323 



joyed their society in the same manner. I frequently quote the 

 sacred historians, not only for their intrinsic truth and beauty, but 

 because they illustrate oriental manners and customs more happily 

 than any other book I am acquainted with. In the parallel be- 

 tween the ancient patriarch and the Meah rajah, there was a 

 striking coincidence of circumstances and character. I heard the 

 subjects in his little principality speak of their parental chief as 

 did the inhabitants of Uz, in days of yore; and in the very words 

 they used, which I noted down at the time. " When the ear 

 heard him, then it blessed him ; and when the eye saw him it gave 

 witness to him; because he delivered the poor, and the fatherless, 

 and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was 

 ready to perish came upon him ; and he caused the widow's heart 

 to sing for joy \" 



The rajah of Meah Gaum was indeed an amiable exception to 

 the Indian portraits lately introduced. With equal pleasure I now 

 bring forward two others, in the characters of Hiroo Nand, and 

 his amiable wife, then lately deceased, and burnt at Brodera. 

 Hiroo Nand was duan to Futty Silmg; who, however deficient in 

 princely virtues himself, knew how to value them in a faithful ser- 

 vant. His superior abilities and unshaken integrity gained him the 

 esteem of his prince; he was equally beloved by his subjects for 

 his justice, moderation, and clemency in collecting the revenues 

 of the Guickwar, which annually amounted to sixty lacs of rupees. 

 Thus respected by all ranks, his happiness was complete, from 

 having married a young lady of family, in every respect worthy 

 of such a husband. When his presence was required in distant 

 provinces, to her he intrusted all his concerns in Brodera; she not 



