148 Nooks and Corners of Bengal. [No. 2. 



Nooks and Corners of Bengal. — No. I. The Tomb of Meer Muddan 

 Khan, Commander in-Chief of the Nuwab Sooraj-ood-Dowlah's 

 Army at the Battle of Plassy. 



The traveller in marching from Kishnuggur to Berhampore by the 

 Darjeeling Road, after leaving the quiet little thatched hut constituting 

 the Post Office at Miria or Merai, enters upon the open and level- 

 plains, leading to Plassy. Little beyond proud reminiscences of the 

 glorious day on which Clive added the richest jewel to the crown of 

 Britain needs detain him on his journey. One huge and venerable 

 mango tree alone remains, of the grove, under whose shelter, the small 

 band of British Troops encamped on the memorable night, preceding 

 the Battle. Stewart in his History of Bengal, says, " At sunset, the 

 Troops got under arms, and after a fatiguing march, arrived at one 

 o'clock in the morning at Plassy, and immediately took possession of a 

 mango grove 800 yards in length and 300 in breadth." 



The encroachments of the River Bhagirutti and the hatchet of the 

 wood-cutter have gradually reduced this once extensive grove to the 

 single tree now standing, to point out the site of the contested field of 

 the 23rd June, 1757! The villagers appear to regard the old tree 

 with much veneration, and offer under its shade, little clay images 

 of horses to their gooroo or saint : these little clay horses, in great 

 number, cover the ground, mixed with the green and brushwood. 



Cannon shot and fragments of rusty arms are occasionally turned up 

 by the plough and carried off to the neighbouring Indigo Factories, 

 where they meet with a ready sale. 



Continuing his steps towards the village of Locknathpore, the tra- 

 veller may remark a single tree on the left of the road, a few hundred 

 yards distant, surrounded by low underwood. This is Juggut Roy's 

 tree and the last remains of his garden. Juggut Roy was the owner 

 of Plassy grove, who removed his residence, in consequence of the 

 encroachments of the river, to this spot. The house is no longer 

 standing ; loose bricks overgrown with wild flowers and degenerated 

 garden creepers and plants, shadowed by the lonely tree, mark the 

 site of the grounds ; the plough is daily adding even these to the sur- 

 rounding level monotony of the increasing cultivation. 



At a distance of about a mile and a half north from Locknathpore, 



