74 BURHAMPORE. 
widow of Jaffier Ali Khan, so well known in Europe by the rhetoric 
of Mr. Burke. She is excessively rich, and still retains her intellects 
in full vigour, though, beyond all doubt, of a very considerable age. 
A history of her life would include all the most important transac- 
tions of Bengal, and almost all the vicissitudes that can happen to 
an individual, even in Asia. She has seen her husband raised to 
the musnud * by the assistance of the British, afterwards deposed 
by them, and obliged to seek refuge in Calcutta ; again restored, 
and dying in possession of the country : her son reduced to be a 
pensioner on the same Power, which seized the empire for itself. 
She, however, has still the rank and property of a princess ; and by 
the strength of her mind, and her influence in Calcutta, preserves 
the absolute controul over her whole family. The allowance 
to them would be amply sufficient for their maintenance with 
a proper degree of dignity, were it not for the prodigious increase 
of their numbers, and the improvidence that seems to be inher- 
ent in the Mahomedan character. If they continue to increase, 
as they have done, several branches must be reduced to absolute 
poverty, unless a succession of Begums should save them. I really 
consider these old ladies as very useful appendages to a family ; 
they operate as a kind of sinking fund ; for, always having consider- 
able allowances either by jaghire or pension, which it is impossible 
for them to spend, they save very large sums, which at their deaths 
go to maintain the younger branches, or to pay the debts of the 
family. 
It was my intention to have paid a visit to the old lady, in order 
to hear her voice, (which, I understand, is uncommonly shrill, and 
which she sometimes raises to its highest key) and accordingly 
* Mussulman throne. 
