Dungaree's Belt 221 VIII. Cast Out from the Fold 228 IX. At the Divan Exchange 235 X. Exit Manuel ... ... 241 XI. The Happy Pair 249 XII. The Devil at Work 255 XIII. Husband and Wife 263 XIV. John Galbraith Goes ... 268 XV. The Glory Departs ... ... 277 XVI. An Account Balanced ... 285 XVII. From the Choir of the Holy Innocents ...

Chapter I. The Coming Of The Woon

The good ship steered towards the East, To the East, o'er the salt sea-foam, And years rolled by, and time grew old, But she nevermore came home. — Voyage of the Tobias. When a man has taken a first-class degree, when he has won his blue, and has passed high into the Indian Civil Service without the wet-nursing of a crammer, it might be hazarded that he is worth something. One might go farther and picture out his future career ; how he would be a prop of Israel ; how, step by step, he would rise until the honourable council enshrouded him ; and bow, after a life of useful work, he would, like Oliver, desire more, and drop into being the bore of " the House," or into the warmest corner of the " Oriental," and dream over the fire of the time when he was his Honour the Lieutenant-Governor. But the lion is very old now ; let him doze.

Peregrine Jackson had taken the first steps to qualify for this part in the tragedy of life, for this forging of the links of that mysterious chain of which we know not the beginning, and may never know the end, until, as to Longinus, the Gates of Immortality are opened unto us. But the tall, straight, broad-shouldered young Englishman was thinking of none of these things at present. He had elected to serve in Burma, and he was now posted as assistant-commissioner, practically Go vernor of Pazobin, which is in Lower Burma, and lies near the sea on a slimy creek of the Irawadi. He leaned over the gunwale of the river steamer that was bearing him to his destination, and the skipper, the sleeves of his grey-flannel shirt rolled up to his elbows, stood beside him and pointed out Pazobin, which lay about two miles off, clinging like a limpet to the river bank.

Now a Burman river steamer can walk, and at twelve knots an hour two miles would not take long to cover ; in fact, the Woon had already whistled shrilly to announce her coming, a whistle that found a hundred echoes in the forest which fringed the banks, until it died away in fitful cadences in some unknown swamp. And let it be remembered that this is the country of the Creeks. Here the Irawadi, whose source no man knoweth, comes down from its cradle of snow, past the tremendous defiles of Bhamo, through the whole length of that strange land from which the veil has only just been lifted, past cities and temples, until at last the mys tery of waters spreads out with a hundred thirsty throats towards the sea, and puddles its blue field with a muddy yellow far out, even to where the breakers hiss around Cape Negrais.

Between the wide necks that stretch out to the sea the water has made for itself countless cuttings, through which it ebbs and flows sluggishly beneath the shadows of a primeval forest. The whistle of the steamer was answered by the dull boom of a signal gun ; and the broad bosom of the creek was almost imme diately dotted over with a vast number of small craft making their way towards the incoming mail boat. " There's the pagoda," and the mudlark, as captains of Burman river steamers are irreverently called, pointed to the gilded cupola which rose high above the feathers of the bamboos that' surrounded it. "There's the jetty," he added, "and there's the court-house. You'll know more about that presently. Wonder how you'll like sitting there ten hours a day ? And, by George ! there's the Nga-pe !

" " The what ? " But as Jackson spoke, a puff of wind brought a decomposed odour to the steamer. It was overpowering, an all-pervading essence, and for a moment Peregrine forgot everything in a vain effort to beat off the evil with his pocket-handkerchief. " It's all right when you're used to it," mocked the captain ; " and you mustn't turn up your nose at it, for that delicate condiment is the main source of revenue of your district. Wait till I take you up some day with a shipload on board ! And now — your humble — I must be off." He vanished to attend to his duties, which to the non-professional onlooker appeared to consist principally of swinging his arms round like the sails of a windmill, and using frightful language towards a person whom he called the Serang. The fitful wind changing at this time, relieved Jackson from the terrible odour, and allowed him to look with a somewhat despairing curiosity at his new home.

Before him lay a fleet of small fishing-craft, and a single row of bathing machines on stilts. The latter were the houses of the inhabitants, and they were all built on piles. They were of the roughest possible description ; but here and there a plutocrat had gotten some corrugated iron to make a roof with, and to excite thereby the envy, malice and hatred of his fellows. There was but one street, from the end of which the jetty projected into the river. Beyond this rose some larger buildings, the largest of which had been pointed out by the skipper as the court-house. A little way inland towered the gilded spire of the pagoda, with its umbrella crest that swung slowly round in the breeze. The one street of the township was thoroughly alive. It seemed as if a swarm of butterflies was on the move in the (bright sunshine.

