Chapter 2

July 1870

I have been pondering lately on the nature of debauchery. That which, a few scant months ago, I would have considered base and despicable behaviour I now find commonplace. I seem to have lost the power to shock myself in any way. My life has become one long hedonistic pursuit of new sensations. When one act begins to pall, I must find another to stimulate my jaded senses. With a stable of sixty beauties to choose from one would think it is a relatively simple matter. Each of the girls has her own preference and some display a degree of skill and dexterity that is truly amazing, yet even this is no longer enough to move me. I have had them singly, in pairs or as many as six at a time. I have held orgies that would rival Tiberius Caesar. There seems to be no end to Cat's inventiveness in arranging these soirees and yet and yet...

I now believe that the appetite may indeed be surfeited; acts that once thrilled leave only a feeling of emptiness. Sinuous hips and swelling bosoms no longer move me as they once did. Cat suggests I should try one of the late Nizzam's catamites but that thought still disgusts me; what profit would be there in a counterfeit woman? I find myself spending more time in the company of Baljit. She is really the most intelligent young thing and her mastery of English increases every day, as does her physical maturity. As far as I can establish, she is now about fourteen or fifteen. The enjoyment of regular meals has caused her to grow quite a bit taller and although she still displays a charming childish quality at times, there is no doubt that she will be something of a beauty. She is utterly devoted to me and I am frequently aware of her large brown eyes upon me as I sit at my desk ordering the affairs of the day.

One cause of increasing frustration to me is my inability to modernise the organs of State here in Nambhustan. Any attempt at reform is furiously resisted on the grounds that it will offend one faction or another or runs contrary to established tradition. My only success has been in the abolition of certain taxes that were applied only to the Hindoos. This did not find favour with the Musselmen at Court but my word is law. Far too much of the administration of the country is in the hands of the clerics of both persuasions. Education and Law are both the province of either the Brahmins or the Imams. Perhaps my being the son of a clergyman prejudices me against men of religion. All I do know is that numerous taboos and religious laws have a crippling effect on the poorer sort, yet they accept the strictures with great equanimity. It seems to me that the very idea of getting one's reward in the afterlife was invented by those who have most in the here-and-now. The have-nots, of course, are conveniently kept at bay with promises for the hereafter.

I have discussed this with Baljit. After all, she is one of those of the untouchable caste who most epitomise the great divide. The Hindoos, of course, believe in reincarnation, so her view is that the poor are encouraged to conform in the unshakeable belief that they will return to this earth in a higher degree. This can only be achieved if they live blameless lives, so, rather than jeopardise their chance of being first at the feeding trough, they accept their current lot as being only a passing phase. This does much to explain their fatalism. I count this as being even more cunning than the other religions that promise heavenly delights - largely unspecified. At least these people can see how the superior sort live and the contrasts could not be more stark. As the one who sits at the top of this particular pyramid, I can afford to have my doubts.

September 1870

On the advice of my wily and extremely crooked Prime Minister, I am undertaking a Royal Progress throughout the whole of Nambhustan. I agreed to the idea initially because I was simply bored but, since we started, some two weeks past, I have found my enthusiasm growing. One thing that has become apparent is that such maps that do exist of the country are highly fanciful and monstrously inaccurate. Neither is there any true census of the people. This a situation that must be rectified and, accordingly, I have sent for a team of German engineers to begin a scientific survey. This will be a lengthy project as, even from the little I have seen of the interior, it is quite apparent that large tracts are impenetrable jungle with few roads worthy of the name anywhere. I am determined to rectify this and my Germans will be given the additional task of planning a proper system of communication. Who knows? I might even commission a railway up to Dimburrah. It would be good to leave lasting impression of my enlightened rule on this backward land.

Of course, one of the objectives of former Royal Progresses was the recruitment of suitable nubile virgins for the Royal Harem. I have decided that my stable will be kept at sixty, so, before leaving, I discharged some fifteen of the girls to make room for the new recruits. This caused some consternation among those selected and there was much wailing that was only assuaged by the provision of handsome dowries. I made it clear that they were free to do as they choose and, suitably enriched, they departed in good spirits. The only exception was the large-breasted Persian girl, who was inconsolable. It appears she has fallen in love with the little Annamese girl so I had to allow the lovers to leave together, thus resulting in sixteen vacancies. It will require the judgement of a Solomon to make the choices for, everywhere we stop, we are presented with the most alluring maidens that the locality has to offer.

