Page:Nil Durpan.djvu/69

 great friend of mine. Just see, by the new Act, the four rascals were thrown into prison only on the strength of your evidence. This Act is the become brother of the Shamchand.

Gopi.  Saheb, in order that those four ryots might not suffer loss in their cultivation, Nobin Bose has given his own plough, kine, and harrow for the ploughing of their lands; and he is trying his utmost that their families might not suffer great trouble.

Planter.  When he is required to plough his land, for which advances are allowed, he says, "my ploughs and kine are less in number." He is very wicked; and now he is very well punished. Dewan, now you have done very well, and now I see work may be carried on by you without loss.

Gopi.  Saheb, it is your own favour. My desire is that advances should be increased very year. But that cannot be done by me alone; some confident Amin and Khalasis are necessary. Can the Indigo cultivation be improved by those who, for the sake of two rupees, occasioned the loss of the produce of three bigahs of lands?

Planter.  I have understood it, the rascally Amin occasioned this confusion.

Gopi.  Saheb, Chunder Goldar is a new-comer here, and has not taken any advance. The Amin once, according to regular custom, threw one rupee on his ground as an advance. That person, in order to be allowed to return that rupee, even shed tears and came along with the Amin as far as Ruthtollah, begging him earnestly to take it back. There he met with Nilkanta Babu, who has chosen the profession of an Attorney immediately after leaving the College.

Planter.  I know that rascal; he it is, who writes everything concerning me in the newspapers.

Gopi.  Their papers can never stand before yours, can by no means bear a comparison; and moreover, they are as the earthen bottles for cooling water compared to  the jars of