Indian Antiquary Vol 51

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 68

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[MARCH, 1022
In the following verses I venture to sum up Lal Ded's spiritual hopes in quatrains in her own style, based on well known stories about her end and her own actual expressions.
Lo ! asVision is before mine eyes,
Framed in a halo of thoughts that burn : Up into the Heights, lo ! I arise
Far above the cries of them that spurn. Lo! upon the wings of Thought, my steed,
Into the mists of the evening gold, High, and higher, and higher I speed
Unto the Man, the Self I behold. Truth hath covered the nude that is I;
Girt me about with a flaming sword; Clad me in the ethereal sky,
Garment of the glory of the Lord. In the same way, Mr. Rihani's final, and as has been remarked, 'title' poem, "A Chant of Mystics" sums up the Safi philosophy, by a quotation from which I close this review of a remarkable work:
Nor Crescent nor Cross we adore ; Nor Budha nor Christ we implore; Nor Muslem nor Jew we abhor :
We are free.
We are not of Iran nor of Ind, We are not of Arabia or Sind :
We are free. We are not of the East or the West, No boundaries exist in our breast :
We are free. We are not made of dust or of dew; We are not of the earth or the blue : • We are free. We are not wrought of fire or of foam; Nor the sun nor the sea is our home; Nor the angel our kin nor the gnome:
We are free. Lal Ded would have heartily endorsed the clos. ing lines :
Whirl, whirl, whirl, Till, the world is the size of a pearl. Dance, dance, dance, Till the world's like the point of a lance. Soar, soar, soar, Till the world is no more.
R. C. TEMPLE
NOTES AND QUERIES. NOTES FROM OLD FACTORY RECORDS. Rt. Honble. Company and from them derived to 27. A wound and service pension.
us, that Francis Hopkins have a pardon for his 9 March 1754. Abstract of letter from Fort St. life but that he receives a punishment as the rest George to the Court of Directors. Para. 33. Pension did, to be whipt and after be branded aboard the Pagodas 15 ( Rs. 523] Per Month allowd Clemente Princess, and that the other offender be repreived Poverio, Captain of Topesses [Portuguese balf-caste till Wednesday next, then to be executed aboard
oldiers), Per Consultation 5th Novr. he having the Defence according to sentence of said Coart and eigpalizd himself on many occasions and lost a their execution warrant to the Provost Martiall. Leg in the Service. (Coast and Bay Abstracts, 26 April 1689. Coppy of a Pardon granted vol. 5, pp. 458-462.)
R.C.T. Charles Hopkins. Whereas you Charles Hopkins 28. Mortar for Buildings.
have by evidence and lott the 12th Instant being 16 February 1689. Consultation at Fort St.
ustly condemned by a Coart Martiall to suffer George. Chinam or Lime being so very scarce that
death for your great and horrid Crime of Piracy, we cannot procure sufficient for the reparation of
notwithstanding which we being inclin'd to mercy
from the scence of your true repentance and hope the Garrison and being also very necessary to send some to the West Coast to carry on their building
of your future Reformation, Wee doe by the
authority His gracious Majesty the King of England there, It is orderd that 20 Tons of chaulk and a plasterer by trade be sent aboard the Williamson,
has granted by his Charter to his Rt. Hon ble.
East India Company and from them derived to who understands the makeing lime, there being. plenty of wood at Bencoolen. (Records of Fort St.
us, their President and Council of Fort St. George, George, Diary and Consultation Book, 1689, p. 15.)
doe hereby, remitt and Pardon you from the said
sentence and execution of death for your said R.C.T.
Crime of Pyracy and that you now only suffer the 29. Punishment by Court Martial for Piracy.
punishment ordered to be inflicted upon you, 18 April 1689. Consultation at Fort St. George, which we hope will terrifie others and warn you The two condemned Persons one of whom being from the like crime for the future which the Alla young man, forced or drawn in that bad Company mighty grant. Given under our hands and the in India, being a Prentice servant was commanded Rt. Honble. Companys Seale at Fort St. George by his Master thereto, the sentence falling upon
in the Citty of Madrass this 26 April Anno Domini him by the lott of dye (dioe,) and being the generall 1689. ELIHU YALE, JOHN LITTLETON, THOMAS opinion of the Court Martiall that he was the least WAVELL, JOHN CHENEY, WILLIAM FRASER, Criminall of all and considering that Justice in WILLIAM CAWLEY, THOMAS GREY. (Records of clines to meroy. Tie agreed and orderd that Fort St. George, Diary and Consultation Book, according to His Majesties Charter granted to the 1989, pp. 40, 44. )
R.C.T.