The natural situation of Bengal is singularly happy with respect to security from the attacks of foreign enemies. On the north and east it has no warlike neighbours; and has, moreover, a formidable barrier of mountains, rivers, or extensive wastes, towards those quarters; should such an enemy start up. On the south is a seacoast, guarded by shallows and impenetrable woods, and with only one port (and even that of difficult accefs), in an extent of three hundred miles. It is on the west only, that any enemy is to be apprehended, and even there the natural barrier is strong; and with its population and resources, aided by the usual proportion of British troops,* in addition to the Sepoy establishment, Bengal might bid defiance to all that part of Hindoostan, which might find itself inclined to become its enemy. Even in case of invasions, the country beyond the Ganges would be exempt from the ravages of war, and furnish supplies for the general defence. But, with the whole revenue in our possession, the seat of war will probably be left to our own choice.

The late Nabob of Oude, Sujah Dowlah, pofsefsed, at the time when he first became an ally of the East-India Company, the whole soubah of Oude, and the greatest part of Allahabad; to which, in 1774, were added the eastern parts of Delhi and Agra, till that time possessed by a tribe of Afghan Rohillas, and by the Jats. The zemindary of Benares, which includes also the circars of Gazypour and Chunar, constituted a part of the dominions of

together with the customs, salt, &c. is equal to 4,640,000l. per annum. The subsidies from the Nabobs of Oude, and the Carnatic; and the Rajah of Tanjore, are, of course, not included in this sum. The Company's military establishment in India, in time of peace, is about 10,000 Europeans, and 52,000 regular Sepoy infantry. It appears also, that the sum total of the sales of East-India and China merchandise, imported into this kingdom in one year, has amounted to five millions and a quarter sterling. Considering the magnitude of the sums, in the above statement, one is led to suppose that such an imperium in imperio, as the English East-India Company, never before existed: or, at least, never was created, without much greater afsistance from the collective strength and resources of the state, in which it was comprised, than this Company has ever received.

It may appear paradoxical to some persons, but I am really of opinion that it is pofsible to have too great a proportion of European troops, to Sepoys, in our Indian settle

ments.

q

Oude until the year 1775, when its tribute or quit rent of twentyfour lacks (since increased to forty), was transferred to the English. This zemindary, which was lately in the hands of Cheet Sing, occupies the principal part of the space between Bahar and Oude, so that only a small part of the territory of the latter, touches Bahar on the north-west.

The dominions of Oude lie on both sides of the Ganges, occupying (with the exception of Fizoola Cawn's district of Rampour) all the flat country between that river and the northern mountains, as well as the principal part of that fertile tract lying between the Ganges and Jumnah, known by the name of Dooab,* to within forty miles of the city of Delhi. In short, the British nation, with their allies and tributaries, occupy the whole navigable course of the Ganges, from its entry on the plains, to the sea; which, by its winding course, is more than 1350 British miles.

The dimensions of Oude, and its dependencies, may be reckoned 360 British miles in length from east to west, and in breadth from 150 to 180: and their area is about one-third part of that of the Bengal provinces; being to each other in the proportion of 53 to 162. Generally speaking, the whole territory is one continued plain; and is a continuation of that extensive level valley through which the Ganges, and its branches, take their course. It is, moreover, the central part of the ancient kingdom or empire of the PRASII. The capital city is Lucknow, situated on the river Goomty; and about 650 miles from Calcutta.

The present Nabob of Oude, Azuph Dowlah, succeeded his father, Sujah Dowlah, in 1775. He is in alliance with the British power; and a brigade of the Bengal army is constantly stationed on his western frontier: thereby answering the purposes of covering Oude as well as Bengal; and of keeping the western

Dooab, or Doabah, signifies a tract of land formed by the approximation and junction of two rivers: that formed by the Ganges and Jumnah rivers is called by way of eminence THE DOOAB.

states in awe. It is advanced about 100 miles beyond Lucknow. The whole expence of it is paid by the Nabob of Oude, by a stipulated sum, under the name of a subsidy. [See note, page cxiv.]

The grofs revenues of the dominions of Oude are reckoned to be about two millions and a half sterling: of which the new acquisitions of Rohilcund, Corah, and other parts of the Dooab, are more than one million. The military establishment, including the troops employed in the collection of the revenues, is from 50 to 60 thousand men: but very few indeed of these, deserve the name of regular troops.

Fizoolah Cawn, a Rohilla chief, pofsefses the district of Rampour, situated at the foot of the northern mountains: and although included in Rohilcund, yet this territory was secured to him by the treaty of Loldong, in 1774. It is valued at 30 lacks of rupees* per annum: but he is in effect tributary to Oude, by being bound to furnish his quota towards an establishment for the common defence.

