THE LIGHT OF HIS HAREM.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2107, 9 January 1886, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE LIGHT OF HIS HAREM.

The Admiral de la Vallee, who had seemed asleep in his chair, Bfiid in his oldwomanish voice : " I had, myself, a little love affair that was very singular. Would you like to have me tell it ?" The company expressed its desire to hear his story, and he commenced : I. 11 1 was thirty years old and a lieutenant-, when I was sent on an astronomical mission to Central India. I travelled through countries of fabulous magnificence I was received by princes who Jived in incredible splendour. I seemed to be moving in a poem, through a fairy realm on the backs cf imaginary elephants. I discovered improbable ruins in fantastic forests. In dream-like cities prodigious monuments, finely chiselled as jewels, airy as lace and enormous as' mountains. I went along awake, yet in a dream. My journey's end was the city of Ganhara, governed by a prince who was opulent, authoritative, violent, generous, and cruel— the Rajah Aladdan, n true sovereign of the Orient, delicate and barbarous, affable and nanguinary, of feminine grace and pitiless ferocity. The city lies in a valley, beside a small lake, which washes the pagoda walls. Seen from afar the city is a white speck, which enLirgPS as one approaches, and by desfreea discovers the domes, the spires, all the light and graceful summits of its charming Indian structures. At an hour* distance from the gate I met an elephant, superbly caparisoned, surrounded by an escort of honour the sovereign sent me. I was conducted in threat pomp to the palace. Soldiers, bronzed like statues, in glittering uniforms, led me into a great room, with galleries around it, where men stood arrayed in striking robes, studded with precious stones. On a bench like our garden benches, with no back, but draped with a fine carpet, I saw a shining mas 9, a sort of sun. It was the Rajah awaiting me, arrayed in a canary-coloured robe. He wore ten or fifteen millions worth of diamonds, and on his brow shone the famous Star of Delhi, which has always belonged to the illustrious dynasty of which my host was a descendant. He was about twenty -five, looked as if of negro blood, though pure Hindoo. He had large, frank eyes, somewhat vague, prominent cheek-bones, big lips, curly beard, low forehead, and dazzling, pointed teeth, often showing in a mechanical smile. He rose and offered his hand, European fashion, and made me sit beside him, He soon proposed a tiger-hunt for the next day. The chase and combats were his great occupations. He invited me to an arena in the palace, where, at his command, two nude men appeared, their hands armed with steel clawi, with which they tore each other's flesh. It was a long struggle ; their bodies became amass of bleeding wounds. The Prince looked on with fierce, passionate delight, trembling with ecstasy, uttering joyful cries, unconsciously imitating all the movements of the combatants, and constantly crying an equivalent to our ' Hit him again !" One fell, unconscious, and wa9 borne from the aronn of blood. The Rajah gave a sigh of regret that it was over. Then he turned for my opinion. I was indignant, but I congratulated him, and he ordered them to lead me to the palace, where I was to lodge. Crossing wonderful gardens I reached my palace, a jewel, situated at the end of the royal park, all one side of its walls washed by the sacred lake of Vihara. It was square, presenting on its Jfour sides three rows of galleries, with wonderfully- I carved columns. At each angle rose towers high or low, single or in couples, of unequal height and different aspect, like blossoms on the charming plant of Oriental architecture. All were capped with odd roofs, like coquettish headdresses. From the centre rose a large dome, with a slender and graceful ball turret. The whole structure was covered with sculptured processions of personages, whose attitudes told the customs of India — exquisite arabesques that enchantti the eye. The rooms were lighted by fanci-fully-arched windows, looking upon gardens. On the marble floors graceful bouquets were inlaid with onyx, lapis lazuli and agate. I had scarcely time to dress when Haribadada, a court-dignitary, specially employed to communicate between the Prince and myself, announced a visit from the sovereign. The Rajah appeared, shook handd again, told me a thousand things, incessantly asked my advico, and insisted on showing me the ruins of an ancient palace at the other end of the gardens. It was a veritable forest of stone, inhabited by a tribe of large apes, who perched everywhere about us, grimacing and menacing. Then the sovereign took me to walk, telling me airain of the grand tiger-hunt, arranged for next day. I went to that chase, to a second, a third, ten, twenty. They hunted panther, bear, antelope, hippopotamus, crocodile, half the beasts in creation. I was worn out, disgusted with the sight of blood, weary of such monotonous pleasure. *' At last the ardour of the Prince cooled, and at my earnest prayer he allowed me leisure to work, and contented himself with heaping gifts upon me, jewels, magnificent stuffs, trained animals, which Haribadada presented with as much apparent respect as if I had been the sun itself. Every day a train of servants brought me, in covered dishes, a portion of each thing on the royal table. Every day I had to attend some new entertainment—dances of Bayaderes, jugglery, reviews of troops, all that the hospitable Rajah could invent to show me bis Burprising oountry's full obarm and splcudour. When left alone I worked, or went to see the ape 9, whose society pleased me better than that of the Prince. Returning one night, from a promenade, I found the solemn Haribadada standing at my palace door. He told me of a gift from the Rajah awaiting me, bowed and disappeared. I entered and found six little girls, ranged in a row against the wall, the oldest perhaps eight, the youngest six years. At first I could not understand it ; theu I divined the delicate attention. The Prince had given me a harem ? I stood confused, ashamed, before these mites, watohing me with their great, grave eyes. I did not know what to say to them. I wanted to send them back, but one cannot return a sovereign's gift. That would give mortal offence. I was obliged to keep this troop of babies in my house. They stood motionless, trying to read my thoughts. 0! the accursed gift ! At last, feeling myself ridiculous, I asked the largest one her name. She answered ' Chali.' She had a pretty skin, a little yellow like ivory, and looked like a statue, with 9 f aoe of long, severe lines. The smallest one was a ounning little mouw. I JUted, hor in my arms and em-

