ANDAMAN SHEEKHA

The True Mirror of A & N Islands

Viper Prison Break

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N. Francis Xavier
Part XXXIII, (Continued from last week)

Well before daybreak Hemraj roused the men. The whaler quietly slid into the channel, heading eastwards. Even if Santiago was watching them he would think they were headed for Burma. As soon as they exited from the channel Hemraj turned the boat into a secret cove. At the other end of the cove was a tidal creek. Hemraj guided the boat into the creek. After half an hour they re-entered the channel, well beyond the spot where they had left Santiago. Now they were headed westwards. The sails were hoisted and the boat picked up speed. In a few hours they would exit from the channel, onto the western coast of the Islands. Beyond that lay the vast ocean, and freedom.

The boat was caught in a powerful riptide as it neared the western end of the channel. It threatened to carry the boat towards a craggy island, the last outpost of the Andamans. Huge breakers broke against the coral beds that formed a formidable wall all round the Island. The monsoon was at its peak.

Hemraj struggled with the tiller to keep the boat away from the rocks. A narrow inlet was the only safe passage to a patch of white sand. The oars were brought out and the men pulled with all their might to fight against the grip of the riptide. By the time the tide relaxed its grip the whaler was close to the shore. They must wait there for the tide to turn. The men prepared to bring the boat to shore.

Just as the bows touched the sandy beach a near naked human form was seen rushing towards them.

It was clear it was not an aboriginal from the colour of the skin. It carried no weapons. Who could it be?

The man stopped well short of the party, panting. Suddenly he recognized Hemraj.

“Hemraj, my brother! I thought you got away long ago. Are you still here?

The men could now see it was Harpal, a sepoy convict. How did he land up here?

“Hello Harpal, what’re you doing here?”, Hemraj asked.

“Brother, first give me some water, and something to eat. I’m starving,” Harpal said.

It was then the men noticed a crude raft washed up on the far end of the beach. Harpal somehow managed to escape from the settlement, built a raft to cross the sea but got wrecked on the island.

Sheobrat offered the man a tender coconut. The convict camaraderie came into play. He too was a fugitive like them, and a former sepoy too.

“Well, Harpal, what happened?”, Hemraj asked, after the man calmed down. They all sat down in the shade of a tree on the cool sand.

“Brother, you are aware of the attempt to murder Chunga by Kulloo. That was September last year, when Gen Barwell was the Superintendent. Kulloo got away with it, thanks to the botched up investigation by SirdarBaghail Singh. You know him. He took a big bribe.

“After Chunga recovered from the wounds he wanted to take revenge. By that time Gen Barwell got transferred. Chunga represented the matter to Col. Cadell. He was afraid Kulloo may make another attempt on his life. He also complained against SirdarBaghail Singh. Col. Cadell rejected his petition.

A few days before your escape Chunga learnt that Kulloo was planning an attack. He was seen sharpening a dah. Chunga came to me for help. The only way was to get rid of Kulloo. We laid a trap for him. He was in the habit of going to the jungle to cut firewood. We lay in wait and pounced upon him. He put up a fight as he was armed with an axe. Chunga was injured badly, but we managed to kill Kulloo. Chunga promised not to reveal my name as an accomplice.

“The case was handed over to Ropes saab. You know what kind of person he is. He got Chunga sentenced death, but tortured him so much before hanging him to find out if there was an accomplice. According to Col. Cadell’s new rules condemned men could be flogged publicly before being hanged. Poor Chunga revealed my name to Ropes saab.

Hemraj understood that Harpal was referring toFrederick Adolph de Roepstorff, the Dane. Roepstorff, wasthe only remnant of the Danish occupation of the Nicobars before they were taken over by the British.

Roepstorffchose to stay on and join the British, hoping for a good job, considering his vast experience in the Nicobars. He could speak the Nicobari language fluently, and was writing a book – Vocabulary of Dialects Spoken in the Nicobar and Andaman Islands. He convinced the Administration that he would be a better negotiator with the Nicobaris. With his strong persuasive skills Roepstorff quickly found a job among the hierarchy of Prison officials.

The British Officers in the settlement, however, did not like the pushyDane. His unpronounceable name, appearance, accent and behaviour did not agree with the Brits. When Roepstorff went on furlough to Copenhagenin 1879, presumably to make copies of some Danish manuscripts relating to the settlements in the Nicobar Islands, there was a sigh of relief in Port Blair. However, when Roepstorff returned in three months and demanded pay for the period, over and above the 100 pounds he took as advance, he was snubbed for being too greedy. It was believed that he was digging up the kitchen middens of the Andamanese to look for arrow heads and other tribal artifacts to sell them to some museums in Europe.
The convicts too did not like him. He was rude and cruel, always threatening the convicts with capital punishment. It was believed that a plot was already being hatched to do away with him.

“I got the news of Chunga’s confession and immediately ran away to the jungle”, Harpal continued. “Ropes saab immediately set the police on my trial. I managed to build this raft but it was smashed to pieces on the rocks four days ago. All my supplies were lost. I haven’t eaten anything for four days. There are no coconut trees even on this island. I was thinking I’ll starve to death when I saw you come in, like a Godsend. I hope you’ll let me join your group. I can pull an oar like any good boatman.

Silence descended on the group at Harpal’s request. An extra passenger means less rations and less space on the boat. The boat was already crowded. But, it’s also an extra hand to work the sails and the oars.

Harpal waited with bated breath for Hemraj’s reply.

After a long pause Hemraj spoke.

“Well Harpal, we can’t leave you here, could we? Lend a hand to haul up the boat. We sail with first light tomorrow. (To be continued….)

Viper Prison Break

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N. Francis Xavier
Part XXXII,(Continued from last week)

Moulvi Jaffer Thaneswari waited at Aberdeen Jetty for the ferry to Ross. He could see the boat, pulled by lascars, leave the jetty at Ross and head towards Aberdeen. In a few minutes the boat arrived, moving clumsily under the control of a new coxswain, and bumped hard against the landing. Hemraj’s absence was being felt. Four ladies in flowing white dresses and bonnets stepped out and opened their parasols. They greeted the Moulvi who returned the greeting in English. The boatman invited him on board and gave him a comfortable seat. The men pushed off and headed towards Ross.

“Moulvi Saab seems to have got invitation from CC Saab”, the boatman said.

“Yes Kaleem, I don’t know what he wants to speak about, but yesterday I got a message. I hope it is nothing serious,” Thaneswari said. “By the way, you must improve your boat-handling skills. You almost damaged the boat while bringing it alongside”.

“Oh, yes sir, my fault. You see, I was still learning from Hemraj, when, er, that escape happened”.

“You’ll learn with experience Kaleem. Watch the boatmen of the SS Nancowry. Learn the orders”.

“Jee Maulvi Saab”, Kaleem said as he ordered the oarsmen to stop. The boat came along side, more gently this time. Thaneswari got out, thanked the boatman and started walking towards the Chief Commissioner’s imposing office-cum-residence. People bowed and salaamed to him all along. He passed the club and then the church. The Chaplain also greeted him from the top of the steps.

