BENARES. 107 
under our dominion. The Mahomedans, of course, detest us ; we 
have deprived them of a mighty empire, and they feel that they 
hold the little remnants only by our permission. No wonder, then, 
that the late Nawaub of the Carnatic considered Tippoo as the great 
safeguard of his religion, and, as such, looked up to him. He was 
correct in his ideas, and I cannot conceive how our Government 
could even expect him to think otherwise. The Hindoo can have 
no feelings of this sort : he has only changed his masters ; and 
although we do not so much unite with him in society as his former 
master did, yet, on experience, he prefers the one who gives him 
the firmest protection from insult and oppression. 
A singular instance of their appeals to the English occurred in 
the person of the sister of the Nagpour Rajah, who lately arrived 
at Benares to perform her ablutions. Mr. Neave caused her to be 
received w ith every respect due to her rank. On such an occasion^ 
it is customary to give alms to the different Brahmins, who amount 
to about seven thousand; and as the, ceremonies cannot be per- 
formed without their assistance, they are very often unreasonable 
in their demands, as it seems they were to this good lady. Eight 
days after her arrival, she sent to Mr. Neave, to complain that they 
required a sum she could by no means pay, and that she had not 
been able to begin her devotions. Mr. Neave assured her that the 
English did not receive a rupee, so that he could do nothing except 
by mediation with the Brahmins, which he would attempt : he ac- 
cordingly remonstrated with them, and the lady was permitted to 
fulfil all her duties at a reasonable rate. 
The number of the temples to the different deities is great, 
but the chief worship is of Vishnou, Maha-deva, and their wives. 
VOL. I. i> 
