Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/688

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lILSTOliY OF INDIA.

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A.D. 1758. The Company's affairs were certainly in a critical state, and required aU

Olive's wisdom and energy. The successes of the French on the Coroniandel

viHitof coast could not ]je concealed from the naljob, and the natural consequence

Meor Jaffier.

to Calcutta, was to make him hopeful that he miglit yet be arjle to carrj' out all his favourite schemes, though it should be in defiance of Clive and the Company. The British troops in Bengal had also suffered a serious diminution Ijy the expedition to the Northern Circars. In these circum.stances, Clive felt it neces- sary to slacken the rein which he had hitherto held on the nabob's move- ments, and overlook many things which, at a more favourable time, he would have peremptorily interdicted. As an additional means of conciliating his good- will, he invited him to Calcutta. His own instalment as governor fuiiii.shed an appropriate occasion; and Meer Jaffier, with all his train, descending the

Feal Chaeba, or Elephant's-head State-boat lO) ; Moor Puskee, or Peacocks-head Pleasiire-boat (6). '

Flora 8olvyii, Le« U'.ndous.

Hooglily in a splendid fleet of boats, was entertained for several days with pomp and festivity. intrigiie.s at xhc mere love of pleasure, thousrli always stronor in Meer Jaffier, was not his

Moorsheda- _ ... .

bad in his oiily inducement to pay this visit. He deemed it prudent to be absent from his capital dming certain changes which he was most anxious to accomplish, but the responsibility of which he was unwilling to incur. Roydullub had been maintained in his place as dewan, contrary to liis avowed determination to eject him. Meerun had suggested a means of getting rid of him, and the father, well aware of the savage nature of his son, left him to accomplish bis object in his own way. In this he obtained important aid from Nuncomar, a Hindoo, who.

' Feal Charra means Elephant's Head, and takes its name from the prow. The one represented was 50 feet long by 4 feet wide; some old Hindoos say they have been made lOl) feet long by 6 feet wide. They have oars and sails, and are richly ornamented ■within and without, and move with a number of oars. The master or most distinguished person is seated before the rowers. The feal charras are very scarce; rajahs and rich people only use them.

Moor Punkee means Peacock's Head. The rowers use paddles, and sit with their faces to the prow. The prince or leading persoQ smokes his hookah under a particular canopy in front, and the grandees and ser- vants of his retinue sit under another. At the head of the rowers is a jemidar, who regulates the measure like the leader of an orchestra ; little bells are fastened to the paddles. The maaee or pilot has a long oar with which to steer. — Solvyn, Les Hindous.