The sentry at Government House, from the European Infantry, rifle in hand and wearing a khaki uniform challenged the Maulvi. He was a newcomer from England, yet to learn Hindustani and oriental manners. But the Maulvi knew him. He was Robert Butolph, the drummer of ‘A’ Company of Her Majesty’s 93rd Regiment.

“How do you do Robert? Hope to listen to your drum when you come to play at Aberdeen on Saturday”, the Maulvi said in chaste English.

Robert’s face broke into a big smile. He felt happy that his skill with drums was being appreciated by the natives too.

“Oh, thanks. What’s the purpose of your visit?”.

“I’m Maulvi Jaffer Thaneswari. I’ve been summoned by CC sir”, Thaneswari said.

Robert checked a register inside the sentry-box, ticked the name with a pencil and let him go in.

A massive iron gate blocked the entrance to the main building. It was ornamental, unlike the ugly gates of the Viper prison. Thaneswari knew it was made from the steel hoops of the barrels in which most of the provisions for the settlement were brought. Skilled blacksmiths beat and bent them into the required shape to fashion the gate.

The uniformed Sikh orderly behind the gate knew the Maulvi.

“Sat Sri Akal Gurnam Singh”, the Maulvi greeted him.

The orderly returned the greeting and opened a smaller gate. Thaneswari walked in and sat on a wooden bench.

“CC Saab will be down in a moment. He will meet you in the anteroom”, the orderly said.

Many paintings and photographs adorned the walls of the building. Some of the paintings were done by the Memsahibs and some by the convicts. Most of the photographs were taken by Mr. Portman.

A bell rang, announcing the arrival of Col. Cadell. His footsteps were heard on the stairs; heels clicked and arms presented. Cadell entered the office through the back door.

The front door was opened and the orderly asked Thaneswari to enter.

“Assalaam Aleykum, Maulvi Saab,” Cadell said as Thaneswari entered the room.

“Waleykum assalam sir, good morning. You look very handsome sir,” Thaneswari said as he bowed and walked towards Cadell’s desk. He knew Cadell liked flattery. Cadell was wearing a starched uniform displaying all his medals and the Victoria Cross.

“Thank you Maulvi Saab. I called you today to congratulate you for the excellent translation you have done of Maj. Protheroe’s book. It appears it may sell many copies. You may get a decent amount from the sale proceeds so that you’ll be rich man when you get home. I’m expecting orders for your absolute pardon and release”.

Thaneswari knew that nothing was proved against him in the Ambala trials. The stay in the islands had been fruitful. He was never treated as a convict. He thanked Maj. Protheroe in his heart for it. He also thanked Master Ram Sarup who taught him English.

“Thank you very much sir. May the Almighty bless you, and may you too have a good term as Chief Commissioner”, Thaneswari replied in English as he sat in the chair facing the huge desk of Col. Cadell. He couldn’t help notice the shiny new revolver in its holster in the belt of Col. Cadell. The fear of assassination still loomed large on the minds of the Administrators of the penal colony.

“I also called you to ask about some personal matters Maulvi Saab. You must keep this confidential”, Cadell said, lowering his voice.

“Jee Saabji, whatever you say saabji”, Thaneswari replied, as he braced himself for the questions.

“I was told that Maulvi Syed Allauddin of Hyderbad has some miraculous powers. Is it true that he heals the sick through his powers?”, Cadell asked.

“Sir, Maulvi Allauddin is a very pious Muslim. He prays for the sick. It is the Almighty who heals them. There are no miraculous powers. But, he did heal many people when Cholera struck the Deccan soon after the Mutiny. He was a fugitive from the secret police of the Nizam, hiding in some villages in Telangana at that time. People there consider him a saint”.

“Would it be possible, Maulvi, through his powers to find out the whereabouts of Hemraj? You know how important it is for me to recapture him”.

“Our spiritual powers are for helping the people Colonel Saab, not to harm them. Hemraj is liked by everyone in the settlement. Even your predecessor Gen. Barwell liked him and recommended his case for release. It was the frustration of being denied the release he legitimately deserved that drove him to make this desperate attempt”, Thaneswari said.

Cadell remained silent for a while.

“Well, if you get any information from the convicts please pass it on to me Maulvi Saab. What else is happening in Port Blair? Have you heard from your friend Maj. Protheroe?”

“Yes sir, he did write. He wanted to know the welfare of the people in Protheroepur, the village he founded. People call it Prothrapur though.”

“Oh, yes. I know how these names get corrupted. It won’t be long when Cadellgunj becomes Cattlegunj. But every officer wants a village named after him. What can I do?”

“Sir, people are happy with the names, as the officers worked hard to develop those settlements. However….”, Thaneswari paused.

“However?, what’s that about? Tell me Maulvi saab. This will be between us”.

“Sir, Mr Baghail Singh has unofficially named a village after himself, calling it Baghail Singhpura. People don’t like it. They prefer the old name ‘Haathi Taapu’.”

“Is that so? Why? Don’t people like good old Sardar Baghail Singh? After all he’s an Indian”.

“Sir, Baghail Singh was only a Sub-Inspector in Punjab Police. However, he got promoted so fast after coming here. There are so many charges of corruption against him. He takes bribes from the convicts and businessmen also. He’s been telling people that would leave the Islands with a ‘Rai Bahadur’ title and a land grant of 500 acres in Gujranwala district of his native Punjab. People are terrified of him.”

“Oh, I’ll check this out Maulvi Saab. But, you can’t deny that he is an efficient police officer. I’m amazed at the speed with which he solves the crimes here. He’s of the opinion that Hemraj is still here, somewhere in the northern islands, to hoodwink us and make good his escape when we call off the search.”

“I agree with you sir. Baghail Singh has a good network of informers. But he’s the most corrupt officer in Port Blair.”

“Alright Maulvi Saab, I’ll remember your words. Do convey my greetings to Maulvi Allauddin. I’ll call him too one of these days. And, any information about Hemraj, please convey to me personally. You are always welcome here.”
“Thank you Saabji. I will surely let you know. Khuda Hafiz”. Thanewsari rose up to go.

“Kuda Hafiz Maulvi Saab”. Cadell rang the bell. Gurnam opened the door for Thaneswari. The meeting was over.  (To be continued….)

Viper Prison Break

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N. Francis Xavier
Part XXXI, (Continued from last week)
Santiago’s story convinced the fugitives that he was not sent to look for them. He would, of course, on his return, report the matter to Cadell. But, by that time, God willing they would be too far for any pursuit.

“How long do you propose to camp here, Santiago?”, Hemraj asked.

“Well, a month, perhaps, or even two. Kwangtung will come after a fortnight with some supplies. I’ll send a report and some convict gangs may come to commence plantation work. That was the plan. What are your plans Hemraj?”.

Hemraj stiffened. Was Santiago trying to extract information from him? He should give a misleading reply so that any pursuers will be thrown off their scent.

“We’re thinking of halting at Coco Island for some time, and then head for Burma”, he told Santiago.
Santiago fell silent for a while.

“Hemraj, you’re my friend. I have also come here as a convict, just like you. My status is but slightly better than yours, because of the colour of my skin. Otherwise I too am just a number in the convict register maintained by Col. Cadell. I promise you I’ll never reveal our meeting to anyone, but I have to share some information so that you may choose a safe route for your escape”.

