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 CHAPTER III

The Native States of India

In the middle of 1837 the peace of India was ruffled for a few hours by the bold stroke for power of an ambitious lady at Lucknow. On the night of July 7 died, rather suddenly, the worthless Nasír-ud-dín, King of Oudh; for the old title of Nawáb Wazír had been exchanged in 1819 for that of Sháh or King. It was thought by many that he had been poisoned by his adoptive mother, the Pádsháhi Begam, whose reputed son, Múnna Ján, he had formally disowned. Tidings of his fatal illness had already reached the British Resident, Colonel John Low, one of those soldier-politicals whose feats of arms have been outshone by their wisdom in council. Sending off a hasty message to the Brigadier in cantonments, he went straight to the royal palace with two of his officers, to prepare for placing the king's uncle, as rightful heir by Muhammadan law, on the vacant throne. Before that heir was ready to bear his part in the coming ceremonial, the Begam and her followers were for the moment masters of the position. The few Englishmen in the palace, with the heir of