Page:The People of India — a series of photographic illustrations, with descriptive letterpress, of the races and tribes of Hindustan Vol 7.djvu/223

HER HIGHNESS NAWAB SEKUNDER BEGUM, G.C.S.I. her cousin, Jehangeer Mahomed Khan. She had a daughter, Shah Jehan, who married Oomrao Duiha, and had two daughters, Sultan Jehan and Sulieman Jehan. The character of Sekunder Begurn is well known: she behaved very steadfastly and loyally during the mutiny, supporting the British against all her own relations and dependants, who would have risen in rebellion; and she was a wise and beneficent ruler. It is probably owing to her wisdom at this crisis that the state of Bhopal has been preserved. Had she joined the rebellion openly, or, indeed, under any circumstances, the British Government might, probably would, have swept away a tribe of Pathans notorious for turbulence and internal intrigues and contests. The Begurn has received the honour of the order of the Star of India in its highest rank, and is the only lady who holds it except Her Majesty the Queen.

The city of Bhopal is handsome and well kept; it is situated on the borders of a fine artificial lake or tank, which is a mile and a half wide and about four miles long. The darn was originally constructed in probably about the fourth century after Christ, by Bhopal, the minister of Rajah Bhoj, of Maiwab, who founded the town of Bhojpoor, near the site of a great mound built by Rajah Bhoj in pursuance of a vow to dam up nine rivers and ninety-nine tributaries. The darn and tank was swept away, though its legend is preserved in the appellation of " tal," or tank, which was given to its site. The Bhopal tal, or tank, was formed by the ninety—eighth river, or rivulet, and is still in excellent order.

The Begum of Bhopal was truly faithful to the English cause in the mutiny of 1857-58. She refused with contempt the summons of the King of Delhi to join with him; and, though many of her nobles and retainers would have decided against the English, she restrained them all, and protected alL fugitives who resorted to her; she assisted troops which passed through her territories, and in all respects comported herself as a true and loyal subject of England. When the rebellion was over, she attended the durbar which was held by Lord Canning at Jubbulpoor, when he addressed her as follows:—

"Sekunder Begum, your Highness is very welcome to this durbar. I have long desired to thank you for the services you have rendered to the Queen's Government. Your Highness is the ruler of a state which is conspicuous in Indian history, for never having been in arms against the British power; and lately, when that state was beset and threatened by our enemies, you, a woman, guided its affiuirs with a courage, an ability, and success, that would have done honour to any statesman or soldier. Besides the greater service of repressing revolt around you, and of securing the safety of all Englishmen, amongst whom was the Agent of the Governor General, you never failed to aid and expedite to the utmost of your power all bodies of British troops that came within your reach. Such services must not go unrewarded; I now place in your hands the grant in sovereignty of the district of Burseah. The district was formerly a dependency of