Santiago sounded sincere enough.

“What information?” Hemraj enquired.

“Even you might have heard about it. Right from the days of Gen. Barwell there have been many proposals for leasing out Greater Coco Island. It was believed Barwell was planning to give it to some party with whom he had some underhand dealings.

“As per the standard practice a tender has to be floated for the lease. When the tender was published three businessmen from Calcutta applied for the lease. Two Parsis, Eduljee and Pestonjee, and one Guzdar have placed bids for Great Coco. One Mr. W.A. Sheppard had placed a bid for Little Coco. Just when the tenders were being finalized a new person stepped in.

“Sherlock Hare was believed to be close to Gen. Barwell. It was also rumoured that he paid a fat bribe to Barwell to get the lease. Sherlock Hare outbid the others by offering 10,000 rupees per annum for Great Coco. He also offered to by the government steamer Constance for 5000 rupees.

“The haste with which Sherlock Hare’s bid was accepted led to the belief that it was shady deal. It was widely believed that Barwell tried to sell of the island. The other contenders Eduljee and Pestonjee and one D. Mohammad and Company of Calcutta who applied for trading rights in Nicobar complained to the government. Gen. Barwell was removed and Col. Cadell posted in his place.

“Cadell, being an upright man demanded that Sherlock pay his rent on time. Sherlock defaulted on the payments claiming he could not harvest enough coconuts to make a profit. Cadell cancelled the lease immediately, but Sherlock went to court in London.

During the investigation it was also revealed that Sherlock had a history of mental illness. Finally the lease was cancelled and the control given to the Chief Commissioner of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Ships are frequently plying to the island as Col. Cadell wanted to build some fortifications there recognizing the strategic importance of the Island. It would be foolish on your part to go the Coco Islands in the present situation.

Hemraj understood that Santiago was telling the truth. But still he did not want to disclose to him the course he has charted in his mind.

“Well, Santiago, we propose to leave by first light tomorrow. We shall avoid Coco Island but head directly for the Burmese coast. But do report the matter to Col.Cadell when you go back. Also give him this rifle. I fired only one shot from it. I don’t need it anymore.” Hemraj returned the weapon and the cartridges to Santiago.

Hemraj understood that the gun would be a liability once reached mainland India. It would draw the attention of the people and help recapture. By insisting that Santiago report the matter to Cadell he can put the manhunt off their scent by sending them towards Burma instead of India.

“I wish you all the best my friends,” Santiago said as he shook hands with them all.

The men dragged the whaler to the sea and launched her in preparation for next morning’s sail. All the stores have been stowed carefully on the boat. The water casks were filled. Half the crew slept on the boat while the others slept in the camp, waiting for daybreak. ( To be continued…)

Viper Prison Break

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N. Francis Xavier
Part XXIX, (Continued from last week)

Santiago reached the shore with easy strokes. He took in the oars and jumped out pulling the boat high on to the beach. He took the head rope and made it fast to a tree stump close to the shore. He started taking things out from the boat. Suddenly, in the middle of his actions he froze. He lifted his head up and smelled the air.

Sheobrat looked at Hemraj, waiting for a silent signal to shoot. Hemraj shook his head. Killing a man before setting out on the last leg of their epic journey would be dangerous, and also inauspicious. He could see that Santiago got the smell of their campfire. He may suddenly push back into the sea and report the matter. Instead, it would be better to reveal themselves to him, and find out what his intentions were in coming to the island.

“Hello Saniago,” Hemraj said as he stepped into the open. Sheobrat kept watch from behind, the rifle hidden behind his back.

“Oh my God, is that you Hemraj?” Santiago said, with genuine surprise. “Everyone thinks you must be safe in India by now.”

Santiago and Hemraj were on very good terms. Both were convicts. Both were good sailors. The camaraderie of the sea brought them together.

“Well, we had bad weather, and had to take shelter many times, But what brings you here?”, Hemraj asked.

“Please let me pull this boat a little higher and land the provisions. Then we shall sit and talk. Be assured that I have not come searching for you”, Santiago said, with a smile.

The men pulled the boat high on to the beach, taking stock of the things kept in the boat. There were digging implements, provisions and seedlings of many types of plants in the boat.

Once the boat was secured the men sat down around Santiago. Wads of tobacco were offered, pipes lit and some coconuts opened.

“You must be aware that Capt. Wimberley was planning to expand the plantations in the Islands. He wants to have useful trees in as many uninhabited islands as possible, which may be of use to shipwrecked sailors. I have been sent as a pioneer to look for locations where useful trees could be planted.”

Hemraj was aware that Gen. Barwell and Col. Cadell have written to the Home Department to send some European convicts having knowledge of agriculture to appointed as overseers. There was only one response. The governor of Presidency Jail, Calcutta informed that one convict John Lonergan, was willing to take up the assignment. He was the only European prisoner in the jail, but proved to be so useful to the jail authorities that they were unwilling to part with him.

John Lonergan was not highly educated but a gifted person in many ways. He was fluent in the dialects of Bengal and Bihar and could also interpret Italian and Spanish. His knowledge of agriculture was restricted to maintaining a garden. But he was willing to go to Andamans as it meant ‘free’ status.

“Is Lonergan coming to join you”, Hemraj asked.

“No, not yet”. The people in Calcutta are terrified of the Andamans after what Crawford reported on his return”, Santiago answered.

Hemraj had seen Crawford but never knew the reason why he was sent up. He kept aloof from others and hardly spoke even to the Europeans.

“What did Crawford do?”, Hemraj asked. His intention was to keep Santiago engaged in conversation to know if there was any hidden intention in his visit.

“That’s a long story”, Santiago said as he took a long pull at his pipe. “But I’ll tell you, as there’s nothing better to do today. After that you can tell me your story, what you did all these days and what your plans are. I give you my word that I’m not here to search for you or report about you on my return. Anyway the Kwangtung will return after a month.”

“He was a member of the Royal College of Surgeons, London. He had served for thirty two and half years in the Subordinate Medical Department of the Bengal Establishment before retiring with a pension of Rupees 80 and Annas 7 (a princely sum in 1859). He was a successful medical practitioner and well known in the European circles of Calcutta. Michael Richard Crawford lived a contented life in Colonial Calcutta, supplementing his pension with the money he earned from his practice and surrounded by his large family of a wife and eight children, mostly girls. Life seemed comfortable.

“And then one night there was a knock on the door. ‘Police, open up,’ said a gruff voice. A shocked Crawford was arrested and taken away, to be produced before a judge. When he enquired what his crime was he was told that he had ‘witnessed’ a forged Will. A stern-faced judge sentenced the poor pensioner to eight years of penal servitude in the Andamans.

