. 127 



to warn posterity off this fatal rock, the gradual 

 and increasing- poverty and weakness of Mohamma- 

 dan dynasties when not strengthened by fresh con- 

 quests. The comparatively small revenues of the 

 Ottoman Empire, indeed of most existing- Oriental 

 States, is mainly due to this cause, and the Inaam 

 Commissions in India, furnish convincing- evidence 

 of the mischief arid injustice that Governments mayj( 

 [ inflict on posterity, by a thoughtless alienation of 

 the revenues of the State. 



In the East generally, and in India particularly, 

 it has been the rule that the crown has been fought 

 for, and usurpers, it is known, have but very small 

 respect for the responsibilities undertaken by their 

 predecessors. When Kings wanted money, as in 

 former times in Europe, they seized, imprisoned, and 

 tortured rich subjects until their wants were sup- 

 plied ; or later, if under the surveillance or protec- 

 tion of the British, they borrowed, on the security of 

 their jewels or other valuable property, from some 

 wealthy banker. The idea of a State loan, as under- 

 7 stood in Europe, in India is wholly unknown. 

 Jageers conferred by Sovereigns on their nobles and 

 servants, as a rule, have been held on the condition 

 of maintaining troops, &c. or were the reward of 

 personal services, and were conferred, and received, 

 with a full understanding that the security for their 

 permanence was the life of the donor, the pleasure 

 of his successor, or the power of the possessor to 

 hold them against all comers. Possession, it is 



