Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057345).pdf/370

 362 LUC The splendour of the Lucknow court during the reign of Asif-ud-daula far exceeded anything known then before or since. The province was then at its utmost magnitude. Unlike his father, 'who was an ambitious soldier, this Nawab devoted all the wealth of the state to gratify his per- sonal taste, and to the accumulation of all the materials of oriental pomp. No court in India or Europe could rival him at that time; his only ambition apparently was to discover how many elephants the Nizam or Tippoo of Seringapatam possessed, how valuable were their diamonds, and to surpass them At the marriage of his reputed son, Wazir Ali Khan, the furious youth who four years afterwards murdered Mr. Cherry, and died in Chunár prison, he surpassed all previous efforts. Twelve bundred elephants* formed the marriage procession, the young prince wore jewels estimated to be worth Rs. 20,00,000, and these formed only a fourth of his father's stock of gems. The splendid buildings which now adorn 'Lucknow had not then been built. Two tents were prepared for the occasion, covered with the most costly English broadcloth in stripes of various colours ; each tent was 120 feet long, 60 feet broad, 60 feet high, and cost £50,000. This vast accumulation of wealth was effected by the most crushing taxation upon the people. Four years afterwards Tennant, a keen observer, traversed the whole of Oudh, and found almost everywhere a plundered and desolate country. He speaks of the Nawab's territories, which,“ in defiance of the bounty of nature, display a uniform sterility:"I In Rohilkhand, he says, not "the hundredth part of an acre is under cultivation,"I the "solitude and gloom of the province" were only relieved by a little prosperity where the eunuch, Mián Almás, administered a few districts with comparative wisdom and moderation. S Tennant's account of Lucknow at this time is appended :- "I yesterday went to view this capital, which is said to contain half million of souls. Happening to enter the town at the west end, and which contains the poor mechanics and labourers of every sort, I never witnessed 90 many varied forms of wretchedness, filth, and vice. than one-half of which you wade through mire and filth. During the lapse of time the streets sink from clearing or by the blow- ing away of dust while dry, so that they are fallen in the middle to the depth of ten or twelve feet, and are so narrow that two hackeries cannot pass, nor, indeed, any carriage however small. "My palankeen was frequently stopped by the small asses which were passing along loaded with bricks. This animal is here so slender that a stout porter could have no difficulty in literally carrying both the beast and its burden. Solomon must have employed an immense number in a 36 << Forbea" Oriental Memoire, Vol. III., page 282. + Tendent'a " India Recreations," Vol II., Page 175. Tenpant's Indian Recreations," Vol. II, page 405.
 * The street which leads to the palace is upwards of five miles long, more
 * Tennant's "Indian Recreations," page 381.