Page:Warren Hastings (Trotter).djvu/181

Rh of Benares, became a vassal of the Nawáb Wazír of Oudh. In 1775 his fief was transferred by treaty from the Wazír to the Company, and Chait Singh paid tent for his lands to the Government of Bengal on the terms prescribed by his former suzerain. His feudal rights over the districts of Gházípur and Benares were secured to him and his heirs on payment of a yearly tribute which could not be enhanced. But, as a vassal of the Company, holding under the same kind of tenure as any other great Zamíndár, he was bound by law, custom, and written agreement, to aid his new masters with men and money in times of extraordinary need. As Lord Mansfield afterwards declared, 'the right of the British Government to demand military aid of Chait Singh in war was proved beyond possibility of question .' Besides the rich treasure stored up in his coffers, the Rájá had a revenue of half a million sterling, several fortresses and some thousands of armed retainers.

A first demand of five lakhs in aid of the Government was made upon him in 1778. This was paid, after some attempts at evasion. A like demand was made in the following year, and again the Rájá tried on various pretexts to shuffle out of his obligations. In the course of 1780, Hastings, acting under advice from General Sir Eyre Coote, called upon him to furnish two thousand horse for the public service. The Rájá offered to furnish five hundred and as many