“Crawford pleaded that he was led by some people to sign the Will, which he unsuspectingly signed. Nothing was known of the people who made him sign the Will, or the beneficiaries of the Will. Poor Crawford, advanced in years and suffering from impaired vision, repeated attacks of fever and fits of asthma was sent away to the Calcutta House of Correction, where the main task of convicts was breaking stones. There was uproar in the European community.Crawford was quite popular among them as a gentle and amicable person. A petition, signed by 600 prominent people was submitted to Sir J.P. Grant, the Lieutenant Governor of Bengal, requesting him for mitigation of the sentence. It was in his powers to do so. But the LG declined saying it was submitted too soon after the passing of the sentence. Unable to bear the shame of serving his sentence in the city where he lived all his life Crawford applied for transfer to Andamans. In 1861 he was sent to Andamans as a ticket-of-leave convict — a better option as he would be free to move about the town unlike in Calcutta where he would be confined and made to do hard labour.

“Crawford came to the Islands during the tenure of Lt. Col. Tytler. Tytler treated him humanely. He was a model prisoner, much liked by the officers and inmates alike. His descriptive roll said that he was capable of performing ‘the duties of a clerk should such be requisite’. His character was shown as ‘very good’. His knowledge of medicine came handy in the Haddo and Ross hospitals. But the problems associated with the tropical climate started telling upon his health. Moreover the government stopped his pension, reducing his family, “to the levels below widows and orphans”. Obviously someone was behind the plot to send Crawford to the Andamans.

“After serving for about two years in the Andamans Crawford sent a long petition in flowery language addressed to Lord Elgin, the Viceroy and Governor General of India. The letter dated Port Blair 6th July 1863 begs for remission of the reminder of his sentence so that he may go back to his family living in dire poverty in Calcutta. He enclosed a certificate of good conduct from the Calcutta Jail and House of Correction, citing how he refused to run away during the famous Jailbreak of 10 March 1861. Col.Tytler also recommended his release saying how another convict, James Grimes, sentenced to 14 years for attempt to murder, had been released by his predecessor. At last the government relented and ordered that Crawford may be released after completing half his sentence. Within six months Crawford was on his way back, lucky to be able to return alive from Kala Pani.

“After his return Crawford refused to mingle with the European community in Calcutta. He also spread reports of the horrors of working in the Andamans, the climate, the diseases, and, the frequent murders. No European prisoners volunteer to come to the Andamans now. Soon I’ll be the only white convict here, and I’m seriously thinking of taking a native wife and settling down here.

Santiago finished his narrative.

“Well, let’s have something to eat now and then I’ll tell you my plans”, Hemraj said as the men rose to prepare food. (To be continued…..)

Viper Prison Break

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N. Francis Xavier
Part XXVII, (Continued from last week)

Hemraj woke up with a start. It was the unmistakable rattle of an anchor cable going down. He aroused the men and with gestures motioned them into the bushes nearby. Climbing a nearby tree he looked towards the direction from which the sound came.

The government gunboat Kwangtung was visible in the distance. He knew the Kwangtung well. It was supposed to be off to China. It must have come back after a re-fit and immediately pressed into service.

A boat was being lowered over the side of the Kwangtung.

Hemraj watched anxiously as it splashed into the water. It had a single occupant. As soon as the boat touched the water the man released the davit ropes. Kwangtung hauled in its anchor as it backed into deeper water. Leaving a thick cloud of black smoke the ship turned round and headed back to the open sea.

The lone boatman shipped a pair of oars and began pulling directly in the direction where Hemraj and the men were hiding.

Sheobratstarted loading the rifle when Hemraj looked down. He made a sign to Sheobrat to stop. He knew the man in the boat.

Even from the distance Hemraj could make out the powerful frame of Santiago. Soon after he got into the boat the man took off his shirt. His back and forearms were filled with tattoos. Instantly Hemraj recognized him.Everyone in Port Blair knew Santiago, one of the white convicts sent to the Andamans during the early days of the settlement.

European convicts have been transported to the Andaman & Nicobar Islands during the early days of the penal settlement. They have been sent up for a variety of crimes like murder, culpable homicide, robbery, theft, mutiny, forgery, rape, perjury, criminal breach of trust, deserting ship etc.,

The white convicts were segregated from the natives, but were put to work nevertheless. Although leniently treated and given better food the white prisoners still had to perform their prison tasks.

The white convicts were mostly sailors, labourers, quarrymen, soldiers, railway workers, blacksmiths, masons or carpenters. But occasionally there were some high profile criminals like surgeons, surveyors and lawyers.

Before the penal settlement at Andamans came up two exclusive penitentiaries existed for European offenders in India – one at Hazaribagh and the other at Ooty. Calcutta too had a ‘House of Correction’ for white criminals.

When the penal colony was started in the Andamans letters were sent out to the prisons on the mainland asking for European prisoners who knew some trade that can be of use in the budding colony. A free pardon, permission to be at large, remission of sentence etc., were the incentives offered to European prisoners willing to volunteer to go to the Andamans.

The response was overwhelming. Petitions, memorials and applications were submitted in large numbers through the jail officials to the Lt. Governor of Bengal, or direct to the Governor General.

One such was the case of Santiago.

Hemraj was already in the Andamans when Santiago arrived. From the very first day he became notorious for his violent temper. But, being experts with oar and sail a good camaraderie sprung up between Hemraj and Santiago.

Santiago Gregory was an employee of the East India Railway Company. He came to India in the service of the East India Company and continued to work in the Railways even after the Mutiny. The pay was good and India was more fascinating than England. Many decided to take a native wife and settle down in India. Santiago also did the same.

During a long sail he told Hemrajhis story.

He was working at Sahebgunj, a railway town with a large white population. A loop line of the East India Railway was being constructed so that it connects Sahebgunj with the Howrah mainline.

The Santhal Rebellion prompted the British to develop the town and the surrounding areas including the ancient town of Rajmahal and post good number of police and military personnel there.

With many ancient monuments dating back to the Mughal times and the forests full of game Rajmahal was a veritable paradise for the rulers. It became necessary to connect the town with the railways when the Ganges changed its course making it lose its strategic importance.

When he started work at Sahebgunj Santiago was forty-eight, a powerfully built man with massive, tattooed arms. He was a heavy drinker too, prone to getting into brawls.

One evening, after a bout of heavy drinking Santiago got into a fight with another white man. Blows were exchanged. But the blows from Santiago’s powerful fists proved deadly for the other man. As the case involved British subjects Santiago was brought before the Commissioner of Rajmahal. First Santiago denied the crime, a mistake he would regret later.

The case went before the Supreme Court and Santiago was found guilty. He was sentenced to life with hard labour and sent to Alipore.

Santiago felt he did not deserve such a harsh sentence. His contention was that had he admitted the crime in the first place he would have got a much lighter sentence. He pleaded that the blows inflicted on the deceased were dealt only in the excitement of the moment in self defence and in return for those sustained. He pleaded for remission of a part of the sentence as he had a large family that would be left without support due to his imprisonment. However, in case this is not possible, he prayed to be sent to the Andamans, “where he may sufficiently atone for the wrong he has done, by his usefulness in felling and hewing as also sail-making.” He also had an extra qualification — his ability to speak Hindustani and Bengali.

After a prolonged correspondence the Governor General relented and ordered the transfer of Santiago to the Andamans, along with another convict. Thereafter things moved fast; passage was arranged for both convicts on the steamer Arracan, which was about to sail from Calcutta. Santiago boarded the vessel on Sunday 2nd November 1862 and sailed for the Andamans via Moulmein.

