conquered province became thenceforth, to adopt Hastings' words, 'as much a member' of the Company's Government 'as the zamíndárí of Bardwán[1].'
Money, however, was still wanting for the Government's immediate needs. During his stay at Chanár Hastings received a visit on the 11th September from Asaf-ud-daulá, the Wazír of Oudh. Owing partly to his own folly, but far more to the hard conditions imposed by the Francis faction in 1775, the ruler of Oudh was sinking deeper and deeper into the Company's debt. In six years that debt had risen to a million and a half, chiefly on account of the British garrisons which alone stood between the Wazír and general anarchy. The two Begams, his mother and grandmother, held large Jaghírs or grants of land in Oudh, which they governed like absolute sovereigns from Faizábád, while they retained for their own use, under a British guarantee, the rich treasure which belonged of right to Shujá-ud-daulá's son and heir. Asaf-ud-daulá knew that Hastings was in dire need of money to maintain the war, while he himself had no means of helping him from his own treasury. If Hastings would not relieve him from the burden of maintaining a British Contingent, he might perhaps agree to the Wazír's plans for raising money at the expense, among others, of his nearest relatives, the Begams of Faizábád.
The Governor-General listened to the Wazír's proposals with a readiness sharpened by his knowledge
- ↑ Auber, Stubbs, Gleig.
