Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/33

Book VI, the Ganges, 130 miles to the west of Tacriagully. There are many manufactures in this province, although nothing near so many as in Bengal, to which it is likewise much inferior in fertility; but it produces a great quantity of saltpetre, and of the best opium in India.

ORIXA is the most northern country on the east side of the promontory of Indostan. The river Pipley coming from the N.W. disembogues, as we have said, in the latitude of 22. 25, opposite to the island of Sagore. The channel of this river, for 40 miles from its mouth, and an imaginary line 20 miles farther to the west, to the foot of the Nelligreen hills, before they curve to the east behind Ballasore, divide Orixa from Bengal. Southward it extends along the sea coast to the latitude of 20. 10. within six miles of Gangam which terminates the province of CHICACOLE in the Decan. To the westward Orixa is separated from the province of BEHAR by a vast tract of mountains hitherto unexplored. The interior of the province is the strongest and best soil in the empire; but from the want of good sea-ports, there are few manufactures, and very little circulation of gold and silver, in the country. Catteck, the capital, is situated in the latitude of 21. 23. and fifty miles from the sea. Jaffier had no sons, but before his arrival in Bengal had given his only daughter in marriage to Sujah Khan, a lord of distinction, who accompanied him into the province. Of this marriage were born two sons, both of whom were arrived at man's estate, when the commission appointing their father Sujah to succeed Jaffier was sent from Delhi. Sujah, although humane, was indolent and voluptuous, and his father in law, being desirous to break him to business, sent him soon after the patents were received, to govern the province of Orixa.

A few months after his arrival at Catteck, two brothers, natives of Tartary, came to his court with strong recommendations from Delhi, in compliance with which Sujah received them into his service: appointing the elder, Hodgee Hamed, to attend his person as a domestic, and the other, Allaverdy, to command a troop of horse. They were both employed according to their talents.