Everywhere there was the sheen of brilliant colour, red, yellow, electric-blue, and that strange tint which is known to milliners as sang de bœuf The small boats surrounded the steamer, and regardless of the danger of being swamped, recklessly jammed up against her. With few exceptions their occupants were either women or Chinamen. These latter exchanged joyous greetings with their compatriots on board, and, swarming up the ship's side, set vigorously to work preparing to land their consignments as soon as ever the steamer drifted alongside the jetty. The ladies followed almost as rapidly, and their agility, and the skill which they displayed in preventing the too great exposure of shapely limbs, were beyond all praise. The women had brought with them their peddling wares, and a brisk market was opened — sharks' teeth, an invaluable love philtre, silks and fruits, and the nameless little wants of semi-civilised life.

One held high above her head a row of mutton chops impaled upon a bamboo skewer. " Excellent they are," she cried, " they have come from the fat sheep the mail brought for me all the way from Calcutta." Everybody was smoking except the Chinamen and the man at the wheel, who were too busy. The Burman man was, however, so absorbed in the contemplation of his own dignity that he did nothing but smoke ; the Burman woman, on the other hand, simply coaled herself with each whiff of the long green cheroot she sucked, and every puff inspired her with fresh energy for the driving of a bargain. Through all the maze of business, how ever, madame remained a very woman, and many an astute deal was lost as the joints of her armour were pierced by Ah Sin's oily tongue, or the open admiration in Loo-ga-lay's little eyes.

They were now so close to the shore that Jackson could dis tinctly see the faces of the people, and the medals on the breasts of the half company of Sikh Police that were formed up on the jetty — a tribute of honour to him, as he found out subsequently. Two Europeans stood amidst the crowd ; in one dressed in a police uniform, Peregrine recognised Hawk shawe, the district police officer, who, whilst nomi nally his second-in-command, was really to be Jackson's dry nurse in controlling his charge until he was fit to fly alone. This period of probation would be, of course, just as long or as short as Peregrine chose to make it, for a member of the Indian Civil Service is ordinarily hatched full fledged — a diplomat — a magistrate — anything you will. In the other, who stood beside the police officer, Jackson, although new to the country, recognised the missionary.

His unkempt beard and hair, his long clerical coat of raw silk, and the dejected appearance of his lean face hall-marked him as such distinctly. The steamer had now come almost opposite the jetty. A light line, one end of which was attached to the hawser, was cleverly thrown out, and as cleverly caught by a blue-bloused Lascar. The hawser was dragged to the shore to the accompani ment of a " hillee-haulee " chorus, and it surged through the water like an unwilling water-boa being pulled to land. At length the end of the huge rope touched the bank — somebody jumped into the ooze and lifted it with both arms — somebody else twisted it deftly round a short stumpy pillar, and then with a drumming of the donkey engine, and an insistent hiss hiss of the paddles, the steamer sidled slowly alongside the jetty until she almost touched it.

In an instant the bridge was placed in position, and a crowd that seemed all elbows met an invading army bent upon forcing its way on board, and there was a little trouble. With the aid of a fierce-looking sergeant, who used his cane freely, Hawkshawe made his way on deck, and after a brief greeting with the skipper came up to Peregrine. "You're Jackson, I suppose? I'm Hawkshawe." The two men shook hands and looked each other straight in the face. Each saw the other's strength. It was later on they noticed the loose rivets in each other's mail. After a few moments spent in de sultory conversation, during which Jackson heard and replied to the usual question of how he liked the country, the two prepared to leave the ship, and Peregrine sought the skipper to say adieu. " Good-bye, captain." " Good-bye — the next time you come with me I'll have the Nga-pe all ready for you."

They were over the bridge, the guard of honour had presented arms, and the Reverend Doctor Habakkuk Smalley, American missionary, was in troduced. Dr. Smalley performed the feat of shaking hands, of mopping his face with a red handkerchief, and of asking Jackson if he had " got it " all at once. " Got it ! " was the reply. " I should think we all did — got it nearly a mile up. It was most horrible." Dr. Smalley groaned aloud, and stretched forth both hands in protest. " Sir," he began ; but Hawkshawe interposed. " Excuse me for a moment, doctor, but I must introduce these people to the new king," and he led up the portly native treasury-officer to the bewildered Jackson, who found himself compelled to make and to answer civil speeches while he was wondering how he could have given offence.

