Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/55

Book VI. his life, they augmented their forces and the number of their dependants. In this state of mutual suspicion the two parties remained, until the beginning of the year 1756, when both Nowagis and Sid Hamed died of fevers, without poison.

Their deaths dissolved indeed the union of their houses; but, nevertheless, did not leave Surajah Dowlah without powerful competitors: Nowagis left great treasures; and his widow, the daughter of Allaverdy, as the only means of preserving them, determined to dispute the succession. Her sex excluded her from the government, to which otherwise she was the natural heir, as the only child of Allaverdy. And the younger brother of Surajah Dowlah, who had been adopted by her husband, was dead; but although a stripling, had left a son, who was about two years old; and this infant she determined to hold out to the province as the competitor of Surajah Dowlah. At the same time, the son of Sid Hamed, who governed the country of Purneah, relying on the general detestation which was entertained against Surajah Dowlah, levied forces, and determined to oppose his accession.

A Gentoo, named Rajah-bullub, had succeeded Hossein Cooley Khan in the post of Duan or prime-minister to Nowagis; after whose death his influence continued with the widow, with whom he was supposed to be more intimate than became either her rank, or his religion; but, doubtful of the event of the impending contest, he determined to place is family and treasures out of the reach of danger; and not deeming them in safety at Dacca, where they had remained for some time, he ordered his son Kissendass to remove them from that city, under pretence of going a pilgrimage to the Pagoda of Jagernaut, on the coast of Orixa. Accordingly, Kissendass left Dacca with several loaded boats: but, instead of going through the channels at the bottom of the Delta, proceeded along the great Ganges to the Jelingeer river, through which he entered the river of Hughley; when his father at Muxadavad requested Mr. Watts, the English chief at Cossimbuzar, to obtain permission of the presidency of Calcutta, that Kissendass with his family might, if they found it necessary, rest for some days in the town,