I cannot make the natives understand that I wish to keep the numbers down. The old Nizzam just kept adding to his harem until it reached ridiculous proportions. I also reject all those offered who are not yet of age, or more accurately, appear to be so, for many of these people have no true idea of how old they are. My companions on the Progress are Cat, the Singhalese girl and, inevitably, Baljit. We struggle to cover much more than eight or ten miles per day, as, at each halt, my enormous pavilion must be erected along with smaller affairs for the courtiers. All this tentage is carried on elephant back and there is a train of bullock carts bringing the servants, kitchens and assorted dunnage. We are escorted by six hundred Lancers and two companies of foot, which act as camp guards. Setting up and striking camp occupies at least four hours each day. It is a singularly unsatisfactory and frustrating way to travel.

To give a flavour of the Progress, I will describe a typical 'durbar' - the local name for a Royal Audience. We arrive at appointed place in mid afternoon and the pavilions are set up. Before my own pavilion is a large open space upon which is set a dais overtopped by an elaborate canopy. My 'throne' is then placed upon this platform and the local populace assemble. Courtiers and guards flank the dais and I make my Royal Entrance last. All then fall on their faces before me. I give a regal wave and they kneel up. The various local headmen then present any petitions and I dispense my judgements. This takes but a few lines to tell but is an inordinately long-winded affair, as each has first to offer a paean of praise to the monarch and then state his genealogy for sixty or seventy generations before coming to the heart of the matter. Gifts must be exchanged and honours conferred and all manner of rituals observed.

After this comes the feast, which takes another three hours or so. It is therefore nearly midnight before we come to the judging of the virgins. A number of young girls - anything between a dozen and thirty, depending on the size of the district - are presented for my consideration. Protocol demands that I must choose one from each district; to reject all would be considered a royal humiliation. How does one choose? The simple answer is 'with great difficulty.' Prior to my experiences in Nambhustan, I would have said that, in common with most men, I preferred a particular type of woman. If pressed I would express a fancy for the more slender type, the athletic variety of blonde English Rose. Of course, there was none of that stamp available to me and, in any event, I have learnt to find beauty in a variety of guises. I will confess that I am somewhat put off by thick ankles and stocky legs, so those possessing these attributes were swiftly weeded out.

Thereafter, I became capricious in my choices. Those possessed of crooked teeth, I rejected out of hand. Similarly, any displaying an incipient moustache - a not uncommon phenomenon in these climes - were also dismissed. But then, I would decide that today I wished for a short girl or one with pointed conical breasts whereas yesterday, my preference might have been for a taller maid with a rounded bosom. In short, what ever I chose one day, I would choose differently the next so that my sole object became simple variety. Having selected those that fit the day's criteria, I then allow Cat to make the final selection. She accomplished this task by approaching each candidate in turn and forcing on them a most passionate embrace. Those who responded with a will were then selected. It amused me to think that Cat is actually auditioning for her own benefit rather than mine, although she does assure me that she seeks only to establish whether the girl is possessed of a passionate nature.

Baljit watches each performance with disdain writ large on her grave features. I believe she is aware of my growing ennui but says nothing. She has involved herself in the process only once and that was to veto one of Cat's choices. Baljit hissed something at the girl in question and the poor creature fled. I took her to task but she simply shot me a penetrating glance and asked if I was aware that the 'girl' was in fact a castrato - a young eunuch impersonating a female. I was extremely angry that such a deception could be attempted and declared that no candidate would be selected from that district, now, or in the future. This puzzled the locals greatly as the previous Nizzam had been much given to selecting such creatures. It may have been an honest mistake but one I could not countenance. Damn it all, I'm still British!

October 1870

After two months of toil and travel, the end is at last in sight. I cannot begin to describe how weary I am of the whole damned thing. One place blurs into another and the petitions seem more like repetitions. To add to my misery, the monsoon has broken and our progress is hampered by washed-out bridges and cloying mud. When it rains in India, it doesn't do so by half measures. One can smell it coming - a sort of freshness in the air. Then the distant hills are obliterated by a curtain of water and the horizon appears to rush towards one as the deluge approaches. Finally, one hears a rushing sound as the raindrops beat upon the foliage. Sometimes this is accompanied by the celestial pyrotechnics of a great thunderstorm and the sky is riven with forked lightning. The clouds are as black as Hades and all the water they accumulated over the Bay of Bengal is dashed upon the sodden earth. Raindrops hit the stony roads and bounce back to knee height; I can tell you, they really sting if they strike exposed flesh. After this initial onslaught, the clouds seem to settle down and weep steadily for hours. Rivers become muddy brown torrents and the plains become inundated with floodwater. Indeed, a monsoon storm is a singular experience.