It was Santiago’s expertise in sail-making that brought him in contact with Hemraj. Both would spend hours checking the rigging of the many sailboats and ships in Port Blair. They would accompany expeditions to the outer islands in search of areas that could be developed as future settlements for the growing penal colony.

The veins stood out as Santiago pulled on the oars with his powerful arms. The boat moved forward easily with each stroke.

Why was Santiago dropped off here? Was he on a spying mission? But Cadell would never send a lonely man against eleven desperate convicts. The men watched with bated breath as the boat neared the shore. (To be continued…..)

Viper Prison Break

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N. Francis Xavier, Part XXVI
(Continued from last week)

Mr Homfray and Mr Portman waited at Ross jetty, next to the steam barge. A light plume of smoke rose from the smoke stack of the boat. Lascars waited to cast off the ropes as soon as the Superintendent embarked. Col. Cadell will inspect Chatham Island today.
Standing next to Mr Homfray was Jacko, his Great Andamanese friend. Jacko was the one who had been taken to Calcutta by Dr F.J. Mouat in January 1858.

Col. Cadell arrived in a rickshaw, pulled and pushed by four convicts. Capt. Birch rode behind him on a pony. Homfray and Portman saluted and greeted Cadell. He jumped off the rickshaw and boarded the vessel. Straightaway he went to the wheel house and took his seat next to the master’s chair. The boat headed towards Chatham.

On the lower deck Birch told Portman and Homfray that the Superintended wished to locate some sites on Chatham for watch towers where he wanted to station marksmen to shoot at any escapees from Viper. It is likely that Hemraj’s escape might have encouraged some convicts to follow his example. Most of the people in the settlement started believing that the fugitives must have made it to the mainland safely and reunited with their families.

The barge rubbed gently against the stone jetty. The gangway was placed and Col. Cadell strode briskly on to the road. The officers and men followed. They crossed the brickwork structure built by Archibald Blair to supply water to the boats from the reservoir on the hillock. Beyond the sheds for storing timber and the barracks for convalescent convicts was the second high ground on the island.

Cadell and party made their way to the top. From there they had a clear view of the channel on either side of Chatham. Riflemen from there would be able fire upon escapees before a boat could be launched to pursue and apprehend them.

Cadell told the Executive Engineer to construct the watch towers. Birch was to man them with the best shots in the police force.

The men came down. Below the hill, in the open ground was a lonely grave. Cadell asked Portman whose it was.

“Sir, it is a double grave, with the remains of two crew members of the surveying brig Multan”. Portman answered.

They walked towards the white marble cross and read the epitaph.

Here lie the mortal remains of
John P. Streeten, 3rd Officer
And Mr. Maddock Clerk
Of the Hon’ble CO’s Surveying Brig Multan.
Died March 4th 1858
Killed by the natives while executing their duties

“How did it happen?” Cadell asked.
“Sir, Jacko here will be able to explain it better. Mr. Homfray, please call Jacko. ”

Homfray stepped forward towing Jacko along. Jacko wore a cast off sailor’s suit. His brilliant white teeth gleamed in the sunlight, in contrast to his jet black skin.

“Well, Jacko, did you see it?” Cadell asked.

“Yaassir, I was there. I remember it well. It was just six days before the first batch of convicts arrived here. SS Semiramis came here on 10 March 1858, with 200 convicts. Before that Capt. Man came here to take official possession of the islands. He left a ship of the East India Company, the Multan, to render any assistance to Maj. James Pattison Walker, the first Superintendent of the settlement.

“The men of the Multan were regularly coming to our village at North Bay to ogle at the women. Every day they would take out the ship’s boat and land at our place. They would bring tobacco and rum, and then tell the men to show them the women.

“We knew their intentions, but our men were badly addicted to tobacco, opium and alcohol by them. They would do anything for them.

“On the 4th of March the boat came as usual. One of the men, I think he was the midshipman of the Multan, made obscene advances to a woman and tried to molest her. We were shocked. We didn’t expect the fair skinned, properly clothed people to show interest in us, whom they called ‘savages’. There were shouts and a scuffle. Our men rushed to get their bows. By that time the crew of the Multan started getting into the boat. We let off a volley aimed at the culprit, but struck two others who were still on the beach.

“They died on the spot, pierced through the heart. The boat pulled away in a hurry leaving the bodies behind. The whole night the Multan kept cruising between Ross and North Bay, firing at us to keep us away from the bodies. However, we buried them the next day where they lay, according to our customs. They were not the ones that offended us. We begged forgiveness from their spirits. One of the men had a watch on his hand. I took it as a good luck charm.

“We abandoned the village and moved into the jungle after that. The crew of the Multan did not dare to come near that place but cruised around waiting for the arrival of SS Semiramis.

“On the 10th of March the SS Semramis came. It was a steam ship, with two huge paddle wheels amidships. It was like the Pluto that came earlier with Dr Mouat, but bigger. We watched in amazement as the convicts were disembarked from the ship. Their chains were removed to facilitate getting into the boats. The moment they landed the convicts started making attempts to escape. One of them, an ex-sepoy named Narain jumped into the sea and tried to swim towards Haddo. He almost made it when the Naval Brigadesmen started firing and made him change course. By that time a boat was launched and he was captured. It was just four days after the arrival of the first batch.

“Dr. Walker had a make shift gallows erected even as the boat returned. Narain was hanged immediately, in front of everyone, to send the message that punishment would be swift and severe.

“During that month more than two hundred escaped into the jungles. They thought they could walk to Burma or Calcutta, but most of them died of starvation. We killed a few who tried to attack our settlements. Some of them returned to Chatham, hoping for pardon. But they were mistaken. Walker hanged them all on a single day, and buried them right here, in an unmarked mass grave. They were buried with their irons on.

“The rest of the prisoners were terrified by the cruelty of Dr Walker. He used brutal methods to maintain discipline among the convicts. Their handcuffs and fetters were never removed. Many died from infected sores.

“The Semiramis departed immediately to get some supplies from Moulmein. Meanwhile ship after ship started coming with more and more convicts. They were shifted to Ross Island. Dr Walker stayed on the Multan with the Naval Brigade while the huts and barracks were being constructed.

“Some four months after the settlement the crew of the Multan and the Naval Brigadesmen raided our village and set it on fire. They found the watch in my hut. They dug up the remains of the two men, brought them here and reburied them after a funeral service.
“This part of the island is believed to be a haunted place by our people. There are so many lying buried herewho met a violent death.
Jacko concluded his story. The men were already getting ready to leave, scared of the spirits of the dead.

“We should perhaps transfer this grave to the Aberdeen cemetery”, Cadell said. “They should not lie among these niggers”.

“We shall do that sir”, Birch piped in. “By next All Souls Day we shall have them re-buried, for the third time, in a proper grave”. ( To be continued…)

Viper Prison Break

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N. Francis Xavier
Part XXV, (Continued from last week)

Hemraj woke up before the break of dawn. He could not sleep well that night. The mosquitoes and sand flies attacked in swarms. “When can I sleep in a comfortable bed again?” he wondered.