braced her. The others moved, as if to retire, doubtless thinking I hod made my choice, but I told them to stay, and, sitting on the floor, let them ait in a circle about me, while I told them a fairy story, for I knew their language passably. They listened intently, ntarting at marvelous details and trembling 1 -with interest. When I had finished I had cakes and candy brought, of which they ate enough to make them sick. Then I played game* with my little wires, their burst of laughter and joyous cries enlirening the sumptuous palace. At night I gave them in charge of four women-servanta the Prince had sent to care for my sultanas. For eight days I had real pleasure in playing papa to these dolls. We had delightful ganiea of hide-and-seek, puss-in-the corner, and blind-man's buff, which threw them into ecstacie.i. Every day I tausrht them a now game full of intercut, and ray palace was gay with ray small friends, dressed in bright silk and stuffs, embroidered with silver and gold, racing through tho long galleries and great dreary rooms. Chali, the ono like a statuette of old ivory, became my favourite and constant companion, save when I visited the Prince. She was an admirable little being, gentle, shy, and gay, and came to love me devotedly. The others roamed through the palace like a lot of kittens. Chali and I passed pleasant hours in the ruins of tho old palace among the apes, who became our friends. The Prince continued to shower gifts upon me. One of theso excited in Chali a passionate admiration. It was merely a pasteboard box, with tiny shells glued all aver it— in France nearly worthless, in India priceless, and doubtless the first which had entered the realm. I smiled at the importance given the ugly trifle. But Chali could not cease looking at it and admiring it. She would often ask my leave to touch it, and upon my permission she would raise the cover and close it with great precautions, gently caress the little shells with her slim fingers, and seemed to feel by that contact a pleasure that thrilled her to the heart. Finally I finished my work, and it became necessary to return. The Prince, disconsolate, organised new hunting parties, new combats, but, after fifteen days of these pleasures, I declared I could not remain, and he left me free to depart. Chali 'a farewell was heart-rending. She wept in my arms, shaken by her sobs. I did not know what to do to console her. Suddenly an idea occured to me. I huntei up the shell-covered box and placed it in her hands. "It is yours. It belongs to you. " Then she smiled. Her face was illumined by an inward joy — the profound bliss of impossible dreams suddenly realised. She huggod my neck till I was nearly strangled. I distributed fatherly kisses and cakes to the rest of my small wives, and then came away. Two years passed. Then the cbancea of service at sea brought me to Bombay. A new mission had been given me, on account of my knowledge of the country aud tho language. I finished my work quickly, and having three month's leisure before me, I decided to visit the King of Ganhara and my dear little wife, Chali. The Rajah Maddan received me with demonstrations of frenzied joy. He had three gladiators slain before me, and never let me alone the first day of my return. Finding myself, at last, at liberty, I called Haribadada, and after asking various question! as a blind, I said : ' And do you know what has become of the pretty Cbali the Rajah gave me V The man looked sad, and answered, in great embarrassment : ' It is better not to speak of her.' • Why ? She was a charming little wife.' ' She turned out sadly, sir.' •What, Chali? What has become of her ? Where is she? 1 1 She has ended badly.' ' Ended badly ? Is she dead ?' 'Yes, sir. She committed a crime.' I was overwhelmed with emotion. I felt my heart beat violently and a weight upon my chest. • A crime !' I cried. ♦ What has she done ? What happened to her ?' The man, more and more embarrassed, murmured : 'It is better for you not to ask.' I I insist npon knowing.' 1 She stole.' • What Chali ? How was that ?' ' The day you left she took the little box of shells the Prince had given you. It was found in her hand*.' 1 But I gave it to her.' He looked at me as if stupefied. ' Yes, she swore by all that is sacred that you had given it to her. But they did not believe you would offer a slave a King's gift, and the Rajah had her punished." 'What! Punished? What did he have done ?' ' They bound her in a sack, sir, and threw her into the lake from that window, from the window of this room where we are, where she committed the theft.' I felt the greatest grief of my life. I Mgned to Haribadada to retire, that he should not see me weep. I passed that night in the gallery overhanging the lake— the gallery where I had so often held the poor ohild on my knees. And I thought of the skeleton of that lovely little forra below me, knotted in a canvas sack in tho depths of that black water we had looked upon together. I came away the next day, de«pite the Rijah's prayers and deep chagrin. And I believe now that I have never loved any woman but Chali."— Translated from the French.