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544

compelled a large number of tlie smaller zamindars at the south of the district to execute deeds of sale of their villages in liquidation of fictitious arrears of revenue, but the transaction, distinctly forbidden in the royal revenue code, was never recognised as valid by other nawabi officials, and the nominal purchaser lost all connection with the villages so transferred when he lost his nizamat. It is unnecessary to give a list of the various officers who, since the establishment of the Oudh kingdom, presided over the collections of the district. They were changed as frequently as our deputy commissioners are, and exercised as little influence over the future of the country in their charge ; but there are one or two who deserve mention.

Especially execrated is the memory of Khwaja Afn-ud-din, who held the post of nazim from 1784 to 1786 A.D., and aggravated by his exactions and tyranny the terrible results of the great famine. Mercy and firmness were required to repair the mischief of his misrule, and they were found in the person of Nirmal Das, a near relative of Maharaja Tikait Rae, who was nazim for three years till 1796 A.D. He showed himself a considerate and wise landlord, letting land to any one who would cultivate it at almost nominal rents, and within the period of his rule the revenue was more than restored to its previous height.

Rae Amar

Kayath of Bahraich, managed the district with ability from 1812 to 1817, and is remembered for his tragic On an occasion when he visited Lucknow he had end. high words with Mirza Hakim Mehndi, who, referring to his caste,' said that he could make a hundred patw^ris as good as him. Rae Amar Singh, with an allusion to the hakim's antecedents, retorted that he kept in his The offence was treasured up, service a hundred barbers as good as him. and the hakim sent two athletes to tear out the insolent tongue by the roots. They got into his tent by night, and bound theJiazim to his bed by cords; but while they were endeavouring to extract his tongue, he snapped his jaws together with sufficient force to bite off one of their fingers. Eventually they strangled him but were unable to undo the set clench of his teeth, and left the finger in his mouth, to testify against them when the murder was enquired into. Tragic end Amar Singh.

Singh, a

of

Kae



The event is recorded

in the following doggerel lines



Amar Singh tumhare amal bin Bala ka sun nagaria. Chhati par baithe, ghegha dabae, munh men niksi anguria."

" Rae

"

Rae Amar Singh, without thy

rule sad

is

the city of the saint (Bah-

raich).

"

They

sat

on his chest and squeezed his throat



the finger came off in

his mouth."

Nawab

Saif-ud-daula held the office for twelve years, from 1820 to 1828 to 1836. He was first in charge of the separate muhdl of Gonda, when it was withdrawn from the begam's jagir, and subsequently nazim of the joint muhdl of Gonda-Bahraich, He also is remembered with gratitude for his moderation and care for the welfare of his people. It is said that he used to collect all his malguzars, inform them of the amount

and from 1832