The men were curled up in the sand and fast asleep. Hemraj walked to the other side of the camp to complete his ablutions. The sea was a dead calm. The pink glow of dawn was slowly spreading on the horizon. He waited for the sun to come up, a fiery red ball. He performed the prayers to the Sun god, asking for blessings on the final leg of the long odyssey. He made libations of sea water to all the gods to stand by him and see him safely home.

The hazards of the sea are unpredictable. One never knows when a squall can come without warning. Their frail boat has already taken a lot of punishment. But he had faith in its sturdy planks and keel.

“OK boys, get up, let’s check the traps.” he shouted to the men.

After a breakfast of rice and water the men went out to check the snares and lines they had set during the night. They did not dare use the rifle for hunting. Sounds carry long distance over the sea.

By noon the hunting party returned with two fat pigs. A giant barracuda was caught on one of the lines. Soon the aroma of roasting rose over the camp. With sharpened appetites the men sat to eat.

How different from eating food on Ross! There they were made to squat in rows in the open near the kitchen. Those of the untouchable caste were made to sit separately. The Jemadarsthrew half-baked rotis into their rusty plates and poured watery lentil soup over them. There was never enough to fill the stomach.

Self-supporters had a better time. They could cook their own food, supplemented by an occasional fish or chicken. Some used birdlime to trap pigeons.

Here they sat around their food, irrespective of caste or creed and shared whatever nature offered them.

After a hearty meal all heads turned towards Bhaman.

“Let’s hear the rest of the story Bhaman; what happened to Gordon?” they asked.

Bhaman lay sprawled in the glistening white sand, a driftwood log for a pillow. He started his narrative.

“After the fall of Delhi we retreated towards Mathura. There were about 30,000 sepoys. Gordon was appointed our Commander by Bakht Khan and Feroze Shah. The Raja of Surajpore also joined us. We were sheltered by Raja Narpat Singh in Ruiya Fort, situated in thick jungles and surrounded by a ditch full of thorn bushes. Gordon quickly set up the defences, placing the guns and snipers at vantage points inside the fort.

“We heard the English were advancing with a huge army under the command of Brigadier Adrian Hope. It was the 15th April 1858. There were 93rdHighlanders and Sikhs with him. Gordon told us to hold our fire till they were real close. We all marked our men. When Gordon saab ordered fire the entire frontline of the English fell. They were forced to take shelter behind the trees.

“Adrian Hope was a seasoned soldier. He planned to blow up the gates of the fort using bags of gunpowder. The engineers were entrusted the job of advancing towards the gates under heavy covering fire, plant the bags, light the fuses and run back.

“If the gates are blown up we will not be able to stop the rush of the Sikhs. There was only one way to stop them…to kill Adrian Hope.

“Gordon saab quickly climbed a tree with his rifle. He started taunting the British to come into the open and fight.

“In unmistakable barrack room English, he shouted at them, ‘Come on, you *** Highlanders! Come on Scotty! you have a harder nut to crack than eating oatmeal porridge. If you can come though these bamboos we’ll warm your *** for you, if you come in here!’.

“Brigadier Hope peeped from behind a tree to see who it was. The next moment he was shot, right through the heart. Gordon claimed another victim.

“With the death of Hope the British panicked. They retreated into a mango orchard for the night, to bury and cremate their dead. They suffered their heaviest casualties for any single day during the mutiny.

“That night we quickly slipped outthrough the secret tunnels in the fort and disappeared into the jungles. When the British entered the fort the next day it was empty.

“After that Gordon led us from one fort to another throughout the summer of 1858, as the British doggedly followed us. Finally, when Bakht Khan was killed at the decisive battle at Nawabgunj we all scattered.

“The mutiny was coming to a close. Most of the leaders were caught and hanged. The Queen of the English announced a general amnesty to all those who wished to surrender. Many rebels wanted to lay down their arms. ‘Don’t do that. You’ll all be hanged like dogs or sent in chains to Kala Paani’, Gordon told them. But they wouldn’t listen.

“Most surrendered their arms, collected the two rupees and a discharge certificate and returned to their villages. When the Gordon saw them go, he sat down and wept, saying he had neither a home nor a country to return to.
“ I too decided not to surrender. We started moving towards the Nepal border. We were told that Begum HazratMahal and Nana Saheb were already there, granted asylum by Jung Bahadur after they paid a huge ransom.

“I was arrested just before I could cross the border, and transported to Andamans. I don’t know what happened to Gordon.” Bhaman stopped.

“Let’s hope we meet him somewhere…if he’s still alive”, Hemraj said, as they started work on the boat. A big load of coconuts picked up from the trees on the island have to be loaded, the water casks filled up from the stream, the sails to be repaired. They have a long sail ahead of them. (To be continued…)

Viper Prison Break

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N. Francis Xavier
Part XXIV, (Continued from last week)
Colonel Cadell sat at his desk writing slowly, with long pauses, draft of a letter addressed to the Governor General in Council.

The subject of his letter was “Indefensibility of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands”.

He had before him copy of a demi-official letter on the same subject by his predecessor Gen. Barwell. It was dated 30th May 1878.

From a soldier’s point of view he felt that the Islands could be taken in a matter of hours in case of an attack by an enemy power.

The little garrison on Ross Island held less than two hundred European troops. They only had an old gun meant mainly for ceremonial purposes. The guard ship had one more gun, a smooth-bored cannon with very limited range. The loyalty of the sepoys and convicts was doubtful.

Sitting alone in the huge Government House on Ross Island Cadell pondered about the ways the islands could be defended against enemy attack.

He visualized an attack, mainly by the Russians.

There were alarming reports of the Russians moving closer to the borders of India. They too wanted a piece of the cake that was India, along with the British, the French, the Dutch and the Portuguese. They were threatening the North West Frontier Areas, but they have a huge armada also. In case they want they can easily send a fleet from their Black Sea ports, take the Andamans, regroup and then attack Calcutta, the capital of British Indian Empire.

Finally Cadell took his official letter pad and started writing a fair copy. After writing “Confidential” at the top he wrote in his flowing hand, “ In view of the apparently not improbable eventuality of war with Russia I deem it my duty to bring the defenceless state of this settlement to the consideration of the Government of India. If no means are taken to protect the settlement, Port Blair might become a very convenient rendezvous for the enemy cruisers sent to prey on the commerce of the Bay of Bengal.

Cadell paused to check his notes and continued, “Under the circumstances I trust the Government of India will see fit, in the event of war, to order torpedoes to be sent to Port Blair with someone of experience to place them and make use of them in time of need.

A gentle knock on the door interrupted him. A look of irritation crossed his face but quickly vanished when he saw Birch glide in.

Birch came to attention and saluted.

“Hello, Bill. Is everything under control? All the convicts accounted for? I don’t want to hear of one more escape.

“No sir. I just got semagraph reports from all the divisions. All returned from work and accounted for. Two deaths in hospital; one still birth from the Andamanese Home.

“That’s jolly good. I was writing a letter to the Government about the defencelessness of our islands in the event of war. Are there any more letters to be sent to the Government?

“Here are two petitions sir, for release of Quadir Khan and Narayan Singh. You told me to remind you sir.

