1955-11-19 — Page 5

THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1955.

FILES

"Remind me to have a word with little Miss Whatsit about her views on the Royal Marriage Act."

One of the World's Strangest Stories.... Told by Chandra Kala

THE

MAHARAJAH'S PYJAMAS

Ka hinir.

IPTY years ago the had fruitiessly Investigated su

explots of Mahadey many baffling robberies that he were the talk of all hew there was so hopeøl end- Malacey's career unless he Caught tam red-handed. Some Mahadev

Thet.

fitars he would personally keep Malindey

The Cat Vigil la a dark line near "The Cat's" huuse, and one night his who

by night. siveve was plucked by ex- Mahadev, nevertheless, wan cffed old woman who said: "The ens, deeply religious, often in the

Thank heavens, Loiler chief! compacay of ascetics

Wik

walked

was looking for help. and Mahadev has broken into my fakirs. Much that he stole, house up the line,

Come will moreover, found its way to me, and you can catch him at sed the pa

I know it's that cursed work out thief I heard him purrbug?" Dewan Dhanpat Ram followed her to a stable adjoining a house

A

Mahadev,

WAN

Therefore, something of a Robin Hood to the people of Srinagar. He had many friends who would shelter newchs hirs if the attentions of the police became too pressing. Not thru the police had much chance of bringing him to book, for he never left a clue.

So he was able to move about Sving like any

respectable eltkzens; and sometimes he woul! retire for a spell to the ancien Pountnia animastery of Bad- hazmalum.

i was at much to lose -- small, wicy, hollow-checked; confirmed bachelor, member of a respectable family of Kashmiri Pandhits. At the time of the exta- ontiinary incalent of the Maharaja's 'yjamas he was in

noment

later

In Kashmir, no

hus neck

Let his pheran

"Well now. Dewan," inter- rupted the Maharaja, "we are but greatly interested in these

There was nice detalls maitetous titter of laughter from Those

the around

throne What we would like to know is why, so far you have falled to brling such a criminal to book."

overall is spotless

"Sive," said the police chief "The law does not permit me to arret citizens on mere sus- piclon

I must have proof. And there is no such proof against Mahadev."

"Could we see this Mahadev?" asked the Maharaja: and Dewan he knew that the soft question was,

one

was safe

found himself locked in. It took in

The court was shockert. The Ponversation was becoming alto- gether to informal; but neither the Maharaja nor Mahadev seemed to notice it

The reward for your success will be a purse full of silver," sand Sir Pratap Singh.

"I shall do my best," said the thief, "tomorrow night."

"And if you don't succeed... 7" said the Maharaja quizzically. "Then hang me in this hell There was a great hubbub of scandalised

volees

when Mahadev left the court. But Mahadev scarcely heard them, He was thinking of what he night do with a purse of silver knew that if he sent

Ho

from Mahadev the Cat....

fact, a firin command

might be found: and he bowed his way out.

his late 50s, and was already a his men some hours to locate Yes, he knew where "The Ca" legend In a land of legends.

him, and from then on he left His eyes wern small and bright; but his most remarkable the hunting of Mahadev to his

wother Mahunday

Ariel

Ju

he

Interiors

enough money he could settle for the rest of his life at the monastery at Sadhamalun which had so aften been his refuge. He was getting old; his body was less supple than once it was. Some time a man must retire..

attribute was his silence:

Dewan was not long away, and when he returned Mahadev was could move without making 掘 One the summer day in 1911

with him. The Maharaja looked sound, and that is why he was there had been a cricket match

at the insignificant figure be- called "The Cat." There was in Srinagar", The Maharaja had side the robust polleeman and The next day Mahadev the Cat

When played and, though his score is

hour There was a tingle of irony in spent a quiet Eightfooter not recorded.

with his English tourists his voice when he spoke.

spiritual teacher, then went in the houses of the wealthy.

amuing the spectators hud flat-

"Is this Mahadev, the thier home, rubbed oil on his spare the homes of tered lum, and he was in a good he asked: and before especially

Dewan limbs, donned a belt fitted with the moneylenders and heard not when later, he heid could answer the thief spoke for useful items, and over this his his victins stirring in their beds art in his palace beside the himself.

pharan. he would give a realist "nanou" Jhelum River. Among the com-

Stre" he said, "Your High- to reassure them that nothinut pany was the police chief, Dewan

ness is our father .And a It was dark and almost mid- more harmful than is car was Dhanpat Ram; and, catching father does not scold a child night when he looked across the abroad, and to send them back his eye, the Maharaja feed at unless that child has erred. Idle slow-moving Jhelum towards the to their slumbers while he com- nho a questlon which was bound

longues may have told Your Maharaja's palace, and the peted his night's work.

to enliven the conversation;

Highness that Mahadey is a thief houtmen were asleep. He took No person of wealth was made from his silent Industry-not

"Who is

Mahadev this. Perhaps I may take a man's off his robe and awam silently our wazirs talk so pyjamas while he sleeps but if across to the dark opening of a even the court offelals of the Cat-tast

he fails to catch me slipping jari sower which carried Maharaja, the late Sir Pratap tich about?

them from his legs he cannot surface water from the court- Singh, who ruled from 1885 until Dewan swallowed his embar- have me punished."

yard of the Inner palace. 1025. Not even the Maharaja rassment and replied: "Your "Indeed?" said the Maharaja, saw that extra guards had been

Highness....let me admit that indulgently, "You must try posted, but he found little dif The Dogra police chief of I have seen Mahadev. He is a that with us then we will know feulty in making his way, cat- Srinagar was one Dewan Dhan- slight man, modest in his ways, that you are not merely brag- like, to a point below whero, he pat Ram, a shrewd um who He wears several rosaries round ging.”

knew, the Maharaja would be

himecit....

this

Ho

PLANS TO CRUSH MIDDLE EAST FLARE-UP

HE chances of war be-

tween Egypt

and

Israel are still being

weighed by

perta.