The presentations were rapidly brought to an end, and Hawkshawe urged a move towards breakfast, turning to include Dr. Smalley in the invitation ; but the reverend gentleman was nowhere to be seen. He had stalked off in high dudgeon. " I've done something to offend Dr. Smalley — let me go after him and explain if I can, though what it can be I can't guess," said Jackson. " I should think you have," was the answer ; "fancy Smalley asking you his usual question about your certainty of your salvation, and only think of your reply ! " " But I meant that fearful smelling compound ! " Hawkshawe's laugh pealed out loudly. " Well, isa man will speak of religion like the measles he must expect to be misunderstood ; but there is no use in saying anything now. I will square matters for you. Smalley is a very good fellow really, and you will get to like him and — but you must be very hungry.

My men will take your traps over to your own place, and you have to breakfast with me, and can then go on if you like. Here is the trap — jump in." A GALAHAD OF TIIE CREEKS. After the cramped life of thc river steamer, how ever, the traveller wished to stretch his limbs a little, and begged to be permitted to walk. To this Hawkshawe agreed with an inward curse, for walking exercise is hateful to the Anglo-Burmese. He will ride or drive anywhere, but the climate does not contemplate walking. It is not in the programme. An officious peon opened a huge umbrella over Jackson's head, notwithstanding his protests, and a small procession was formed. This was increased to a very respectable size by the time they reached their destination, for most of thc inhabitants of the place, having nothing better to do, attached themselves in a semi-official manner to the party, and there was quite a crowd when, after a final leave-taking, Jackson and his host entered the house.

It was a great pleasure to find that there were houses far back from the dreary little town on the river-bank. It was disheartening to think that one had to live amidst the mal odorous mud and slime, and it was equally cheering to find instead of this a trim garden and a fantas tically pretty little house, with a breakfast-table set out in a shady verandah which overlooked a lawn as green as emerald, upon which two little fox terriers were chasing each other in joyous play, to the detriment of the turf but to their own great good. " You may consider yourself fairly installed now," said Hawkshawe, " and after breakfast we will take a run down to the courts ; Drage, your predecessor, left only three days ago, but his house, which you have taken, will suit you admirably. You will find yourself very comfortable there, for Drage did himself well."

After breakfast Hawkshawe's fast-trotting pony took them the one mile to the court-house "in less than no time," as the policeman said, and the trifling business of the first day concluded, they drove to the house Jackson was to occupy. He had taken it over as it stood from his predecessor, who had gone home on long furlough, and he was much pleased to find it comfortable beyond his expectations. All his heavy baggage had come on before, and Ah-Geelong, the Chinese servant whom he had engaged as head man, was evidently a treasure. His books were neatly stacked in their shelves, and not with the titles upside down, for Ah-Geelong was skilled in the English tongue after his kind. Everything was spotlessly clean, from the half-dozen servants, who greeted him respect fully as he arrived, to the shining floor of the rooms, on the dark wood of which a mirror-like polish had been scrubbed.

After a few minutes Hawkshawe drove off, having made Jackson promise to dine with him that evening, and Peregrine was left to himself. He spent about an hour in arranging photographs and a few paintings, and then made a tour of the house and grounds. His ponies, two strong cobby little Shans, had come, and were looking sleek and comfortable in their stalls. He came back and made for the room which Ah-Geelong had arranged as his master's study. The China man had selected this with a natural taste that could not be surpassed. The wide windows of the room opened into a verandah, from which there was an outlook over the river. There was a per fect north light, and the soft sea-breeze that had travelled so many miles came in cool puffs past the quis-qualis blossoms that twined and thrust themselves through the trellis-work of the verandah.

He wheeled out a small table and sat down to write home, for the steamer left early the next morning and the mails went with her. The letter was to his father, and after describing the events of his journey, he went on to explain the feelings which moved him on his entry into the task of governing his fellow-creatures. He was aware that he ought to have first learned to govern himself; but prac tical work mostly leaves out that little detail upon which the moralist insists. Beyond a certain amount of book knowledge, he knew little or nothing of the people upon whom he was pitch forked by a Gazette notification. He had been told that the Burman was incapable of progress, a sluggard and a fop, and that the Chinaman was the future of Burma. His work was to collect the revenue, to preserve order, and to administer the law.

