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William Dupris · 20 min read · SUMMER ISSUE 25

A Bristish Colonial Soldier looking into a wooden crate

 »These ... are French.«

A British Colonial Soldier letting gun powder run through his fingers

 »Le Cheval.«

The Wheels of the Godavari

A paddle steamer leaving a red trace

Adelais felt being on the ship was a blessing, despite the sulfur stench below deck. At last, she would join her husband.

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When she’d voiced concerns about this marriage, her father had laughed, “All marriages are arranged if you include destiny.”

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Her father, that industrial magnate, who built his fortune in the colonies, believed her husband—once a pauper, now head bookkeeper—would one day take over the business.

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To truly make her marriage destiny, she’d follow her husband to that wretched outpost, embracing the hardship as her sacrifice for love.​

In three days, her new life would begin.

A young woman in a yellow dress on board a paddle steamer
A golden locket with the image of a young man drawn inside
A penal colony in India in 1860
The French flag flying over the jungle.

*The Penal Outpost of Nouveau Feu.

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A palm tree
A well dressed man listening to a kneeling man in lumps
A well dressed man denying a kneeling man in lumps
A well dressed man denying a kneeling man in lumps
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A well dressed man listening to a kneeling man in lumps
A young Indian man with a gun around his neck waving
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A well dressed man walking away from a kneeling man in lumps
A well dressed man walking away from a kneeling man in lumps
A well dressed man running away from a kneeling man in lumps
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From left to right: two french colonial soldiers, a well dressed french man, prisoners , a boatswain
A transport list of a colonial transport
An Indian river at sunset
A background of yellow paper
Two french colonial soldiers
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A background of yellow paper
Two french colonial soldiers
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A background of yellow paper
Two french colonial soldiers
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A background of yellow paper
Two french colonial soldiers
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A well dressed man arguing at two french colonial soldiers
A well dressed man being angry with a young boatswain
A well dressed man being angry with a face-palming boatswain
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A background of thick black brushstrokes

I shouldn't be the one to tell you this.

 

We left Pondichéry 3 days ago. All as planned. But then ...​

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 We tried to stop them.

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  We really did.

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   But they would not listen ...​

The inner life of a young Indian man shown by a projection on his head
A well dressed french man leading prisoners through the jungle.
A well dressed man being angry with a young boatswain
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A young french man massaging his temples
A well dressed french man leading prisoners through the channel
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A black swirl
A French commandant in the mouth of a tiger.
A well dressed french man leading prisoners through the channel
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An Indian prisoner looking up in awe
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The upper body of a prisoner
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The feet of a prisoner
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Glases
A powder mill at sundown
A masked man holding a shield "Next page"
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