The adventures of Hajji Baba of Ispahan/05

Chapter V: Hajji Baba becomes a robber in his own defence, and invades his native city
I had now been above a year in the hands of the Turcomans, during which I had ‎acquired the entire confidence of my master. He consulted me upon all his own ‎affairs, as well as those of his community, and as he considered that I might now be ‎depended upon, he determined to permit me to accompany him in a predatory ‎excursion into Persia,—a permission, which, in hopes of a good opportunity to ‎escape, I had frequently entreated of him to grant. Hitherto I had never been allowed ‎to stray beyond the encampment and its surrounding pastures, and as I was totally ‎ignorant of the roads through the great salt desert which separated us from Persia, I ‎knew that it would be in vain for me to attempt flight, as many before me had done, ‎and had invariably perished or returned to their masters, who treated them with more ‎rigour than before. I therefore rejoiced that I now had an opportunity of observing ‎the country we were about to cross, and determined with myself that if I could not ‎get away during this expedition, nothing should hinder my attempting it on my ‎return. The Turcomans generally make their principal excursions in the spring, when ‎they find pasturage for their horses in the highlands, and fresh corn in the plains, and ‎because they then are almost certain of meeting caravans to plunder on their march. ‎This season being now near at hand, Aslan called together the chiefs of his tribe, the ‎heads of tens and the heads of hundreds, and all those who were skilled in plunder, ‎and proposed a plan to them of an incursion into the very heart of Persia. Their ‎object was to reach Ispahan itself, to enter the city in the night, when all was quiet, ‎and to sack the caravanserai, to which the richest merchants were known to resort. ‎Our guide through the great salt desert was to be my master in person, whose ‎experience and local knowledge were greater than that of any of his contemporaries; ‎and he proposed to the council that as no one amongst them, except myself, knew the ‎streets and bazaars of Ispahan, I should lead the way, when once we had entered the ‎city. This was opposed by several, who said that it was imprudent to trust a stranger ‎and a native of the very place they intended to attack, who would be likely to run off ‎the moment he could do so with safety. At length, after much discussion, it was ‎agreed that I should be their guide in Ispahan; that two men should ride close on each ‎side of me, and in case I showed the least symptom of treachery in my movements, ‎kill me on the spot. This being settled, the Turcomans put their horses in ‎training, and one was appointed for my use, which had the reputation of having ‎twice borne away the flag at their races. I was equipped as a Turcoman, with a large ‎sheep-skin cap on my head, a sheep-skin coat, a sword, a bow and arrows, and a ‎heavy spear, the head of which was taken off or put on as the occasion might require. ‎I had a bag of corn tied behind on my horse, besides ropes to tether him with when ‎we made a halt,—and for my own food I carried several flaps of bread, and half ‎a dozen of hard eggs, trusting to the chapter of accidents, and to my own endurance ‎of hunger, for further sustenance. I had already made a very tolerable apprenticeship ‎to a hard life since I had first been taken, by sleeping on the ground with the first ‎thing that I could seize for a pillow, and thus I looked upon the want of a bed as no ‎privation. My companions were equally hardy, and in point of bodily fatigue, ‎perhaps, we were a match for any nation in the world.‎

I took previous care to unbury the fifty ducats, which I tied very carefully in my ‎girdle, and I promised my former master, who from fretting had worn himself down ‎to a skeleton, that if ever I had an opportunity, I would do all in my power to make ‎his friends ransom him. 'Ah,' said be, 'no one will ever ransom me. As for my son, he ‎will be happy to get my property; and as for my wife, she will be happy to get ‎another husband: so no hope is left. There is only one favour I beg of you, which is, ‎to inquire what is the price of lamb-skins at Constantinople.'‎

Here I had another struggle with my conscience on the subject of the ducats. Should I ‎restore them? Would it not be more advantageous, even to my master, that I should ‎keep them? My ability to take advantage of this opportunity to escape might depend ‎upon my having a little money in my purse—and what chance had he of being ‎relieved but through my interference? All things considered, I let them remain in my ‎girdle.‎