But Jackson was not satisfied with accepting as an axiom the definition of the Burman given to him, nor did he feel that to carry out the mere routine of his work was sufficient. He had read much of the civilisation of the East ; but after all what is the civilisation of the East to that of the West ! Jackson was bringing all the active vigorous West with him to this sleepy hollow in the creeks, and his coming would be as a breath of strong air to an invalid. He mapped out his programme. He would be to the benighted creatures, for of course they were benighted, over whom he was placed, what his father had been and was to him — and so on for many pages of what a high-souled boy always dreams when he enters upon the battle of the East. With few exceptions he comes out of the struggle dispirited and broken, feeling that the strong years of his life have been wasted in trying to affix the impression of a seal upon water.

He folded his letter, and ringing the little bell which stood near him gave it to the servant who came to carry to the post. He then rose, and leaning over the railings of the verandah looked out before him. It was almost sunset and a veil of shimmering gold was over the land. The yellow light fell softly on the sleepy forest and trembled over the dreaming river. Out on the west stretched a long thin line of purple clouds, and his heart went forth there, for beyond was home — home which he should see again when his task was done — when he had struck the dead Buddh once more into life ; when the East had heard the message he bore it from the West. '5

Chapter II

A DINNER A DEUX. Ho I A flowing bowl and a merry lass, And a fig for a monk or friar I And the clean white light Of a sword in fight, And gold to my heart's desire, — The Buccaneer. Eight o'clock ! There was just time to dress and reach Hawkshawe's house unless Jackson wanted to be late for dinner. He was unromantic enough to have an extremely good appetite, and a man must dine even if he is going to make the old East new. He got through his dressing as quickly as possible, and found his pony waiting for him under the portico that protected the front door of the house. Ah-Geelong followed close at his heels with an enormous hand-lantern, which threw a blaze of light many yards around them. Peregrine protested : " There is a bright moon, Ah-Geelong ; you surely do not want a lamp ; you might as well bring an umbrella !

" " Plentee snakee, master," and the Chinaman pointed generally all around him with a long knotted bamboo staff. The argument was un answerable. Out of deference, therefore, to the cobra the lantern was permitted to assist the moonlight, and the procession moved off. Peregrine determined that, snake or no snake, he would come back without the lantern, and as he rode took little mental bearings in order to guide himself home again. On arrival he sent back the pony with his groom, and Ah-Geelong disappeared into the servants' quarters with his cosmos-burner. Hawk shawe came forward with cordial greeting, and it might have been fancy, but as they entered the drawing-room Peregrine thought he saw the curtain that guarded the entrance to a side-door falling swiftly, and the flicker of a silken tamein as it vanished from sight.

" Take that long chair," said Hawkshawe, " and have a sherry and bitters ; it will give you a fillip up!" Jackson did not want the fillip up, but he took the sherry and bitters. He did not do so, how ever, in his host's scientific way. Hawkshawe first sprinkled the bitters in, and holding the glass before him bent it on one side, slowly turning it until there was a streak of burnt sienna winding round the inside ; then he poured in the sherry and drank sip by sip with deep satisfaction. " It's the only way to get the true flavour of the A DEUX. 17 bitters," he remarked. This was of course utter nonsense, but Hawkshawe fully believed it, and said the words so positively that his listener bowed to his superior knowledge and also believed. When Hawkshawe had absorbed some of the flavour of the bitters he asked : " How have you been amusing yourself since I left you — office files?"

" No ; a lot came in, but I have reserved them for later on. I've been writing letters. The mail goes out to-morrow, and I took the opportunity to write home." " Of course you did. I never write home now. The fact is I haven't seen old England for many a long year, and one loses touch. Besides, I never was a good hand at writing letters, and I don't suppose anything I have to say would be par ticularly interesting." " I should have thought it was quite the other way, Hawkshawe." As Jackson spoke dinner was announced, and they moved to the dining-room. It was dinner a deux, and for a few moments the conversation was general, Hawkshawe asking about friends at the capital, most of whom Jackson had met notwithstanding his short stay there ; but in this respect the East is a very small place. Finally Hawk shawe got on to the subject of his work, and gave a most interesting account of the robber gangs or dacoits that infested the district, concluding by ex pressing his firm belief that the chief malefactor was a well-known priest, who to all appearance had abandoned the world, but who Hawkshawe was convinced, although he had apparently nothing to support his statement, acted as a fence, and was at the bottom of all the mischief.

