N. Francis Xavier, Part IX , (Continued from last week)
The frenzied dance continued for an hour. A hearty dinner of roast pork, boiled turtle and yams followed. Natanata brought bowls full of honey. The heavy meal made the men sleepy.
Hemraj sensed that the love and affection of their Jarawa hosts may induce his men to stay there forever. They too would take a Jarawa bride each, like DoodnathTewari did earlier. But they would not betray them, like Doodnath did the Andamanese.
Hemraj remembered Doodnath. He returned to Port Blair on his way to the Sarawak Islands, to join the service of the White Raja Brook. Having heard of him he too went to meet him. It was not difficult to understand that he was a braggart and a liar. The Andamanese women in the settlement came and cursed him for leaving his wife Leepa, who was 8 months pregnant when he deserted them. She gave birth to a still born child later.
The story of an island where the people ate a fruit that grew on a particular tree, which made them lethargic and forgetful about their family and friends, came to Hemraj’s mind. Mr Homfray used to tell such stories, reading from a thick book he kept in his house. ‘Would his men too mutiny and decide to stay with the Jarawas?’.
Hemraj’s reverie was broken by the arrival of a band of Jarawa hunters. Seven live wild pigs, neatly trussed up were laid on the floor.
One of the men came over to Ungade and reported.
Using words and mime the man described sighting a ‘Fire Boat’, towards the east. They had seen two white men and many Andamanese. From the man’s words and gestures Hemraj understood that it was Portman he was talking about. He must have come in the steamer that brought the Andamanese who chased them in Middle Strait.
The man also conveyed that the steamer had engine problems and was left behind. Portman and party took the sailing boat and left towards Port Blair. Even that boat got damaged due to bad weather. The Andamanese were seen helping them and accommodating them in their huts. They belonged to the Ke`de` tribe.
Hemraj understood that Portman did try to come to the west coast through Austen Strait. He steamed fast North and entered the Strait with the aim of cutting off his flight. But the engine breakdown forced him to go back.
No one understood Hemraj’s mind better than Portman. After all he was his majhi for many years.Hemraj too could read the mind of Portman. He will be on their tail soon, with a bigger and faster ship. The Andamanese trackers will comb every creek and inlet. They don’t have much time.
Ungade Amey was suggesting they sleep in the hut for the night. But the effects of the singing, dancing and feasting were already clearly visible on the faces of Hemraj’s men.
Hemraj remembered the story of the great hero, from Homfray’s book, who sealed the ears of his sailors with molten wax to prevent them from being attracted by the songs of some beautiful, but dangerous women on some island.
Hemraj got up and thanked Ungade for his hospitality and for saving them from the Andamanese pursuers. He told the men to march to the boat. They would drift with the tide towards the exit till the morning, and then make the best possible speed towards north before MV Portman could catch up with them.
The men protested. The heady perfume of beeswax burning in the fires made them sleepy. But Hemraj’s word prevailed.
Unwillingly the men marchedin single file, accompanied by Ungade and some Jarawa menholding torches. Natanata waved a fond goodbye. Water and honey stored in bamboo containers, yams and dried meat were given as gifts.
After the men boarded the boat Ungade and his men pushed it into the stream. Using the oars the men backed it into deep water. The swift current picked up the boat. Bhaman Singh took the tiller and guided it into midstream.
Hemraj was aware he will have to choose uncharted waters to escape from the determined Portman. He should avoid the usual route taken by the fugitives from Andamans. Danger lurked in the estuaries of the Irrawaddy. He must look for a new route, something the wily Portman would not think of. The only problem was no such chart existed in the chartroom of his mind. In these stormy seas he has to use his best navigational skills and seamanship to bring them to safety.
Ungade and his men stood on the shore and waved their farewells as the boat floated off into the darkness. ( to be continued -)
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