The astrologer having fixed upon a lucky hour for our departure, we, mounted at ‎nightfall. Our party consisted of Aslan Sultan, who was appointed chief of the ‎expedition, and of twenty men, myself included. Our companions were composed of ‎the principal men of the different encampments in our neighbourhood, and were all, ‎more or less, accomplished cavaliers. They were mounted upon excellent horses, the ‎speed and bottom of which are so justly celebrated throughout Asia; and as we rode ‎along in the moonlight, completely armed, I was persuaded that we looked as ‎desperate a gang of ruffians as ever took the field. For my part, I felt that nature had ‎never intended me for a warrior, and although I thought that I could keep up ‎appearances as well as most men in my predicament, and indeed I believe did act my ‎part so perfectly, as to make both my master and his companions believe that they ‎had got a very Rustam in me, yet I dreaded the time when I should be put to the ‎trial.‎

I was surprised to observe the dexterity with which our chief led us through the thick ‎forests that clothe the mountains which border the plains of Kipchâk. The dangers of ‎the precipices and the steep ascents were something quite appalling to a young ‎traveller like me; but my companions rode over everything with the greatest ‎unconcern, confident in the sure-footedness of their horses. Having once ascended ‎the mountains, we entered upon the arid plains of Persia, and here my master's ‎knowledge of the country was again conspicuous. He knew every summit the ‎moment it appeared, with the same certainty as an experienced Frank sailor ‎recognizes a distant headland at sea. But he showed his sagacity most in drawing his ‎inferences from the tracks and footsteps of animals. He could tell what sort of ‎travellers they belonged to, whence coming, whither going, whether enemy or friend, ‎whether laden or unladen, and what their probable numbers, with the greatest ‎precision.‎

We travelled with much precaution as long as we were in the inhabited parts of the ‎country, lying by during the day, and making all expedition at night. Our stock of ‎provender and provisions was renewed at the last encampment of the wandering ‎tribes which we visited before we reached the great salt desert, and when we entered ‎it, we urged our horses on with as much haste as we knew their strength was likely to ‎support. At length, after travelling about 120 parasangs, we found ourselves in ‎the environs of Ispahan. The moment for reaping the fruit of our fatigue, and for ‎trying my courage, was now at hand, and my heart quite misgave me when I heard of ‎the plan of attack which my companions proposed.‎

Their scheme was to enter the city through one of the unguarded avenues, which ‎were well known to me, and at midnight to make straight for the Royal Caravanserai, ‎where we were sure to find a great many merchants, who at this season of the year ‎collect there with ready money to make their purchases. We were at once to carry off ‎all the cash we could find, then to seize and gag each a merchant if we were able, ‎that before the city could be alarmed, we might be on the road to our encampment ‎again. I found the plan so hazardous, and so little likely to succeed, that I gave it as ‎my opinion that we ought not to attempt it; but my master, putting on his most ‎determined look, said to me, 'Hajji! open your eyes—this is no child's play!—I ‎swear by the beard of the Prophet, that if you do not behave well, I'll burn your ‎father. We have succeeded before, and why should we not be as successful now? He ‎then ordered me to ride near him, and placed another ruffian at my side, and both ‎vowed, if I flinched, that they would immediately run me through the body. We then ‎took the lead, and, from my knowledge of Ispahan, I easily picked my way through ‎the ruins which surround it, and then entered into the inhabited streets, which were at ‎that time of night entirely forsaken. When near the scene of action, we stopped under ‎the arches of one of the ruined houses, which are so frequently to be met with even ‎in the most inhabited parts of the city, and dismounting from our horses, picketed ‎them to the ground with pegs and heelropes, and left them under the care of two ‎of our men. By way of precaution we appointed a rendezvous in a lonely dell about ‎five parasangs from Ispahan, to which it was determined we should retreat as ‎circumstances might require. Once on foot, we proceeded without noise in a body, ‎avoiding as much as we could the bazaars, where I knew that the officers of the ‎police kept watch, and by lanes reached the gate of the caravanserai. Here was a ‎place, every square inch of which I knew by heart, namely, my father's shaving shop. ‎Being aware that the gate of the caravanserai would be locked, I made the party halt ‎there, and, taking up a stone, knocked, and called out to the doorkeeper by name: 'Ali ‎Mohammed,' said I, 'open, open: the caravan is arrived.'‎

Between asleep and awake, without showing the least symptom of opening, 'What ‎caravan?' said he.‎

‎'The caravan from Bagdad.'‎

‎'From Bagdad? why that arrived yesterday. Do you laugh at my beard?'‎

Seeing myself entrapped, I was obliged to have recourse to my own name, and said, ‎‎'Why, a caravan to be sure with Hajji Baba, Kerbelai Hassan the barber's son, who ‎went away with Osman Aga, the Bagdad merchant. I bring the news, and expect the ‎present.'‎

