CHAPTER XXXIV.

LIFE IN THE ZENANA, AND CHITA HUNTING.

"TEN DURWESH MAY SLEEP UNDER THE SAME BLANKET, BUT TWO KINGS CANNOT EXIST IN ONE KINGDOM '."

A CONTEMPORARY WIFE, THOUGH A HOORI, IS WORSE THAN A SHE DEVIL."

Plurality of Wives-Intrigues and Hatred-Arrival at Khasgunge-The Four Walls-Arwari Shooting -The Putli-nach-The Lynx-Introduction to Colonel Gardner's Begam-The Morning Star-The Evening Star-The Nawab of Cambay -The beautiful Gardens-The Bara Deri-RattlerChita Hunting-Antelopes-The sulky Chita-Heera Sing-Chita Hunting attended by native Ladies.

1835, Feb. When a woman of rank marries, two female slaves are given with her, who are also the wives of her husband: this is so completely a custom it is never omitted: nevertheless, "The very voice of a rival wife is intolerable "."

A number of women are considered to add to a man's dignity: they add to his misery most decidedly. This custom being more honoured in the breach than the observance, was not put in force at the marriage of Mr. Gardner with Mulka Begam. "The malice of a fellow-wife is notorious "." It would only be surprising if such were not the case. "A contemporary wife is intolerable, even in effigy "." In native life the greatest misery is produced from a plurality of wives: they, very naturally, hate

5

PLURALITY OF WIVES.

391

each other most cordially, and quarrel all day. The children, also, from their cradles are taught to hate the children of the other wives; nevertheless, the following extract proves, that she is considered a wife worthy of praise, who loves the offspring of her husband and another woman :

"A woman may be married by four qualifications; one, on account of her money; another, on account of the nobility of her pedigree; another, on account of her beauty; the fourth, on account of her faith: therefore, look out for a religious woman; but if you do it from any other consideration, may your hands be rubbed in dirt."-"The world and all things in it are valuable; but the most valuable thing in the world is a virtuous woman."-"The best women, that ride on camels, I mean the women of Arabia, are the virtuous of the Koreish; they are the most affectionate to infants, whether they be their own or their husband's by other women; and they are the most careful of their husband's property." The proverb is at variance with the opinion of the prophet, since the former asserts, "A contemporary wife may be good, but her child is bad'." As the means of power over their husbands, native women value their children very much, and are miserable if they have

none.

If

A zenāna is a place of intrigue, and those who live within four walls cannot pursue a straight path: how can it be otherwise, where so many conflicting passions are called forth? a man make a present to one wife, he must make a similar offering to all the rest, to preserve peace and quietness. The wives must have separate houses or apartments; were it not so, they would agree as well as caged tigers. The kur'an permits a Musalman to have four wives; the proverb says, "The man is happy who has no she goat"." Atàa records, that the prophet had nine wives; and from Safiah, who was the last of them who died, he wished to be divorced; but she said, "Keep me with your wives, and do not divorce me, peradventure I may be of the number of your wives in paradise."

1 Oriental Proverbs, No. 78.

2 Ibid. 79.

Some authorities assert, that the prophet had eighteen wives : Atàa only mentions nine. To recompense his warlike followers for allowing them only four wives each, he gives them the mutâh marriage for any period they may choose with the wives of their enemies taken in battle.

In the beginning of Islàm, the followers of the prophet, the shi'as were allowed to marry for a limited time; this temporary marriage was called mutâh. "Verily the prophet prohibited, on the day of the battle of Khaiber, a mutâh marriage, which is for a fixed time, and he forbade the eating of the flesh of the domestic ass." "His highness permitted, in the year in which he went to Awtàs, mutâh for three days; after which he forbade it." At length a revelation came down which rendered every connexion of the sort unlawful for the faithful, “excepting the captives which their right hands possess."

If a woman of high rank and consequence has no heir, this farce is often played. The lady appears to expect one; she is fattened up in the same curious manner in which they fatten their horses five or six low caste women, who really expect children about the same time, are secreted in the zenana: when one of them is delivered of a son, the Begam takes it, the farce of an accouchement is acted, and the child is produced as the heir; the real mamma has 500 rupees (£50) given her,—and perhaps a dose of poison to secure her silence.

