146 
SCENES IN INDIA. 
the plea, therefore, did not avail him, and when he 
found at length that the government became more 
peremptory in its demands, the money was ad- 
vanced without further scruple. He had evidently, 
however, made up his mind to resist all future pay- 
ments, and would no doubt have done so in the pre- 
sent instance, had he been prepared. In proportion 
as he became rich, he became also ambitious, and it 
was more than suspected that he secretly directed his 
thoughts to extending his own power by the extinc- 
tion of that of his protectors ; and had his talents been 
equal to his resources, or had he been opposed to a 
man of inferior abilities to Mr. Hastings, he might 
have accomplished his object. 
The following year a similar demand of five lacs 
of rupees was made on the Zemeendar, when he em- 
ployed similar shifts to those which he had already 
practised, in order to evade payment. He sent a 
vakeel protesting, in the most solemn manner, his 
want of sufficient funds to meet the demand, nor was 
the money at length advanced until two battalions of 
sepoys, whose maintenance and pay were charged upon 
the sordid Rajah, had been quartered in the neighbour- 
hood of Ramnagur. Seeing that his conduct had excited 
the suspicion and displeasure of the Governor-General, 
he again sent his confidential agent to make his ex- 
cuses, and to promise upon oath a regular payment of 
the assessment made upon his Zemeendary. These 
excuses, though trifling and hollow to the last degree, 
were accepted upon condition of his future ready com- 
pliance ; and this grace was at the same time accom- 
panied with an assurance that the demand would cease 
