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 Chap. XII.]

DISTURBED STATE OF BENGAL.

647

These revolts, both headed by Hindoos, and presumed to liave been insti- gated by RoyduUub, drove Meer Jatiier from his course of dissimuhition, and made him avow his determination to treat Roydullub as a rebel. A kind of open hostilities were accordingly declared ; and the dewan, while still continuing- to hold his office, not only refused to visit the nabob, but assembled a force of 1000 men to set him at defiance. Through the influence of Clive an apparent recon- ciliation was effected, and an interview took place, at which the nabob and his dewan swore "oblivion of former distrusts and future friendship." Nothing could be more false and hollow ; and Roydullub, while he evinced suspicion b}- keeping his house under pretence of sickness, gave a decided proof of hostility by refusing to allow the troops under his own control to take part in the expe- dition to Purneah.

While peace was tiius maintained with difficulty in the very centre of Ben- gal, the frontiers were assuming a threatening aspect. In Dacca a conspiracy to seize the fort was headed by Ammanee Khan, a son of Serferaz Khan, the

AD. 1757.

MeerJaffier'.s quaiTelwith HoyiluUuli.

Conspiracy ofAuinianet" Khan.

Dacca, the Cuouk and lIu*ji:iNi.i: Uh.aitn.' — From Sir C. UOyley's Antinuities of Dacci.

nabob who preceded Ali Verdy ; and though prematurely discovered, was not put down without the aid of troops furnished by the Company. In the opposite direction, in Behar, a formidable rebellion seemed so imminent that Clive left Calcutta and put himself at the head of his troops to marcli directly for Patna. The rumour which prevailed was that Ramnarain, to whom a strong suspicion of disaffection still attached, had formed an alliance with Sujaii Dowlah, the Nabob of Oude, and that they were preparing to unite their forces with the view of marching into Bengal. Another rumom* was, that the elevation of Meer Jaffier to the musnud was disapproved at Delhi, and that an intrigue was

' The chouk is very ancient, situated in the part sweets, and toj-s are e.xposeJ for sale in it. The of the city known as the Old Nekaus; it is a square mosque was built in 1C76. — Sir C. D'Oyley's AtUi- of about 200 yards in extent; and fruit, vegetables, quUics of Dacca.