168 HOTE SINGH. 



their lands to assist as beaters in a battue, with- 

 out the smallest remuneration, their cultivated 

 grounds being, moreover, ravaged by wild ani- 

 mals, which they are never allowed to scare 

 away or destroy under the heaviest penalties. 



The only party benefited in the Meer's 

 dominions is Hote Singh, his Mooktyar Kar, 

 a man of notoriously indifferent character, to 

 whom he unfortunately intrusts the entire con- 

 trol of his territory, the revenues of wliich 

 might be doubled by judicious management; 

 but so long as Hote Singh shall be permitted 

 to fill his present office, the Meer's pecuniary 

 difficulties will remain unabated, and the op- 

 pression of his subjects continue. I should, for 

 my own part, very gladly see the Meer Moon- 

 shee, Kishun Dass, or his brother, whom I con- 

 sider the most respectable and respected men 

 in His Highness' dominions, appointed to this 

 responsible office. Either of the brothers is 

 w^ell qualified to fill it, and they both of them 

 possess as much of the confidence of ]\Ieer Ali 

 Moorad as His Highness ever cares to give to 

 any human being, for he is, as, indeed, well 

 may he be, the most distrustful of men. The 

 Meer in this particular, however, exhibits great 



