大象传媒

This story is submitted on behalf of Arthur Marment, as told to Helen Hughes. It is added to the site with his permission...

Going off from Central Provinces - right in the middle of India - to go down to Arakan, we had to do a lot of jungle training and we all had a bit of leave before we went and there was an incident I remember...which I wrote about in my diary....concerning The Dancing Girls. The key in India is to keep clear of the ladies at all costs, and don鈥檛 get involved in religion or potter about with their food. Understand them, and be sensible was my motto鈥 was told it by an old Indian and I kept it鈥�.I never fell fowl of anything鈥r anybody. My diary records the planning of a party... 鈥淲hilst I鈥檝e been away Subedar Sher Afzal 鈥� Subedar is the equivalent of Lieutenant 鈥� a very good looking Pathan - had gone to Luckrie Wood ( Luckrie is the Urdu for wood and our second in command鈥檚 name was wood) He had a cheque and had failed to cash it. Before I had left I had said before we go down to Arakan we must have a good party so I gave them a cheque 鈥� I of course had been in a bank and knew how to write a cheque properly and safely 鈥� to get extra food and everything for the company. We were up on the Peshawar Plain not far from the Khyber all bare and rough, and he had refused to cash it! How could I cross a cheque marked 鈥淣ot negotiable鈥� I explained etc but he didn鈥檛 understand, he didn鈥檛 understand banking. The result was that nothing had been done and it was now 1200 hours on the 30th 鈥�..Now get busy Sahib, I will do the invitation鈥ave you got permission says Sher Afzal鈥 have given permission, I replied with a patient smile. It was cold that evening and tempers were frayed. All had not gone well in my absence, and the Christmas dinner had been a failure. The company were assembling for role call and Sher Afzal was waiting to talk to me by my forty-pound tent鈥hile Wally Mohammet prepared my bath. "The dance really in order Sahib...don't you think we should get the Colonel Sahib's permission?" "Enough....enough time has been wasted already " A look of contentment spread over Sher Afzal's face "Very well Sahib he said I will go to the Madaan tomorrow" - that's where the regiment is to this day right up the top by Kashmir where Pakistan starts. A jackal howled and there was large post in my pocket, I felt at peace with the world. "

Long before the sun rose on New Year's Eve I marked activity in the company lines. Fatigue party....after fatigue party had been marched off they were picking and shovelling and levelling off large areas and tentage was being struck and even Jemadar Mani Khan was taking an active part in the operation.
Khalil had two wives and his two wives were giving him rough passage in continually demanding his presence in the village. "What is happening Walli Mohammet?" "Oh Sahib" he replied "there are preparations for the dance"

Some dance...alas. The company saved such industry for weeks. Throughout the morning an underground buzz went through the camp - everybody was smiling. Very little work was being done in spite of the imminent move to the Central Provinces. Men were gathered in little groups here, there, and everywhere. Chotakhan the transport officer smiled as I passed...
Of course, I had got my Urdu wrong and given permission for feminine dancers ....not male....

"The dancing girls are so pleased with your money dance that they are putting in another rupee per man to make a real show!" It commenced raining at three o'clock and there was nothing to do the batallion wandered the road in the direction of the company lines. Judge my astonishment when I saw a triumphant Sher Afzal unloading a fifteen-hundredweight truck with two tongas (traps with ponies in) and out of the tongas came three of the biggest villains you've ever seen in all your life - and of course the dancing girls were in the hut...
With all the secrecy involved in our impending move, there was trouble - you can well imagine it!

I confessed to the Colonel and he said "yes" for the time being, but get rid of them quick. It all passed off well....with a lot of wit. There was always fun.

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