Rudyard Kipling

The City of Dreadful Night Rudyard Kipling

A word of advice to other barbarians. Do not bring a north-country servant into Calcutta. He is sure to get into trouble, because he does not understand the customs of the city. A Punjabi in this place for the first time esteems it his bounden duty to go to the Ajaib-ghar-the Museum. Such an one has gone and is even now returned very angry and troubled in the spirit. "I went to the Museum," says he, "and no one gave me any gali. I went to the market to buy my food, and then I sat upon a seat. There came a chaprissi who said: 'Go away, I want to sit here.' I said: 'I am here first.' He said: 'I am a chaprissi! nikal jao!' and he hit me. Now that sitting-place was open to all, so I hit him till he wept. He ran away for the Police, and I went away too, for the Police here are all Sahibs. Can I have leave from two o'clock to go and look for that chaprissi and hit him again?"