zg2 



G A N G E T I G H I N D O O S T A N. 



Jajer Khan he was afterwards known. He lived in the latter 

 end of the laft century, and the beginning of the prefent*. 

 During the reign of the Nabobs of Bengal, it was the capital 

 of the province; the buildings are numerous, and in general 

 mean; but is fo populous, that when Colonel Circe entered 

 with his handful of JLngUJJj-, immediately after the battle of 

 PlaJJey, he could not but refleifl that he was marching into a 

 city, containing more inhabitants than the city of London, 

 who might eafily have crulhed him and his followers with 

 clubs and flones ; but fuch was their reverence of the BritiJ1:> 

 name, that he remained there as long as was neceffary in full 

 feeurity. He was mafter of the lives and fortunes of the inha- 

 bitants, many of which were poiTeffed of immenfe riches; they 

 offered the vi6tor large fums for his ptote6tion. He gave it to 

 them gratuitoufly, and contented himfelf with his reward from 

 the new Nabob, without the left: oppreffion of the people. 

 Moor/hedabad is now declining very faft ; it loft: its advantage of 

 being the feat of government, and fince that time, by the re- 

 moval of the board of revenue, in 1771? to Calcutta. 



Surajab 'Dowlab had efcaped to this city in the night after 

 the battle of Plaffey ; diftrufting every one, he determined on a 

 fecret flight; refledions on his barbarities urged that meafure. 

 The account given by Mr. Or me, of the manner in which he 

 paffed the midnight hours before his fatal defeat, reminds me 

 of the awful fcene of the tent of Richard III. before the battle 

 of Bof'worth. The Indian tyrant did not feem lefs agitated. 

 After attempting to fecure his treafures, he fled from his ca- 



* Same p. 65, 



pital 