‎'What, Hajji?' said the porter, 'he who used to shave my head so well? His place has ‎long been empty. You are welcome.'‎

Upon which he began to unbolt the heavy gates of the entrance porch, which, as they ‎creaked on their hinges, discovered a little old man in his drawers with an iron lamp ‎in his hand, which shed enough light to show us that the place was full of merchants ‎and their effects.‎

One of our party immediately seized upon him, and then we all rushed in and fell to ‎work. Expert in these sort of attacks, my companions knew exactly where to go for ‎plunder, and they soon took possession of all the gold and silver that was to be ‎found; but their first object was to secure two or three of the richest merchants, ‎whose ransom might be a further source of wealth to them. Ere the alarm had been ‎spread, they had seized upon three, who from their sleeping upon fine beds, covered ‎with shawl quilts, and reposing upon embroidered cushions, they expected would ‎prove a good prize. These they bound hand and foot after their fashion, and forcing ‎them away, placed them upon their best horses behind riders, who immediately ‎retreated from the scene of action to the rendezvous.‎

From my knowledge of the caravanserai itself, and of the rooms which the richest ‎merchants generally occupied, I knew where cash was to be found, and I entered one ‎room as softly as I could (the very room which my first master had occupied), and ‎seizing upon the small box in which the merchants generally keep their money, I ‎made off with it. To my joy, I found it contained a heavy bag, which I thrust into my ‎bosom, and carried it about with me as well as I could; although, on account of the ‎darkness, I could not ascertain of what metal it was.‎

By the time we had nearly finished our operations the city had been alarmed. Almost ‎all the people within the caravanserai, such as servants, grooms, and mule-drivers, at ‎the first alarm had retreated to the roof; the neighbouring inhabitants then came in ‎flocks, not knowing exactly what to do: then came the police magistrate and his ‎officers, who also got on the roof of the caravanserai, but who only increased the ‎uproar by their cries, exclaiming, 'Strike, seize, kill!' without in fact doing anything ‎to repulse the enemy. Some few shots were fired at random; but, owing to the ‎darkness and the general confusion, we managed to steal away without any serious ‎accident. During the fray I was frequently tempted to leave the desperate gang to ‎which I belonged, and hide myself in some corner until they were gone; but I argued ‎thus with myself: If I should succeed in getting away, still my dress would discover ‎me, and before I could explain who I really was, I should certainly fall a sacrifice to ‎the fury of the populace, the effects of which more than once I had had occasion to ‎witness. My father's shop was before me; the happy days I had passed in that very ‎caravanserai were in my recollection, and I was in the act of deliberating within ‎myself what I should do, when I felt myself roughly seized by the arm, and the first ‎thing which I recognized on turning round was the grim face of Aslan Sultan, who ‎threatened to kill me on the spot, if I did not render myself worthy of the confidence ‎he had placed in me. In order to show him my prowess, I fastened upon a Persian ‎who had just rushed by us, and, throwing him down, I exclaimed that, if he did not ‎quietly submit to be taken prisoner and to follow me, I would put him to death. He ‎began to make the usual lamentations, 'For the sake of Iman Hossein, by the soul of ‎your father, by the beard of Omar, I conjure you to leave me!' and immediately I ‎recognized a voice that could belong to no one but my own father. By a gleam from ‎a lantern, I discovered his well-known face. It was evident, that hearing the ‎commotion, he had left his bed to secure the property in his shop, which altogether ‎did not consist of more than half-a-dozen of towels, a case of razors, soap, and a ‎carpet. The moment I recognized him, I let go his beard, of which I had got a fast ‎hold, and, owing to that habit of respect which we Persians show to our parents, ‎would have kissed his hand and stood before him; but my life was in danger if I ‎appeared to flinch, so I continued to struggle with him, and in order to show myself ‎in earnest, pretending to beat him, I administered my blows to a mule's pack-saddle ‎that was close to where he lay. This while I heard my father muttering to himself, ‎‎'Ah, if Hajji was here, he would not permit me to be served in this way!' which had ‎such an effect upon me, that I immediately let him go, and exclaimed in Turkish to ‎the surrounding Turcomans: 'He won't do for us; he's only a barber.' So without more ‎ceremony I quitted the scene of action, mounted my horse, and retreated in full ‎gallop through the city.‎