We should be back in Nambhupore within the week, weather permitting. Thus far I have 'collected' some fifteen virgins to replace the sixteen girls I released. As there are no more durbars planned, that will have to do. Cat is already planning the 'grand defloration' - it appears as if she wishes me to take on all fifteen at one sitting, as it were. Well, as I previously accomplished the feat of rogering fifty-eight at one go, it holds no particular terrors for me and might actually be good sport. The girls all have to undergo a period of instruction before the great event so I think it might be a good way to celebrate Christmas!

(Editor's Note: The man is an absolute Bounder! To even consider desecrating a solemn Christian Festival with this type of sordid bacchanalia leaves one quite speechless. Is there no depth to which he will not sink?)

November 1870

My German engineers have arrived and a very odd lot they are too. The man in charge is a funny little fellow with thick spectacles that appear to have been made out of the bottom of beer bottles. He speaks little English and goes about the place muttering "Ach, so!" Two of his companions, whom I have named Tweedledum and Tweedledee, are both stout gentlemen of jolly disposition who chatter like magpies in a rapid patois of English, German and Hindi to any poor soul who has the misfortune to encounter them. This causes great consternation among the locals, as they can barely understand one word in twenty uttered. The fourth member of the party is a young Adonis of over six feet in height- all blonde curls and chiselled features - whose name is Albrecht. He speaks almost accentless English and is followed everywhere by a crowd of admiring children. I must say he puts up with this with great equanimity and, indeed, goes out of his way to explain to them, in halting but serviceable Hindi, the use of the various instruments that seem to be his particular province.

They have brought with them an almost unlimited supply of Pilsner beer and I was extremely grateful for the half-dozen cases they presented to me, my supplies of Alsopp's being almost exhausted. The girls, too, are much taken with young Albrecht and judging by the astonished glances he shoots their way, he is reciprocates their admiration. I believe Cat has some devilish entertainment planned for the unfortunate young man. Baljit, on the other hand, expresses a hearty dislike of him and opines that he is too much in love with himself and makes too free with his hands when he believes no one is watching. I put this down to her tender years and innocence. The older girls have no such inhibitions although I sometimes wonder how they would behave if they had true free will in the matter. They have been conditioned over many years to provide physical pleasure and it may be that this conditioning overrides their natural preferences. I will confess to finding this somewhat of a puzzle. Left to their own devices, and in the absence of a man, they diddle themselves or one another quite happily. There is a secret room behind the main body of the seraglio and I have spent many happy hours with Cat, watching the girls 'at play.' It is from here that I have also observed the nature of the training given to our latest virginal recruits. I must declare that I have found the process fascinating.

There are three of the older girls who have been charged with overseeing the training though all but a handful of the rest also do their part. The first stage was to prepare the newcomers for their future existence. Most of the maidens led ordinary lives up until they were chosen for the King's Harem, so the initial phase is designed to drive out any inhibitions they may have. Thus, since their arrival, they have been required to go about the seraglio entirely naked without even the questionable modesty afforded by the gossamer pyjamas. They have been forced to submit to all manner of intimate caresses from the other girls. Any maiden who objects is severely disciplined and I was privy to one such episode. One of the newcomers exhibited a marked reluctance when fondled by the other girls and sought to cover herself with her hands whenever a girl attempted to touch her. The three senior girls tried to explain that was not permitted but the wretched virgin persisted. It was therefore decreed that she must undergo punishment. The senior girls approached me and requested that the said punishment should be administered before the entire Court. I demurred but agreed that, instead, I would witness the necessary correction. My only stipulation was that the girl should not be damaged in any way.

So it was that Cat and I found ourselves lounging on a comfortable divan while all the harem girls assembled to witness proceedings. I ran an appreciative eye over the naked new additions and took a little time to examine their yonis, in case a new variety could be discovered. I was not disappointed. All had now had their fleeces removed so were quite open to my study. The removal of the thatch is quite something to witness in its own right. The preferred method is to apply an extremely sticky mixture of honey, herbs and some kind of native tree gum. This is allowed to solidify and is then most brutally ripped away, taking every last vestige of maidenhair with it. As you may imagine, the process is not without some pain for the victim although Cat assures me that the resulting re-growth diminishes each time the process is repeated. Thus it is that I am able to study the yonis of all the girls with a wholly unobstructed view.

