Fourth Ryot. Last year I prepared ten bigahs; but as to the price of that, they raised great confusion. This year again, they have given advances for fifteen bigahs; and I am doing exactly as they are ordering me; still, they leave not off insulting me.
First Ryot. I am laboring with my plough for these two years, and I have cultivated a little piece of ground. That piece of ground which I prepared this year, I kept for sesamum; but one day, our young Saheb, riding on his horse, came to the place, and waiting there himself, took possession of the whole piece. How can the ryots live if this is to continue?
Torapa. This is only the intrigue of the wicked Amin. Does the Saheb know every thing about land? This fool goes about like a revengeful dog: when he sees any good piece of land, he immediately gives notice of it to the Saheb. The Saheb has no want of money, and he has no need for borrowing money on credit. Then, why is it that the fool does so; if he have to cultivate Indigo, let him do so; let him buy oxen; let him prepare ploughs; if he cannot guide the plough himself, let him keep men under him. What want have you of lands? If you can cultivate the whole village; and we do not refuse to give the village. In that case the land can overflow with Indigo in two years. But he will not do it.
—(Aside, ho! ho! ho! má! má!) Gazi-Saheb! Gazi-Saheb! Durga! Durga![[19]] call your Rama. Within this there are ghosts. Be silent, be silent.
(Aside, Oh Indigo! You came to this land for our utter ruin. Ah! I cannot any more suffer this torture. I cannot say how many other Factories there are of this Concern. Within this one month-and-a-half, I have already drunk the water of fourteen Factories; and I do not know in what Factory I am now; and how can I know that, while I am taken in the night from one Factory to another, with my eyes entirely shut. Oh! my mother where art thou now?)
Third Ryot. Rama! Rama! Rama! Kali! Kali! Durga! Ganesha! Ashra!
Torapa. Silence, silence.
(Aside, Ah! I can make myself free from this hell, if I take the advance for five bigahs of land. Oh! my uncle, it is now proper to take the advance. Now, I see no means of giving the notice; my life is on the point of leaving the body. I have no more any power to speak. Oh my Mother, where art thou now? I have not seen thy holy feet for a month-and-a-half.)
Third Ryot. I shall speak of this to my wife; did you hear now? Although these are become ghosts after death, still have they not been able to extricate themselves from the Indigo advances.
First Ryot. Art thou so very ignorant?