" And you really think," inquired Jackson, " that this man is a sort of head-centre ? It seems impro bable if what I have read and heard of the Buddhist priesthood is true ; but I suppose there are excep tions." Hawkshawe slowly raised his glass to the light and watched the little beads in the Ayala. " Nothing is improbable in this country, as you will find after a few years' experience," he answered half in mockery and half in earnest. " For instance, I believe it is really true that the bad characters of the adjoining district of Myobin were all driven here by the mosquitoes. They grow a special kind in Myobin, big grey ones about half an inch long, and striped like a tiger. They were more effective than the police ; the dacoit couldn't stand them and came here — worse luck." " The obvious course, then, would be to import some of your tiger-striped friends," laughed Jack son.

Hawkshawe sighed : " We have done that, but X DEUX. 19 it was of no use ; there is something in the air here which does not agree with that particular brand of insect life ; but joking apart, the dacoits are a very serious evil here, and I have made little or no head way against them. Now and then I score a success, but I put down all my failures to the priest Bah Hmoay — old Father Fragrance." " I suppose there is no way of clearing the fra grant old gentleman out ? " " None ; but if one could be devised you would end all our troubles and earn Smalley's undying gratitude as well. But Bah Hmoay is a power in the land in more ways than one, as you will find before many weeks, or rather days, have passed." " Why Smalley's gratitude in particular? " " Because two of a trade never agree, I fancy.

I don't mean by this that Smalley is a dacoit in dis guise, but that they are both bigoted representatives of religion, and each believes the other to be the fiend himself. By the way, the mention of Smalley reminds me that I have explained your little mistake of this morning to the Reverend Habakkuk, and he is quite prepared to smoke the pipe of peace with you, and this is well, as he is the only doctor within a hundred miles, and no one knows what may happen. Of course he will bother you a good deal ; but I should think you would know how to meet him when he opens fire on the mission side." "It was very good of you to explain. I think also that I know what Smalley wants, and I must say I don't see why Government should help the mission on purely religious grounds ; and he won't take help on any other.

As an educationalist, Smalley should of course be helped, and the same argument would apply to the pagoda schools over which I suppose Bah Hmoay presides. I don't think we should bring religion into grants-in-aid, and it doesn't seem as if Christianity suits the Eastern — what do you think ? " " Don't know ; all that's beyond me. I do know, however, that the native Christian is generally a d d scoundrel. Try these cigars ; they are specially made : and you must be patriotic and adopt your new country properly. If you won't face them, there are some Havannahs — made of cabbage-leaves probably." " Thanks," said Jackson, " but I am afraid I am not yet blooded sufficiently for a Burman cheroot. I shall move up to the height by easy stages, and if you will permit me will stick to the Havannahs, which I am sure you libel."

" They are better for the nerves at any rate," replied Hawkshawe ; and Jackson noticed how the flaring, spluttering vesta he lighted trembled in the policeman's hand as he held it to the cheroot. For the true enjoyment of tobacco there must be silence A DEUX. 21 and repose. Although Jackson was utterly unable to attack a yard of poison, such as Hawkshawe was smoking, he knew how to enjoy a cigar, and the Havannah was very good. The little incident of the curtain and the silken robe came into his mind again, and he caught himself getting curious about it. Hawkshawe was smoking nervously with quick short puffs ; he continually took the cheroot out of his mouth and rolled it between his fingers, apparently to make the rank leaf draw easier, and assisted his tobacco with short nips of old brandy, a thing which was not good to see.

Jackson made no attempt to speak ; and they smoked without a word being exchanged until the silence was appar ently too much for the policeman, and he suddenly asked : " I suppose you like your new house ?" " Very much, indeed. You were right in saying that Drage did himself well. It is very nearly perfect." " Do you know what became of his impedi menta ? " Jackson understood the question, and flushed with anger. He controlled himself, however, and answered shortly : " No ; these are matters about which I am not in the least concerned, nor do I think any one else should be." "Don't you?" said Hawkshawe; his potations had evidently loosened his tongue. " Don't you ? well, it will force itself on you some day. You shy at it now. We all did— I did, Thomson, Perkins, Drage did— and yet, you see, we are as we are.