“Oh, yes. I want to help them. But we don’t know how the government would react to our proposal. It all depends on the reports from the collectors of their home district, whether their return would revive any old blood feuds, cause disorder and increase crime rate.
Cadell’s mind went back to the files he read of both the convicts.

Both men were lifers;both were convicted for murder; both used poison to kill; both were from Peshawar; both have completed their prison terms and living as ticket-of-leave men at Port Blair; both have applied for absolute release.

“How would these men be received in their home town, Peshawar, the ‘murder capital’ of the world at that time?”, he thought.

A majority of the convict population of Port Blair, for obvious reasons, hailed from Peshawar.

However, Cadell wanted to help the duo. In spite of the horrific crimes they had committed before transportation both have behaved well in the settlement and helped the administration. Quadirshowed gallantry during the anti-Jarawa operations. Narayan was mild mannered and helped in the convict school, having been a teacher before he was sent to the islands. He must prepare their case histories, give his recommendation and send them for acceptance by the government.

Quadir’s crime was horrific. He lived in Peshawar with his two wives, Khan Begum and Farida. Farida was the younger and more beautiful of the two. She wanted to do away with Khan Begum so that she could have Quadir all for herself. Consulting a professional poisoner she procured a potent poison which she mixed in the food of Khan Begum. But Khan Begum, suspecting foul play refused to eat the food. Desperate to kill her Farida made Quadir hold her while she forced the poisoned food down her throat. However, Khan Begum did not die immediately. She died only after making a full statement before a magistrate. When the DC enquired from the family members of Khan Begum their reply was typical of the Pashtun tribes. “She was his wife and chattel; he was entitled to do with her whatever he liked,” they said.

Both Quadir and Farida were convicted. But Farida died before being transported. During the early days of imprisonment Quadir was convicted for theft and sent to the chain gang for two year. But he changed afterwards and did excellent work in the operations against the Jarawas. Cadell wanted to reward him for his services.

Narayan’s case was different. He was a respectable teacher in Peshawar. In September 1851 he had a dispute with the mother of one of his students, an 11 year old boy. During the altercation Narayan shouted at the woman and told her that he would “eat her son’s head” to punish her. The same evening, when the child came for his tuition he poisoned him and killed him, to take revenge on the mother. He was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. When the penal colony came up in 1858 he was sent to the Andamans. He has already spent more than 25 years in the islands.

Cadell knew their release depended on their being “professional poisoners” or not.

It was believed that, after the suppression of ‘Thuggee’ in India the Thugs who escaped turned to ‘”Poisoners”. Like the Thugs they too would approach a victim and win his confidence. Then they would offer them food or drink laced with a variety of poisons which were readily available to them in the form of seeds, herbs or minerals. Once the victim became unconscious they would rob him. Unlike the Thugs, who killed their victims by strangling them with a silk scarf, the poisoners only made them unconscious. Their favourite poison was an extract from the seeds of ‘datura’ mixed with ‘bhang’. Gangs of poisoners ravaged the travelers on the Indian roads and railways those days.

Cadell knew that the two men were not professional poisoners. They only committed the crimes in a moment of passion. He started dictating his letter to Birch asking for clemency and absolute release for the two. Two more men would return from the ‘hell on earth’. (To be continued…. )

Viper Prison Break

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N. Francis Xavier
Part XXIII, (Continued from last week)

 

Aves Island in hove into view as the whaler made a sharp turn to port. The thickly wooden island did not present any suitable landing place for a boat. But Hemraj knew there was a small patch of beach on the other side. The men pulled on the oars till the boat rounded a bluff. Before them, on the starboard side was a nice sloping beach of white, glittering sand. The water was crystal clear, an emerald green. The men jumped into the water and hauled the boat high on to the beach, then dragged it into a clump of bushes. With practiced hands they set up the camp in the clearing beyond the beach. A fire was lit; a big vessel placed on it, and rice was soon boiling. The two large fish caught at the mouth of the inlet were cleaned and coated with spices, ready for frying. Dal was boiling in another smaller bowl.

After a hearty meal the men sprawled on the cool sand. They can rest here for at least a couple of days, before setting out on what would be the last leg of their epic journey.

Hemraj estimated they could hit the mainland coast in about six days in the prevailing weather conditions. But he could not predict where they would make landfall. It could be anywhere between the land of the Tamils and the Bengalis. Most of the coastal region is controlled by the British. There would be surveillance. The newly laid telegraph lines would make identification easier for the district authorities. They should make good use of the railway line to disperse quickly in different directions. They should not repeat the mistakes of those who escaped earlier but were recaptured and brought back to the Andamans within months. Their biggest mistake had been going to their hometown as soon as they reached the mainland.

As the sunset over the bay a hushed silence descended on the island. Except for the chirping of the crickets and the buzz of the mosquitoes there was no sound at all. The men dug a pit, threw in some driftwood and lit a fire. Sprawled over the soft sand they were in an exuberant mood. Hemraj remembered the stories Mr. Portman used to tell them, of ancient sailors who sailed home after a great war, but had to wander for ten years, shipwrecked on many islands, meeting strange monsters and witches and finally reaching home.

“I wish the British are driven out of our country, sooner or later”, Hemraj started. “We’re afraid of returning to our own country for fear of recapture by these goras who came from outside”.

“I wish they’d never come”, Nekram, who hardly opens his mouth, said. “They are very bad people; worse than out Zamindars. But they have the power, and weapons. They are ruled by one Rani. We’re ruled by so many princes, and most of them are stooges of the British.

There was a brief silence. Kursun took a branch from the fire and lit his cheroot.

“Not all the British are bad”, a voice spoke up suddenly.

All heads turned towards Bhaman Singh, sitting propped up against a fallen tree trunk. “There were many who fought on our side during the Mutiny”, he said.

Everyone knew that Bhaman was a sepoy in the Native Infantry and saw action in many places before he was captured and sent to the Andamans.

“I too heard of it, from none other than Capt. Wimberley. He too sympathized with the cause of the mutineers. Especially the summary executions in which many innocents were hanged”, Sheobrat piped in.

“I have seen it, and knew that person, but you must promise never to reveal his name to the British in case you are recaptured”, Bhaman said.
“By God, we shall never” all answered in one voice.

“He was a Sergeant Major of a regiment of Highlanders, a man named Gordon. Tall, well-built, handsome, and a true leader of men. He was also a crack shot and artillery expert.

“Like most Englishmen he liked fair play. He knew that the East India Company was looting the country. Many people in England opposed it, but their Rajas supported it because they used to get a share of the loot.

“Gordon saab was often seen in the company of the sepoys sharing his thoughts. I was a young recruit that time, and would sit with the others listening to their conversations.

“When the Mutiny broke out I was in Delhi. I took part in the battle of BadlikiSerai, in which Gordon and another white man were fighting against their own men, their own Highlanders.

“The rebels saw the advancing British and opened a fierce cannonade on them from vantage points in the Serai. Muskets, cannons and guns of all caliber poured shot and shell against the British. Almost every shot found its mark, playing havoc among the advancing columns of the British. The British were amazed at the range and accuracy of the rebel guns. The technique of using the modern ordnance, they thought, was as yet unknown to the native soldiers. What they did not know was that a British artillery non-commissioned officer was personally directing the fire, checking the loading, elevation and firing of the guns.