British

is

By James Wickenden

ex- them

Israel's potential

ralds Lightning napalm sirengil of 250,000 which can the Egyptian forces be raised within 48 hours. probably throw them into

Allowing

for parrisonn on fusion and unmask their

of real veteran morale.

Izrael

At a stroke the whole of the Egyptian forces facing could be threatened wil dex struction-with an enemy force en polod on the road to Cairo, would

These are the possibilities con- facing the Wester Powers

they seelt peaceful solution in to say that only with the do other fronts, and for reserves,

the Middle East. Fortunately sert between, them and the the Israells could muster

In xxmtrast, tho Israel they have some tricks up their Egyptions can there be lasting overwhelming superiority officer corps contains many sleeve, To put such a barrier against the forward Egyptian commanders with Brilisha war-

be time service. the unita-before thes

The Iraelis have not ceased

the two sides fo

could

Jack

$

peace, between

There is now agreed policy The Israel army between Britain, France and of present Western dip relatoreed ueross the desert.

is, in fact, probably the tough- lomacy,

NO MAGIC FORMULA

est and most up-to-date of any the United States where before The Israelis may

there was none. The big Power yot feci

in the world's small states.

would act in an emergency. force this object.

into a "prevenliye" war The Israells could therefore

The Israelis Imow, this and

of desper- quickly capture territory up they have the fire This is the threat to peace lo And

Arish tion to spur including EL

to action. facing the West,

station, the whole of the They see the growing strength

of

which Arabs, ask military Gaza strip and El Auja. can they, advisers, launch such a war?

even The Egyptians would then be eventually become

to fall back op

them. the

to

But

To both sides the Sinai de- forced

the risk of

by pursuing

the

them

may with

LAST RESORT

STRONG TEMPTATION and to dilver crushing air The temptation to strike now and is strong.

ot%

has The War Office

plans which include the use of Can- berra jet bombers, able to out- sert (between the two states Suez line or take a stand in

fly anything in the Middle East oast of Sucz) in an obstacle to the desert with

bom battle mobility. Across its 150 being cut off

bases concentration of alony, desolation is Israeli columns.

mobile British arinoured." fored only, one main road and a rail- In this Tight the new Com- And the Israeli planners la ready on the southern edge way!

munist

wen pony are not would be bold. They would of the Binal döverf. magic formula

victory. want to bring Egypt to her carrying planes can bring forces They do not make up for the knees at a stroke before the rapidly from Cyprus.

forces, nor

In numbers

_OPPOSING_FORCES

The Egyptians hold them at 'presont. At the end of the rail-

poor

for

strategie position the rent powers could intervene.

of the Farnells."

and

Israel has

another uniquenes moans and

Troop

the

some pf, the

Navy bis others in the Middle Eastat they are a Inst, resort, attacks on 3 kw," points, the the two sides without

road communications, stand the over, Israel has a mora bim Combined with air The present aim is táo; meparate

no

Egyptian forces facing the 50- mile are from the Gaza strip deadly, means of war-tapalm west of Jøract to El Auto, bombs and an efficient air arm, where recent. Sighing tock. So far there be born places

Salimiflannă, nir meliory in the Nasser's troops In the area puto. The Iradil plants could number at most 29,000. Fering oilnge the picture xywnight.

fored.

ronila would capture much whois Heypt and Insed realso vital soft spots er. El Qantar. time, a woe will solve nothing

his town lies on tha Conal they may) pomol to ter

terms hans ho rullway grossos into is, London'd hope

sleeping. He uncoiled a thin rope from his waist and tying a hook on one end throw it deftly up to the veranda above.

In the dim light of Sir Pratap's Tour Mahadev saw that his vic- tim was sleeping soundly in his back. In a moment he was under the great man's bed and pulling from his belt length of hollowed-out reed.

During the day Mahadey had filled this reed with hundreds of ants, and each end to imprison stopped them. Lying at full length be neuth the bed he unsealed the reed, placed one end beneath the blew gently bedclothes and through the other.

The ants swarmed over the Ings of the Maharaja, who was soon stirring uneasily in his sleep

....loosening the girdle at his waist....deftly assisted by The

lean. brown hand of his persecutor. The pyjama trousers

fustened secured,

and the Mahadev's belt

were

Maharaja slept on....

to

On June 11, 1011, the news quickly Leaked

news will, out

palace and into

20

such the

of the streets

wero

Srinagar. Tho Maha- raja's pyjama missing and there was to be

trouser

an open durbar that afternoon to receive Mahadev. Ironically it fell to Dawun Dhanpat Kam to convey the news to the Prince of Thieves.

A

He received his reward in saffron coloured Pashmina purse .and with it a muslin turban. n long coat, a sword....and o pair of white pyjamas.

....

And so Mahadev retired to the quiet of the monastery at Sud- homalun...

(COPYRIGHT)

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