The father of Mulka Begam, the Huzur Mirza Suliman Shekō, the brother of the present Emperor of Delhi, resides at Agra, on a pension from Government; he has children innumerable, all young princes and princesses; there are, it is said, some forty of his children now alive, proud and poor. By Mulka's first marriage with Mirza Selim, the second son of the present King of Delhi, she had three children. The first wife of the King of Oude is a sister of Mulka's, and is reckoned more beautiful than even Mulka herself.

24th. We drove over to Khasgunge, Colonel Gardner's residence, thirteen miles, over roads that were hardly passable. On our arrival, we found our dear friend seated on the steps in front of his house, with many gentlemen, both English and

ARRIVAL AT KHASGUNGE.

393

native, around him. I thought I had never seen so dignified and graceful a person; he was dressed in a lubada of red figured Indian shawl, the rest of the dress was English, but the style of the lubada was particularly good, and suited to an old man; his half brother, Mr. Valentine Gardner, was with him, also an old nawab from Cambay.

Colonel Gardner has a fine estate at Khasgunge; the outer house is dedicated to his friends and English acquaintance; within four high walls is the bara-deri, or pavilion, in the centre of the zenāna gardens, in which his begam resides.

Apartments were given to my husband and me in the outer house, where the English visitors resided. The dinners at first consisted of European, as well as native dishes; but the latter were so excellent, I soon found it impossible to partake of dishes dressed after the English fashion; and as all the guests were of the same opinion, Colonel Gardner had the kindness to banish European dishes from the table.

delights to bask in the sun, Colonel Gardner kept two purpose of shooting these

I must not forget to mention the arwarī fish, the finest and most delicious I ever tasted; the Kālā-naddī is famed for its arwarī, a sort of mullet; the fish floating on the surface of the water. shikarees (native sportsmen), for the fish; one man fired, and the other instantly plunged into the water, and brought out the fish that were killed or stunned. The Musalmans object to eating fish having no scales; such fish was also forbidden to the Jews.

In the evening, the native mimics came to perform before us; they imitated Europeans very well, and mimicked the gentlemen of the party. A pūtlī-nāch was afterwards brought forward; I was surprised to see the natives, young and old, so eager and fond of this absurdity, until Colonel Gardner said, “The natives are madly fond of this pūtlī-nāch; indeed, it is all the English have left them of their former glory. You see, represented by puppets, Shahjahān and all his Court and Durbar: one puppet is brought forward, and the manager, whilst it bows to the audience, relates the whole history of the minister whom it represents; giving a true account of his pedigree, riches,

influence, &c. At this moment, standing behind my chair, at a salary of four rupees a month, is the lineal descendant of one of the first lords in the Court of Shahjahan. The managers of the show mix up infinite wit with their relation of events, and sarcasms on the English."

After this explanation, I could see the reason of the fondness of the old natives for this puppet-show, which before, in my ignorance, I had not comprehended. One by one every puppet is brought forward, and its history recounted. This evening fatigued me a good deal; we sat under the verandah to see the sights, the glare of the torches was painful to my eyes, and the noise made my head ache.

27th.-A lynx (the caracal), the property of Colonel Gardner, a most extraordinary looking beast, killed a goa samp: I was told, the animal catches crows by springing several feet into the air after them as they rise from the ground.

The cheeta, or chītā, (hunting leopard), killed two antelopes: some nach girls danced and sang in the evening, and thus closed the day.

My husband, who had accompanied me to Khāsgunge, now took leave of Colonel Gardner, and returned to Allahabad, leaving me with our dear friend to witness the Muhammadan marriage ceremonies. My husband quitted us with regret, being obliged to depart on account of the expiration of his leave of absence.

Colonel Gardner married Nawab Matmunzel ool Nissa Begam, of the Cambay family; she resides in the house or pavilion within the four walls, with her relatives, attendants, and slaves. This morning the Begam sent word she would receive visitors in the evening; Colonel Gardner took me over, and introduced me to her as his adopted daughter; she rose and embraced me, putting her cheek to mine on each side the face, after the fashion of the French, and her arms around me having received her guests, she sat down on her gaddi of purple velvet, embroidered with gold; and we seated ourselves on plain white gaddīs on either side.

The Begam is a very lively little old woman; she was mag