Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/34

28 For the elder was calm, supple, wily, provident, but void of natural courage: the younger, stern, active, intrepid, sagacious, but too high-minded to submit to the compliances necessary in an Asiatic court. Conviction of the assistance which each might derive from the qualities of the other, cemented them as much as the relation of blood, in the most inviolable friendship. This powerful and uncommon union seemed to command fortune; for in a few years they raised themselves to the highest offices in Sujah's court and army; Hodgee Hamed becoming his prime minister, and Allaverdy the general of his troops. The Nabob Jaffier foresaw and dreaded the consequences of their influence: but the infirmities of old age had rendered him incapable of taking the vigorous resolutions necessary to extricate his successor from the toils into which he had been led; and in 1725 Jaffier died, to the great joy of the province; but of none more than the two brothers, to whose ambition his death opened more extensive prospects. They accompanied Sujah to Muxadavad, and partook of the increase of his power, administering the same employments in the general government of the Subehship, as they had held in the province of Orixa. In 1729 Sujah appointed Allaverdy to govern Behar, in which station he had frequent opportunities of exerting his military talents, as well as his political abilities; being constantly in arms against the Indian chiefs on both sides the Ganges, who had never been reduced to a settled dependance on the Moorish government. However, after many fights, intrigues, and assassinations, all submitted, and afterwards continued in obedience to Allaverdy; who now feeling his strength, gave scope to his ambition, which, as usual, obliterated every sentiment of gratitude to the creator of his fortunes.

In the mean time Hodgee maintained his influence over the Nabob by an obsequiousness which prevented all suspicions, and remitted large sums to his brother, which were sent to Delhi, and in 1736 procured a commission from thence appointing Allaverdy, Nabob of Behar, free from any dependance on the government of Bengal: but as there was no immediate occasion to proclaim this title, of which he already