PLASSEY AS IT WAS AND IS. 77 



by the succeeding Nabobs of Moorshedabad, who never 

 refused such European gentlemen as applied for permission 

 to occupy it while on hunting parties. Latterly, the building 

 was neglected altogether, and all who chose took possession 

 for the time, suiting their own convenience. There was a 

 large area, of perhaps an acre of ground, enclosed with a 

 wall, and having in front a large arched gateway. Within 

 this space was once a garden, which, when I first visited 

 Plassey, was kept in excellent order, and supplied such gen- 

 tlemen as passed up or down the river, or by land, with good 

 vegetables, for which the gardener usually received a present* 

 such as no doubt, in the aggregate, very fully answered his 

 purpose, and stimulated him to industry. However, when the 

 house began to decay, and was gradually less resorted to, the 

 garden began to decline, and ultimately became a wilderness 

 of weeds and rubbish. The gate was destroyed for fuel, the 

 wall gave way, and in lieu of being serviceable, the place 

 became the haunt of wild beasts. Colonel John Mbrdaunt, 

 about the year 1787, landed from his budgrow, as he was pro- 

 ceeding from Calcutta to Lucknow, and found a royal tiger 

 asleep in the verandah or balcony. The Colonel being an 

 excellent shot with his rifle, soon dispatched the brindled 

 visitor. Many have found herds of deer in the garden." 



When I last visited Plassey in 1875, a tree under which 

 Clive is said to have stood during the battle, when the rain 

 fell heavily, was just tottering to its fall, on account of the 

 river having undermined its base ; and it must now be gone, 

 and with it the tomb of the " fakeer," who was killed by a 

 round shot while standing beside the General, and was buried 

 under that tree. A house of masonry standing near the same 

 spot was pointed out as the residence of the descendants of the 

 shopkeeper or merchant who undertook to supply with grain 

 Clive's little army on its arrival here, and during the halt at 

 and march from Cutwa 011 the opposite bank of the Bhagi- 

 rutty. For the services rendered by him, this contractor or 

 grain dealer received from Lord Clive the land which his 

 descendants hold to this day, as I have been informed. 



