XIX Hadji Murad | ||
XIX
HADJI MURÁD'S family had been removed to Vedenó soon after his desertion to the Russians, and were there kept under guard, awaiting Shamil's decision. The women: his old mother Patimát. and his two wives with their five little children, were kept under guard in the sáklya of the officer Ibrahim Raschid, while Hadji Murád's son, Yusúf, a youth of eighteen, was put in prison: that is, into a pit more than seven feet deep, together with seven criminals, who like himself were awaiting a decision as to their fate.
The decision was delayed, because Shamil was away on a campaign against the Russians.
On 6 January 1852, he returned to Vedenó, after a battle in which, according to the Russians, he had been vanquished, and had fled to Vedenó; but in which, according to him and all the murids, he had been victorious, and had repulsed the Russians. In this battle he himself
It was noon when Shamil — surrounded by a party of murids who caracoled around him, firing their rifles and pistols and continually singing Lya illyah il Allah! — rode up to his place of residence.
All the inhabitants of the large aoul were in the street or on their roofs to meet their ruler; and as a sign of triumph they also fired off rifles and pistols. Shamil rode a white arab steed, which pulled at its bit as it approached the house. The horse's equipment was of the simplest, without gold or silver ornaments, a delicately worked red leather bridle with a stripe down the middle, metal cup-shaped stirrups, and a red saddle-cloth showing a little from under the saddle. The Imám wore a brown cloth cloak, lined with black fur showing at the neck and sleeves, and was tightly girded round his thin long waist with a black strap which held a dagger. On his head he
A Circassian
[Description: A Circassian]
wore a tall cap with flat crown and black tassel; round it was wound a white turban, one end of which hung down on his neck. He wore green slippers and black leggings, trimmed with plain braid.
In fact, the Imám wore nothing bright — no gold or silver — and his tall erect powerful figure, clothed in garments without any ornaments, surrounded by murids with gold and silver on their clothes and weapons, produced on the people just the impression and influence that he desired and knew how to produce. His pale face, framed by a closely-trimmed reddish beard, with his small eyes always screwed up, was as immovable as though hewn out of stone. As he rode through the aoul he felt the gaze of a thousand eyes turned eagerly on him, but his eyes looked at no one.
Hadji Murád's wives had come out into the penthouse with the rest of the inmates of the sáklya, to see the Imám's entry. Only Patimát, Hadji Murád's old mother did not go out, but remained sitting on the floor of the sáklya with her grey hair down, her long arms encircling her thin knees, blinking with her schorching
When he had crossed the aoul, Shamil rode into the large courtyard adjoining the inner court where his seraglio was. Two armed Lesghians met him at the open gates of this outer court, which was crowded with people. Some had come from distant parts about their own affairs, some had come with petitions; and some had been summoned by Shamil to be tried and sentenced. As Shamil rode in, all respectfully
All this oppressed him, and had to be dealt with; but at that moment Shamil did not wish to think at all. He only desired one thing: rest, and the delights of family life, and the caresses of his favourite wife, the eighteen-year-old,
The first to enter was Jemal Eddin, his father-in-law and teacher, a tall grey-haired good-looking old man, with a beard white as snow and a rosy red face. He said a prayer, and began questioning Shamil about the incidents of the campaign, and telling him what had happened in the mountains during his absence.
Among events of many kinds — murders connected
After eating his dinner — served to him in his room by Zeidát, a dark sharp-nosed disagreeable-looking woman, whom he did not love but who was his eldest wife — Shamil passed into the guest chamber.
The six old men who made up his Council — white, grey, or red-bearded, with tall caps on their heads, some with turbans and some without, wearing new beshméts and Circassian coats girdled with straps to which hung their daggers — rose to greet him on his entrance. Shamil towered a head above them all. He, as
In the case of the criminals, the decisions were given according to the Shariát; two were sentenced to have a hand cut off for stealing; one man to be beheaded for murder; and three were pardoned. Then they came to the principal business — how to stop the Chechens from going over to the Russians. To counteract that tendency, Jemal Eddin drew up the following proclamation:—
"I wish you eternal peace with God the Almighty!
"I hear that the Russians flatter you and invite you to surrender to them. Do not believe them, and do not surrender, but endure. If ye be not rewarded for it in this life, ye shall receive your reward in the life to come. Remember what happened before, when they took your arms from you! If God had not brought
"Judge of the future by the past. It is better to die in enmity with the Russians than to live with the Unbelievers. Endure for a little while, and I will come with the Koran and the sword, and will lead you against the enemy. But now I strictly command you not only to entertain no intention, but not even a thought of submitting to the Russians!"
Shamil approved this proclamation, signed it, and had it sent out.
After this business they considered Hadji Murád's case. This was of the utmost importance to Shamil. Although he did not wish to admit it, he knew that if Hadji Murád, with his agility boldness, and courage had been with him, what had now happened in Chechnya would not have occurred. It would therefore be well to make it up with Hadji Murád, and again have the benefit of his services; but as this was not possible, it would never do to allow him to help the Russians; and therefore he must enticed back and killed. They might
When the councillors had talked all this over, Shamil closed his eyes and sat silent.
The councillors knew that this meant that he was listening to the voice of the Prophet, who spoke to him and told him what to do.
After five minutes of solemn silence Shamil opened his eyes, and narrowing them more than usual, said,—
"Bring Hadji Murád's son to me."
"He is here," replied Jemal Eddin; and in fact Yusúf, Hadji Murád's son, thin pale tattered and evil-smelling, but still handsome in face and figure, with black eyes that burnt like his grandmother Patimát's, was already standing by the gate of the outside court, waiting to be called in.
Yusúf did not share his father's feelings towards Shamil. He did not know all that had
"Thou art Hadji Murád's son?"
"I am, Imám."
"Thou knowest what he has done?"
"I know, Imám, and deplore it."
"Canst thou write?"
"I was preparing myself to be a Mullah — "
"Then write to thy father that if he will return to me now, before the Feast of Bairam,
Not a muscle of Yusúf's face stirred, and he bowed his head to show that he understood Shamil's words.
"Write that, and give it to my messenger."
Shamil ceased speaking, and looked at Yusúf for a long time in silence.
"Write that I have had pity on thee and will not kill thee, but will put out thine eyes as I do to all traitors! ... Go!"
While in Shamil's presence Yusúf appeared calm; but when he had been led out of the guest-chamber he rushed at his attendant, snatched the man's dagger from its sheath, and wished to stab himself; but he was seized by the arms, bound, and led back to the pit.
That evening at dusk, after he had finished his evening prayers, Shamil put on a white fur-lined cloak and passed out to the other side of the fence where his wives lived, and went
Having waited for her in vain, Shamil returned to his own apartments when it was already time for the midnight prayers.
XIX Hadji Murad | ||