Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/287

Book VIII. at Allahabad; and with those reports, arrived in the camp the Morratoe Subut, who, instead of proceeding directly to his government of Orixa, came from Nagore with a commission from Jonagee and Balagerow, to demand the arrears of chout due to the Morratoe nations from the province of Bengal, which amounted to 24 lacks of rupees. The vicinity of an army of Morratoes at this time in the Doab, not only protected Subut from indignity, but obliged Meer Jaffier to suppress any manifestation of his former suspicions of the union between him and Roydoolub; and the same dread rendered the English as necessary to him as when he took the field at Muxadavad; and on the 23d, he performed the ceremony of disposing of the government of Patna, sitting in full Durbar, attended by all his courtiers. A suit of dress with jewels on a golden plate was laid before him, which he ordered to be carried away immediately with an escort to his son Meerum at Muxadavad, whom he called Nabob of Patna. Then another suit of the same presents, which he gave with his own hand to Ramnarain, pronouncing him deputy to Meerum in the Nabobship. The appointment of Meerum was merely nominal, not derogating from the authority of Ramnarain, which continued responsible to the Nabob alone, but rendering him liable to some additional presents; and the bargain for Rammarain's appointment had been settled at seven lacks of Rupees, which were exacted under the pretext of a balance remaining due on the adjustment of the accounts of the province. Other sums, unknown, but supposed not inconsiderable, were likewise collected by the Nabob; for the chiefs of all the districts, as well Moors as Indians, were summoned, as usual in such visitations, to pay homage, and none came empty-handed; and those against whom were any real or fictitious causes of complaint, were severely fined. Of these Comgar Cawn and Sundersing, two petty rajahs in that part of the mountains which lie between the province of Behar and the district of Berboin in Bengal, had been fighting for three months, and only laid down their arms on the approach of the Nabob. Both were summoned to attend the Durbar. Comgar Cawn, who was most in fault, evaded; and Sundersing would not come until he received