Sea of Poppies

Deeti and Kalua arrive in Chhapra, but they are unable to find work and must instead beg for food. The town is overrun by people in a similar situation: as the poppy fields expand, it has become more and more difficult for people to farm for sustenance in any meaningful way, and people are “willing to sweat themselves half to death for a few handfuls of rice” (198). They run into the duffador who had been transporting the migrants back in Ghazipur, and Kalua ferries him across the river in exchange for some money. When he returns, he bears food, as well. Once they eat, he tells Deeti that the duffador has asked him if he and Deeti would like to sign up as indentured servants, the thought of which incenses Deeti, who tells him it would have been better if he had left her in the fire (201).

At the Burnhams’ residence, Paulette is helping Mrs. Burnham plan a dinner party for Captain Chillingworth. Paulette uses her knowledge of dinner party etiquette to manipulate Mrs. Burnham into seating her next to Zachary, though this requires them to invite him as the Doughties’ guest, as Mrs. Burnham wishes not to invite Mr. Crowle, the first mate. 

Baboo Nob Kissin visits Burnham, the latter of whom remarks on Nob Kissin’s “strangely womanish” appearance and mannerisms; he is, of course, unaware of the spiritual transformation, and he is slightly put off by Nob Kissin’s reply that he only looks feminine in outward appearances, replying that there is nothing illusory about the differences between men and women. Nob Kissin recovers and suggests that the jewelry he is wearing is copper, to aid with digestion only (209).

Having successfully put off Burnham’s concerns, he raises his idea of the camp for migrants. He convinces Burnham, who doesn’t much care for the migrant portion of the business, by showing that the cost would be offset in just a couple of seasons, and that he would be able to make money on it by selling it to the government. Once he gains Burnham’s approval, he requests to join the Ibis as supercargo of the ship, explaining that he wishes “to observe the field situation,” which will “facilitate [his] work with coolies […] so [he] can provide fulsome services” (210). Lastly, Baboo Nob Kissin offers the suggestion that Burnham gain an affidavit supporting his claims from Elokeshi, who is a confidant of the gomusta. Burnham tells him that if he gets the affidavit, the supercargo appointment is his.

At Neel’s first court appearance, despite a multitude of preparations and numerous auspicious signs, Neel learns of two unfavorable details about the case. The first is that Justice Kendalbushe, a close friend of the Burnhams, will be presiding over the case; the second is that they have procured an affidavit from Elokeshi, one which is both fanciful and read out in excruciating detail, making Neel happy that his true wife is not present. He is told the trial shouldn’t last more than a couple of weeks.

Down by the river, where Kalua and Deeti have been spending their nights, Deeti recognizes Hukam’s uncle, Bhyro Singh, and overhears a discussion of the events, as well as that the subedar will “pay generously for any help” in finding Deeti and Kalua so they can be brought to justice (220). Knowing they are in danger, they go back on their original plans and sign on as indentured servants, or girmitiyas.

The day before the Ibis is to go to dry dock, Captain Chillingworth and Mr. Crowle come on board to inspect the ship. Mr. Crowle is a large man and walks hunched, “as if in readiness to run head-on into all impediments and obstructions” (222):

Elsewhere, he might well have been a nondescript, unremarkable kind of man, but here, as a sahib amongst a shipload of lascars, he knew himself to be a figure of command, and it was clear, from the start, that he was looking to establish his authority (222).

Spotting Serang Ali taking a midday nap on a particularly hot day, he goes after him. Zachary comes to Ali’s defense, which infuriates Crowle even more, and the two are about to come to blows when Captain Chillingworth puts a stop to it.

Once they’ve departed, Steward Pinto relays his experience with Crowle. Some years prior, Pinto had been serving as a cook on board a ship with his cousin, Miguel. Miguel had accidentally spilled soup on Crowle, who responded by forcing Miguel up the foremast, despite Miguel’s pleas that he couldn’t climb well. Once he heard of his fear of heights, Crowle deliberately made the climb more difficult by taking down the ladders. In the end, Miguel was blown off the ship by the wind. In response, many of the lascars consider leaving the ship; however, Serang Ali points out that if they leave, Zachary will be blamed, and argues that they need to support Zachary, as Zachary supports them. When Jodu is the first to promise to stand by Zachary, he realizes he is no longer looked down upon by the serang.

