THE PItITATE LIFE OF AN EASTERN KING. * SOME twenty years

ago, the author of this volume went to Luck- now on business "in the ordinary routine of mercantile life." He was introduced to the King of Oude, without the intervention of the Resident; and his then Majesty being partial to Englishmen, and English manners or what he thought such, the visitor was offered a post in the Royal Household. The volume consists of reminiscences of what he saw during his sojourn at the court of Lucknow, till the caprice and cruelty of the nominal Monarch to- wards his own relations drove the author and one of several other Englishmen from the service. Although considerably shorn of its extent and power since the time of Hastings and Burke, the so-called kingdom of Oude is still i one of the most important of the protected states. Anything like policy or government in an Asiatic monarch, trained among the women and slaves of the seraglio, is an exception. Where he has a foreign Resident as viceroy over him, as is the case in Oude, any- thing like public care is out of the question. To the East India Company he is indebted for his throne originally ; it is the Com- pany that maintains him there. He pays for a large number of dis- ciplined troops, who are liable to be moved against himself on any sign of resistance or independence; the forces which may really be called his own are only terrible to his subjects. In strict theory, the protection refers to foreign affairs ; the potentate being left at liberty to do what he likes with his own. This theory, however, is greatly modified by an individual Resident's love of domination, the idea lest misgovernment pushed beyond bounds should reduce the tribute-paying means of the people, a dread of any very exten- sive and striking cruelties, anything much out of the usual course, coming to the ears of the British public when in a virtuous mood, and, let us also hope, the natural aversion of English gentlemen to the malignant cruelties of blind passion or corrupt selfishness. The Company, by its agents, doubtless prevents many outrageous doings ; but this check to tyranny is only obtained at the expense of the Indian sovereign's independent feeling and free scope of action. Political intrigue is the only field for him, if he turn his mind at all to the public duties of his position; but he most probably abandons business to his minister, and plunges into the vilest licence of sensual pleasure, either from natural taste or front a wish to lose the sense of his degraded condition. Nussir-u-Deen, the King of Oude to whose household the author of this volume was attached, appears darkly enough in the de- scriptions of his savage cruelty when angry, and his capricious disregard of human feeling or suffering Tike flustered by flowing cups and in a mood to enjoy himself. T • e potentates in general, he had a keen sense of his royal dignity, such as it was ; he had a natural turn for flatterers and low company; favourites he had, but of family or other affection he seems to have been devoid; indeed, he is supposed to have been poisoned by his relations at about the first opportunity they got. Still there are traces of • The Private Life of an _Eastern King. By a Member of the Household of his late Majesty Nussir-u-Deep, King of Oude. Published by Hope and Cu. better things in him. As long as he was sober he had much polished grace of manner, and could on fitting occasions assume an air of regal dignity. He had considerable shrewdness, and a more enlarged judgment than might have been looked for in a man in his position. On critical occasions, not affecting himself, he does not seem to have been devoid of readiness or resource. He had a sort of curiosity respecting foreign countries; and he seems to have proposed to himself, of course in a ludicrous way, the practice of English monarchs as a model for imitation, as he more successfully attained European habits at table and European costume when not engaged in native ceremonials, and sometimes even then. Except in the grace of his manner and his public dignity, these better qualities are only displayed by fits and starts. They are visible enough, we think, to show that Nnssir-u-Deen was in a measure the victim of a corrupt education and a false position. It is not every monarch even in Europe who would have argued so reasonably on a point of etiquette as the King of

• Onde in the following extract. The native courtiers were by no means pleased with the partiality of the King for his English attendants, none of whom appear to have previously occupied any position, and one of whom—his barber, purveyor, wine-merchant, taster, and great favourite—was a mere adventurer of the very lowest stamp. The Native party wished, as one means of abasing their rivals, to compel them to come into the presence unshod ; and 'the principal minister undertook the business.

" It is not right or proper for these gentlemen,' urged the Nawab, 'to enter into the presence with their shoes and boots on. We never do. Your Majesty is somewhat over-condescending in allowing it. Believe me, your Majesty's august father, of happy memory, Ghazi-u-Deen, the great and magnificent, would never have suffered it.'

" The King was taken aback for a moment by this bold speech from one usually so humble and so pliant ; but Rushon-u-Dowlah had screwed his cou- rage to the speaking-point, and was not to be answered with a look. " Am I a greater man than the King of England, Nawab ? ' asked his Majesty. " 'Your Majesty is the greatest king in India—greater than the Emperor 'of Delhi. May the asylum of the world live a thousand years!' Such was the wily courtier's evasive answer. "Rushon-u-Dowlah, said the King, "am I a greater man than the King .of England ?'

" 'It is not for your Majesty's servant to say that any one is greater than his lord.'