The men listened with rapt attention. There was no other sound except the occasional hooting of a distant owl from the forest.

“In the battle Gordon’s companion fell. We were forced to retreat. We knew that Delhi was destined to fall. At the head of the British was the redoubtable Brigadier General Nicholson. He was fearless, riding into the thick of the battle and cutting down many rebels with his sword. People started calling him the butcher of Delhi.

“On the day Delhi fellNicholson was in the front line. He was not aware death awaited him at the hands of his own countryman. No one would ever know that it was Gordon saab who fired the fatal shot that killed Nicholson a few days later. He took shot from a distance of a thousand yards, a moving target, and hit him. Poor Nicholson lies buried in a cemetery in Delhi, killed in the hour of victory.

“The death of Nicholson was a great blow to the British. But they got Delhi, and we were pushed further and further towards the east. Gordon continued to lead the rebels, along with

“DoodhnathTiwari also told me that a white officer joined the rebels on the day Frederic Cooper, the notorious Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar executed 282 sepoys of the 26th Native Infantry Battalion and dumped their bodies down a well near Ajnala”, said, Bisheshwar, who was busy tending to the fire and roasting some fish that were caught in the evening.

“Yes, such reprehensible acts turned many British to the side of the rebels. Many cried at the mass executions and resigned their commission. But there’s more about Gordon. I’ll tell you tomorrow, when we take our last break before we set out again. Good night friends”, Bhaman Singh said as he curled up to sleep.

“Good night Bhamanbhai, don’t forget to tell us the rest of the story tomorrow, please”, the others said and they all searched for a comfortable place to sleep. (To be continued….)

Viper Prison Break

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N. Francis Xavier
Part XXII, (Continued from last week)

“So, tell me that long story you said you’d tell me in the morning”, Col. Cadell said, as he poured a generous shot of whiskey into the glass in front of Capt. W.B. Birch. They were seated in comfortable chairs on the open terrace at the back of the Government House on Ross Island. A huge harvest moon rose above the horizon, bathing the landscape garden with a soft light. The sea shimmered like quicksilver.

“One can never imagine this kind of luxury back home in England”, Cadell thought, as he leaned back and got ready to listen to Birch’s story.

“To your health sir”, Birch said, as he raised his glass, “and to our great victory over the rebels in 1857, in which you showed great valour”.

The flattery pleased Cadell. The suppression of the Mutiny was, for him, the greatest achievement of his life. He never lost an opportunity to talk about the various engagements in which he played a key role.

A liveries servant brought plates full of delicacies and kept before the two. Cadell stretched his feet and placed them on a cushioned footstool.

“Sir, Liakat and I came to Port Blair at about the same time, in 1872, shortly after the assassination of Lord Mayo”, Birch started.

“He was one of the last of the mutineers to be caught, and one of the wiliest and most dangerous. But there’s an element of romance in his story, which makes it different from that of the others.
“I was in charge of the police in Sylhet during the Lushai uprising about that time and used to come to Calcutta frequently. The news of the capture of the great rebel made headlines in all the Calcutta papers. It was also reported in some papers back home in Britain and even America.The British rejoiced at his capture as he was held responsible for the many deaths of British subjects at Allahabad during the uprising.

“As I was in the police department I had contacts in Bombay police who kept me informed about his capture. At that time Bombay had a legendary police chief, one Mir Abdul Ali. Although he belonged to the Muslim faith he was loyal to the British. For his outstanding services we conferred on him the titles ‘Khan Bahadur’ and ‘Sardar’. We may call him a ‘hereditary detective’ as his father too worked for the Bombay Police for fifty years and cracked many tough cases.

“After escaping from Allahabad in 1858 Liakat wandered from place to place, changing names and in disguise. This way he evaded arrest for fourteen years. The police were on the lookout for him but whenever they almost had him in their net he would slip away, thanks to his own faithful informers. Finally he was traced to Baroda where he was living under the name of Abdul Kareem.

“There was not a shred of evidence to arrest him as no one came forward to identify him as the same Maulvi against who a warrant was pending since 1858. Meanwhile intelligence was received that he was in Bombay and about to leave the city for an unknown destination. Assistant Commissioner of Bombay Police MrEdgington managed to get orders from government to arrest Kareem which were received moments before he was about to board a train for Central India from Byculla railway station.

“Even then there was no proof to show that he was indeed the same Liakat Ali, the ally of Nana Sahib. The task of proving this was given to Mir Abdul Ali.

“At the time of arrest Liakat had with him a strange looking bamboo stick, with a crystal knob. When the knob was unscrewed it revealed a hollow space which contained gold ingots. The documents in his possession were in code. Mir Abdul Ali deciphered them, revealing a secret plan to overthrow the British.

“Based on the evidence Liakat was taken to Allahabad and put on trial. It was certain he would be sent to the gallows, but then a sudden twist took place”, Birch paused.

“A white woman came and testified that Liakat actually saved her life by disguising her as an Indian woman and claiming her to be his sister. This was sensational news indeed, when to most of the British he was a murderous fanatic.

“At the time of the Mutiny Liakat was a school master at Allahabad, an extremely handsome man of about twenty-five, and a fiery orator known for his piety. You may see he still is a handsome man. He was held responsible for spreading disaffection among the sepoys of the 6th Regiment of the Native Infantry stationed at Allahabad. You are aware that the sepoys, who were loyal to the British suddenly turned against them and killed all the officers.

Cadell stiffened at the mention of the Rebellion. It brought back memories of massacres and mass executions.

“I was told Liakat held a reign of terror in Allahabad for ten days. Almost all the British subjects in the city were slaughtered during that time. When Brig. Gen. Neill reached there Liakat fled, we all know that”, Cadell said, pouring himself another large drink.

“Yes sir, but there’s another side to the story which is oft not reported. Some believe he could not control the sepoys who were under the influence of the Nana, but saved the lives of many British. The woman I mentioned just now, Amelia Bennett was one of them. Some feel there was a romantic angle to the story, but we really don’t know.

“Anyway, based on her testimony he got transportation instead of the noose. We find in him a model prisoner. I was told he was very close to Fazal e Haqq, whose tomb is on the way to Corbyn’s Cove, during the uprising. As soon as he was brought here he first visited that Mazar and prayed there. I believe he told fellow prisoners he would also like to be buried there when he dies.

“Well, there are some fascinating characters among these convicts I must say”, Cadell said, wiping his walrus moustache. “But, do you think there was anything between him and Amelia? I mean really something… It hurts my feelings that a British woman would fall for a man like him ”.

“Sir, that would forever remain a mystery. Many times I tried to make him talk about it, but he wouldn’t. Let’s hope no such disgraceful thing happened. However, you need not feel bad about it, for Amelia is not British. She’s of mixed French and Indian parentage. What more can we expect from such background? I have taken much of your time with this story. Good night sir, and thank you for the drinks.

Birch rose and saluted, turned about and walked down the wooden staircase of Government House with unsteady steps.

(to be continued…)