The vessel transporting the migrants is essentially nothing more than a cargo ship; the hold is filled with migrants, with just a curtain separating the women’s section of the hold from the men’s. To Deeti’s mild relief, the women’s section is much less crowded than the men’s section. She realizes during conversation that she and Kalua will have to go by new names to evade detection; she chooses Aditi, her given name, and says loud enough for Kalua to hear that his name is Madhu: “The significance of a married woman using her own name [is] not lost on the [other women],” who look at her with pity (229). Deeti is unable to think of a good lie as to why she has no children; her silence only evokes a greater outpouring of pity and support. Likewise, when asked of her caste, she realizes she must lie, as “the name of her caste was as intimate a part of herself as the memory of her daughter’s face” (230). She claims to be Chamar, which delights a young woman named Munia, who is of a sister caste, though the other women remind Munia that caste no longer matters now.

Back in Calcutta, Justice Kendalbushe begins sentencing by reminding Neel that until recently forgery was considered to be a capital offense in England, “and if this crime proved difficult to deter in a country such as England, then it is only to be expected that it will be very much more so in a land such as this, which has only recently been opened to the benefits of civilization” (231). The judge proceeds to admonish Neel at length, describing him as a horrendous criminal “whose sole intention is to increase his wealth at the expense of his fellow” (233). He dismisses the numerous petitions for leniency, arguing that it is because of Neel’s station that he should be punished harshly, and sentences Neel to seven years labor on Mauritius, in addition to relinquishing all of his properties and possessions in order to pay his debts (235).

Kalua soon earns the privilege of remaining above deck whenever he pleases due to his strength, and he and the others take pleasure in his announcing the various places they pass. The women, on the other hand, are allowed above deck only for meals. Deeti finds the company of the other women pleasurable—as they were all from slightly different places:

[E]ven the most mundane of discussions could take unexpected twists and turns. It was astonishing, for example, to discover that in making mango-achar, some were accustomed to using fallen fruit while others would use none that were not freshly picked. […] Each woman had always practiced her own method in the belief that none other could possibly exist (236-37).

Initially, the migrants take joy in listening to the changing accents as they move along the river. However, they find that at one point, they cross “an invisible boundary, taking them into a watery, rain-drowned land where the people spoke an incomprehensible tongue [Bengali]” (241). They realize that they are getting closer to the “Black Water,” and rumors about what awaits them begin to spread, leaving them with a sense of dread upon reaching Calcutta: “looking back now, it seemed as if the journey down the Ganga had given the migrants their last taste of life before the onset of a slow and painful death” (242).

On the morning of the dinner party, Paulette is distraught to find red marks on her face; she would normally cancel, but instead takes advantage of Mrs. Burnham’s resources, knowing that Zachary is coming.

Upon arrival, Captain Chillingworth questions Paulette about a row of fan palms she’s planted; he continues asking questions, but Paulette is distracted upon Zachary’s arrival. Kendalbushe—who is devoutly Christian, like the Burnhams—disapproves of her attire, while Doughty notes that she looks particularly nice this evening. Paulette is happy when Doughty is distracted by the dinner table.

At dinner, Paulette turns her attention to Zachary; under cover of a primitive, noisy air-conditioning system, Paulette is able to inquire about Jodu, whom Zachary says is off earning some extra money before returning to the ship to head to Mauritius. Paulette tells Zachary that she, too, would like to sail to Mauritius. Zachary claims that it wouldn’t be possible for a woman to do so; Paulette responds by telling him the story of her grand-aunt, Madame Commerson, who successfully snuck on board a ship by tying her hair up like a man and giving a false name.

When the women retreat post-meal to allow the men to talk, the talk turns to war. Some have heard that China may change its mind, but Chillingworth tells them that the emperor has decided to destroy the opium trade. “No one dislikes war more than I do,” Burnham replies, “[b]ut it cannot be denied that there are times when war is not merely just and necessary, but also humane. In China that time has come” (255). Burnham then shares with them his insider understanding that war is almost certain, which creates excitement around the table.

Kendalbushe mistakes Chillingworth’s quietness for sorrow, which Chillingworth is quick to correct: “I am not sure whose good you mean, theirs or ours? Though why I should include myself in your number I cannot think—heaven knows that very little good has come to me from my doings” (257). After a brief argument, in which Chillingworth claims that war only serves the powerful, Burnham cuts the conversation short and urges them all to retreat to the women in the other room.

Mrs. Doughty, meanwhile, suggests to Paulette that she has certainly done a number on Justice Kendalbushe, who is clearly infatuated with her—a prospect which horrifies Paulette, as Kendalbushe is much older and spends all his time criticizing her and lecturing her about the Bible. When Paulette is able to reconvene with Zachary, she asks him to promise to look after Jodu, and is puzzled by the fact that Zachary still doesn’t think it strange that she could feel so close to him; Zachary is on the verge of adding something more to the conversation, but holds his tongue.