The one new variation that caught my eye belonged to a tall, willowy maid with a long waist and narrow hips. Her breasts were tiny but perfectly formed with dark chocolate nipples in contrast to her pale skin. I seem to recall we chose her up near the northern frontier where the natives are of a much lighter hue, presumably through intermarriage with the hill tribes. However, if she was otherwise quite a beauty, her yoni drew me like a magnet. She has the most pronounced mound I have ever seen. It rises from her lower belly in a perfect, smooth, swelling curve. The outer petals are so plump and round that nothing at all can be seen of the treasures within. I had to convince myself that she was not another castrato foisted upon me so I bade her approach a little closer and separated her outer lips with my fingers. You may imagine my delight when I discovered, hiding within, the largest little jewel I have ever seen. It was fully the length of the top joint of my thumb and it reared from within its protective hood like a cobra. Of course, I just had to taste this veritable gem and was able to draw the entire button into my mouth and lash it with my tongue. Had it not been for Cat's strict intervention, I would have had the girl then and there. As it was, Cat shuffled herself onto my lap and took my rampant member into her own yoni and thus we sat to witness the punishment of the recalcitrant virgin.

She was led forth by the senior girls and was already in a proper state of agitation, wailing and pleading and generally carrying on. The other girls brought her up to a kind of table and fastened her, spread-eagled and face up, by wrists and ankles. The lass's legs were spread so wide I could see the tendons of her inner thighs and her yoni was open like an orchid in bloom. Of course, the little jewel was nowhere in sight as she was in a state of abject terror. The three teachers then stood back and each took a fine, leather-covered wand from a waiting attendant. These looked like nothing so much as very long riding-crops. At a sign from one of the teachers, another girl stepped forward and tied a blindfold over the victim's eyes. The teachers then began to circle the table. They moved like prowling tigers stalking an unsuspecting waterbuck. The other girls crowded in closer and, at another sign from the senior girls, began to kiss and stroke and lick every part of the exposed flesh. The maiden shuddered and uttered a low keening sound. Despite herself, she was becoming decidedly aroused. This was evident from the slow emergence of her shining jewel from within its hiding place.

Suddenly, shockingly a crop slashed down, striking the girl's distended nipple and eliciting a shriek of pain. Instantly, the tortured nubbin was engulfed by a willing mouth and the girl's sobs eased as the gentle sucking soothed her. No sooner had she recovered than another blow was struck. This time it was delivered to the very top of the inside of her thigh, missing her now engorged yoni by a finger's width. The girl's screams hit new heights but yet again, the injured area was bathed in kisses and more than one surreptitious lick was directed at her yoni in the process. Thwack! The other nipple this time and then more soft ministrations. Crack! Across the belly. Smack! The underside of the breasts. So it continued with the distraught girl abused and soothed by turns. Most surprisingly of all, she was obviously become very aroused and the assembled women played on this. The teachers administered the intermittent stinging strokes of the crop while the others nibbled, licked, stroked and sucked.

Needless to say, I found the spectacle highly arousing and with my member buried deep in Cat's rippling yoni, I was having a high old time. Somewhat to my consternation, I felt feelings of deep-seated aggression and yearned to leap forward and wield one of the crops for myself. The girl was now in the final throws of her punishment. It was clear from the way her hips were jerking that she was approaching an enforced climax. Just as she was striving towards her peak, everyone stepped back and the three teachers lashed out in quick succession. Each blow, with barely a heartbeat between, landed squarely on the girl's throbbing jewel. The sensation must have been intense in the extreme for she barely uttered a sound but writhed furiously before passing out momentarily. This was too much for me. I shoved Cat roughly off my lap and strode towards the helpless victim. I loosed her ankles and raised her hips, butting the tip of my lingam against her nether orifice. Cat saw what I was about instantly and called sharply for scented oil. One of the teachers hurried up with a small flask and proceeded to work the oil into the girl's fundament with first one and then two fingers. She slathered me in the stuff and I pushed hard against the tight, rubbery muscles.

The girl regained consciousness just as I forced the tip of my member into her and her eyes grew wide and she shook her head from side to side. I am now much used to this particular style of fucking so I took my time and allowed her to accommodate my probing lingam. I rocked my hips back and forth, moving in and out by an inch or two at a time. Cat reached down and began to stroke the girl's yoni with silken fingertips. Her face was contorted with the pain of my intrusion into her virgin arse but it slowly began to open to me and I pushed another inch inside her. This time I maintained the pressure and was able to slide in the whole length until my balls bounced on her spread buttocks. I lost any pretence of further self self-control shortly thereafter and began to buck and pump into that tight tunnel for all I was worth. Other hands now squeezed her breasts or agitated her swollen nipples and Cat's finger was a blur on her love-button.