Contiguous to the western bank of the Ganges, and surrounded by the dominions of Oude, is a small district belonging to a chief of the Patan Rohilla tribe. It is generally denominated from its capital town, Furruckabad: and is little more than 30 miles in

extent.

On the south-west side of the Jumnah, and separated from it by a narrow tract of low country, is the territory named Bundela, or Bundelcund, inhabited by a tribe of Rajpoots, but deemed inferior to their brethren of Agimere. Bundelcund is surrounded by the dominions of Oude, Benares, and the Mahrattas: and was formerly subject to a rajah of the name of Hindooput: but is now chiefly divided among his sons, or their descendants. It is a mountainous tract of more than 100 miles square: and contains the

The reader may with ease reduce any sum in rupees, to sterling, by calculating roundly, at the rate of a lack of rupees to ten thousand pounds.

celebrated diamond mines of Panna,* or Purna, together with some strong fortresses; among which, Callinger is the principal. It is subject to the depredations of the Mahrattas: and has of late years been attempted by Madajee Sindia; who, however, could not make himself master of the principal fortrefses; and in consequence abandoned the open country. The ancient limits of Bundelcund were much more extensive than the present; extending much further towards the Nerbuddah river. Chatterpour is reckoned the capital.

The territories of Adjidsing are contiguous to Bundelcund, on the west; to the Mahrattas on the south, and south-west; and to the Benares territory on the east. Their whole extent, including some tributary zemindars on the south-cast, may be about equal to Bundelcund: and, like that, subject to the occasional depredations of the Mahrattas. Rewah, or Rooah, is reckoned the capital; and lies on the great road between Benares and Nagpour. We know but little concerning the geography of the remote parts of this tract: nor are the boundaries well defined. The river Soane flows through it, in its course to the Bahar province.

Shah Aulum, the nominal emperor, or Great Mogul, of whom we have fully spoken in the historical part of this Introduction, is now a mere pensioner in the hands of Madajee Sindia: who, notwithstanding, appoints him a residence at Delhi.

The Jats, Jates, or Jetes, were a tribe of Hindoos, who long since the death of Aurungzebe, erected a state in the provinces of Agra and Delhi. They at last fixed their capital at the city of Agra; and appear to have possessed a tract of country, along both sides of the Jumnah river, from the neighbourhood of Gwalior, to that of Delhi; in length about 160 miles, and 50 broad. Col. Dow, in 1770, estimated their revenue (perhaps extravagantly) at 200 lacks of rupees; and their force at 60 or 70,000 men. This

* Ptolemy's Panassa, seems to be meant for Panna.

nation is traced by P. Wendell from the countries lying between the SE confines of Moultan and Gohud. It is certain that Tamerlane made war on a people called the Getes, in his march from Batnir to Samanah. Nudjuff Cawn, about 14 years ago, dispossefsed the Jats of all their country, save the very confined territory of Bhartpour. Madajee Sindia has, in turn, stripped Nudjuff Cawn's successors of these conquests; which are now scarcely worth possessing, although 20 or 21 years ago, under Soorage Mull, they ranked amongst the most flourishing provinces of Hindoostan. It will be perceived that the Jats no longer exist, as a nation: all that remains to Runjet Sing, the son of Soorage Mull, being the fort of Bhartpour, or Burratpour, situated about 45 miles on the west of Agra, with a small territory of 4 or 5 lacks of rupees. The Rajah of Gohud is of the Jat tribe, but unconnected with Runjet Sing.

The late Nudjuff Cawn, whom we have just mentioned, is an instance, among others, of the very sudden rise and fall of the modern states of Hindoostan. From the condition of a minor jaghiredar, and the commander in chief of the imperial army, after the return of the present Mogul, to Delhi, in 1771; he became, in the course of 7 or 8 years, the possessor of a domain, yielding 150 lacks of rupees annually; and kept up an establishment of 80,000 troops of all denominations; in which were included 23 regular battalions of Sepoys. His conquests were on the Jats, the Rajah of Jyenagur, and the Rajah of Macherry (which last had reduced a considerable part of the Mewat); and in 1774, he became possessed of the city of Agra. No vestige of this greatness has remained for several years past. His empire, in a manner, died with him and Madajee Sindia possesses most of it at this time. This brings us to the subject of MEWAT, which is the hilly and woody tract lying on the SW of Delhi, and on the west of Agra; confining the low country along the western side of the Jumnah river, to a (comparatively) narrow slip, and extending westwards,