" ' Listen to me, Nawab ; and you, General, listen to me. The King of .England is my master; and these gentlemen would go into his presence with their shoes on. Shall they not come into mine, then ? Do they come before me with their hats on ? Answer me, your Excellency.' " They do not, your Majesty.' g . , that is their way of showing respect. They take off their hats, and you take off your shoes. But, come now, let us have a bargain. Wal- lah, but I will get them to take off their shoes and leave them without, as you do, if you will take off your turban and leave it without, as they do.' "The Nawab never said a word more on the subject. He was silenced. The loss of the turban is the greatest of indignities amongst Mussulmans. "‘ May my father's head be uncovered if I do !' is no uncommon asseveration with them when urged to perform what they will not, or when anxious to show that the commission of an action is far from their thoughts."

Of course there are no public affairs in the sense of politics. The matter of this book consists of external description,—as the streets of Lucknow, the King's palaces, the costumes and general appear- ance of the people : or of the private parties and amusements of the Xing, which, as they stand in the book, rarely took place without some display of cruelty, caprice, or to European ideas childishness : or of field sports and animal fights, of which last the King was a great patron. Other subjects occasionally. turn up, and sometimes the fan of the King leads to serious or tragic consequences ; but the staple of the book falls under the three kinds mentioned.

Some degree of doubt must always attach to an anonymous pub- lication which professes to give an account of facts whose correct- ness depends upon the testimony of the writer ; confirmatory evi- dence not being readily accessible, if at all. How far The Private Life of an Eastern King is altogether authentic, we do not know. It seems evidently written by a man who has original knowledge of what he professes to describe, though he may not have been precisely what he professes. The scenes in the palace possess an air of vraisemblance, and do not appear likely to have been in- vented ; though, supposing the ideas supplied, there is nothing beyond the power of a litterateur with a knack of dramatizing. The description of the animal fights have all the appearance of a transcript. The peculiarities of the different brutes, from the ra- pid, watchful, stealthy movements of the tiger with his noiseless tread, to the stolidity of the unprovoked buffalo, are well marked. The combats, uniform as they might often be supposed to be, are varied by slight yet essential differences of butting or pushing, from the light gazelle to the massy elephant, and that in a manner which -conjecture could hardly reach. The degrading effects of Oriental despotism, especially of a despotism which permits every self-in- dulgence and tyranny to the potentate yet deprives him of all be- neficial power, is well depicted, both as regards the tyrant and his people. We think some of the animal fights have more popular -attraction. The combat of two elephants, from which the follow- ing is an extract, has a human interest. On the visit of the A.nglo- Indian Commander-in-chief to Lucknow, various entertainments were got up to amuse him and the Resident. Among others, Mal- leer, a veteran elephant, the victor of many fights, was brought forward to meet a younger monster that had never been matched. Malleer was again victorious ; but his mahout or driver, in wildly urging the pursuit, fell from his seat, and was trampled on by the madly enraged brute, to the great horror of the European part of the company.

"We were all horrified, of course, at the untoward result of our sport, for which nobody was to blame but the elephant ; when our alarm and horror

were increased at seeing a woman rushing from the side whence Malleer had made his appearance, rushing directly towards the elephant. She had an infant in her arms, and she ran as fast as her burden would permit. The Commander-in-chief stood up in the balcony, exclaiming, 'Here will be more butchery, your Majesty : can nothing be done to prevent it ? ' " 'It is the mahout's wife, I have no doubt,' replied the King : what can be done?'

"But the Resident had already given the order for the horsemen with their long spears to advance and lead off the elephant; given the order, it is true, but the execution of those orders was not an affair of a moment. Time was lost in communicating them—the men had to mount—they must advance cautiously, five on each side. By means of their long spears, they must conduct the elephants about, directing the spears against the trunk, which is tender, if the animal is wayward. They are, of course, expert horsemen ; and must be prepared to gallop off at a moment's notice, should the animal slip past the spear and advance to attack.

"Whilst the spearmen were thus.preparing to lead off the elephant—that is, mounting, and then advancing cautiously from either side—the poor wo- man, reckless of consequences, was running towards the elephant.

" '0 Malleer, Malleer ! cruel, savage beast ! see what you have done !' she cried : 'here, finish our house at once! Tou have taken off the roof, now break down the walls ; you have killed my husband, whom you loved so well—now kill me and his son !' " To those unaccustomed to India, this language may appear unnatural or ridiculous. It is precisely the sense of what she said ; every word of it al- most was long impressed upon my mind. The mahouts and their families live with the elephants they attend, and talk to them as to reasonable beings, in reproof, in praise, in entreaty, in anger. " We expected to see the wild animal turn from the mangled remains of the husband to tear the wife and child asunder. We were agreeably disap- pointed. Malleer's rage was satiated, and he now felt remorse for what he had done. You could see it in his drooping ears and downcast head. He took his feet off the shapeless carcass. The wife threw herself upon it, and the elephant stood by respecting her grief. It was a touching spectacle. The woman lamented loudly, turning now and then to the elephant to re- proach him ; whilst be stood as if conscious of his fault, looking sadly at her. Once or twice the unconscious infant caught at his trunk and played with it. He had doubtless played with it often before ; for it is no 111300111MOn thing to see the mahout's child playing between the legs of the elephant; it is no uncommon thing to see the elephant waving his trunk over it, al- lowing it to go to a little distance, and then tenderly bringing it back again, as tenderly as a mother would. "In the mean time, the apearmen were [now advancing. They were mounted on active horses accustomed to the work. They came up on either side; and gently touching the proboscis of the elephant with the ends of their spears, indicated thus what they wanted. Malleer flapped back his long ears, and looked threateningly at them. He might let his mahout's wife pacify him ; he was not to be led by them : you could see the determi- nation in his eye. They touched him again, this time a little more sharply. He threw up his trunk, sounded out a defiant threat, and charged full upon those on his left. They were off in an instant, their horses scampering away with all speed, whilst Malleer pursued. The savage fury of the elephant was gradually returning; and when the band which he had attacked had leaped a wall and were off out of sight, he turned upon the other. It was now their turn to fly ; which they did as nimbly as their companions, Mal- leer pursuing as fast as he could.

