556 Analysis of the Bengali Poem Rdj M&la, [No. 7. 



In 1765, Tripura came under British rule, the income of the Raja 

 then, was about 300,000 rupees. Krishna Manik was made Raja by 

 the aid of the English, having succeeded to Shamsher Khan noted 

 for his cruelty and tyranny. He performed the ceremony of tula 

 and gave away large sums of money, particularly to the pandits of 

 Nadiya* though he could not be as liberal as before, English collectors 

 being appointed in the country. Krishna Manik died after a reign of 

 twenty-three years, there being no Jubaraja, his queen ruled the country 

 for some time, but the people did not submit willingly to her sway ; 

 she then petitioned Government who confirmed ber request that Ra- 

 jendra Manik, her nephew, might succeed, which he did A. D. 1785. 

 Cotton was cultivated in Tripura in his time, and an invasion of the 

 Mugs was repelled, the revenue collected by the English amounted to 

 1,39,000 Rupees. The Kukis were also punished severely by the 

 Raja for an inroad made on the country. Raj end ra married the daughter 

 of the Raja of Manipur ; he made an image of eight metals which he 

 placed in the sanctuary of Brindaban ; he became a great devotee, 

 spending four months in prayer to the gods without speaking to any 

 one, he then abdicated the throne and assumed the habit of a Sannyasi ; 

 he died soon after, having reigned 19 years. 



In 1826, the Raja died, when dying he sent for his spiritual guide 

 and put his foot on his head, an eclipse of the moon occurred at the 

 same time, which was considered a sure sign that the Raja would go to 

 heaven ; when he became insensible, a salagram was placed on his breast. 

 On the occasion of his Sraddha 18,000 Rupees were distributed among 

 the poor, which was collected by subscription, as the Raja's brother was 

 too much in debt to afford it. The late Raja reigned eleven years, he 

 was accomplished in the Persian language, and also serving and firing a 



* The pandits of Nadiya have for several centuries exercised considerable influ- 

 ence in the East of Bengal, and in the district of Asam they made great progress in 

 their proselyting efforts, though it is a popular notion that Hinduism admits of no 

 proselytes, yet various instances could be adduced on the opposite side. The fact 

 that the Asamese language is almost a pure derivation of Sanskrita, though the early 

 conquerors the Ahoms were not a Hindu race, shews the powerful ascendancy that 

 Hindu Institutions must have attained at an early period over them : Brahmanism 

 now is stationary in its proceedings, but in former days it seemed as anxious to vend 

 its spiritual wares as are the Mahrwari and Mogul merchants to dispose of their 

 articles in trade. 