" Let the woman call him off!' shouted the King; ' he will attend to her.'

" She did so ; and Malleer came back, just as a spaniel would do at the call of his master.

"'Let the woman mount with her child and take him away,' was the King's order. It was communicated to her. The elephant knelt at her command. She mounted. Malleer gave her first the mutilated carcass, and then her infant son. She sat upon his neck, in her husband's place, and led him quietly away."

The cause of the author and the friend who introduced him to the King leaving the service, was a series of disgraceful pranks played by the Monarch and his favourite the barber on his uncles. Independently of the perfect equality with which everybody below himself is regarded by the despot, the uncles of the King were ob- noxious to his displeasure as having opposed his succession to the crown. One had been stripped and grossly insulted after having been made drunk at a palace revel. A still older uncle went un-

willingly to a dinner; was soothed by the demeanour of the King, and led on to rink.

" The King gave various toasts, and was in great vein. Asoph was forced to drink, and gradually lost all power of directing himself. He sat un- steadily in his arm-chair • his head now bowing to the right, now to the left, as he tried hard to keep his eyelids from falling. He was soon nearly blind drunk.

" The King was delighted, and, turning in a pleasant way to his favourite made some observation about the drooping head of the unfortunate old man. "'His moustache wants arranging now,' was the barber's reply, as he half rose.

" ' Go, good khan, and settle it; chuck it into its place vigorously,' said the Xing, laughing. " The barber rose, and pulled the long moustache at either side ruthless- ly, turning the head as he did so first one way, then the other. It was bar- barous usage for any one, but particularly for an aged, infirm, grey-beaded man. We exclaimed against it, two of us half rising from our chairs as we did so. The King turned upon us furiously. Leave your places at your peril!' he exclaimed : is not the old pig my uncle ? I and the khan shall do with him as we please:

" It was useless to interfere—worse than useless ; it might but bring down greater punishment upon the luckless old man. Asoph 's head still moved unsteadily. He had opened his eyes widely, smarting with pain at the vio- lent wrench given to his moustache, but soon relapsed into his old nodding see-saw motion. Drunkenness had quite overpowered him. For a little the King seemed intent upon the performance of the tumblers and the dancing- girls, his brows still knit and his eyes angry. He had not forgotten our ex- clamations.

" 'The old man's head, as it moved from side to side, obstructed the King's vision occasionally.

"'His head must be kept quiet, damn him!' shouted the irritated sove- reign.

The barber was on his feet in a moment. He procured a piece of strong fine twine, and with it he approached the drunken Asoph. Dividing the twine into two equal parts, he tied one end of each piece firmly in each moustache. We could not conceive what his object was. The King looked on delighted. The ingenuity of the thing pleased him. A man who had not been accus- tomed to wield the razor, the comb and brush, and the curling-tongs, would never have tied those pieces of cords so firmly in the long wiry hair. But what was to be done with the other ends? We were not left long in doubt.

The old man opened his eyes once or twice during the operation, and uttered inarticulate sounds. But the wine and brandy he had taken were too power- ful for him, and he speedily relapsed into unconsciousness. i

" We were not left long in doubt as to the intentions of the barber. He tied the ends of the twine, one to each arm of the chair on which the old man sat—tied them firmly, caring little to what inconvenience be put the King's uncle. The performances of the nautch-girls and the tumblers went on as before. They appeared to pay no attention to what passed at the table.

" The King clapped his hands, and laughed loudly at the ingenious de- vice of his favourite. With each moustache tied firmly to an arm of the chair on which be sat, Asoph's head drooped in drunken lethargy upon his breast. The King whispered the favourite after a little. The little man rose and left the apartment. I felt convinced that some new cruelty was being practised, and looked meaningly at my friend—he who had introduced me into Nusair's service ; the most influential European at courts the barber always excepted. He saw my indignant glance, and understood it. For a moment he sat irresolute, and then rising, said calmly to the King, I will release your Majesty's uncle. This is disgraceful!'

" ' Leave the room !' shouted the King, enraged beyond all bounds, and stamping as he spoke ; leave the room, sir ! Am I not master in my own . house ? my own palace ? Leave the room ; and any other gentleman who is disposed to interfere between me and my uncle may accompany you.' " I rose, bowed, and followed my friend."