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and that of Deputy Nazim and Diwan of Orissa to Shaja'u-d-din Khan (his son-in-law). Emperor Farrukh Sir, on his accession to the throne of Delhi, further confirmed and accentuated the above administrative change by uniting in the person of Nawib Ja'far Khan the offices of Nazim of Bengal and Orissa, and of Diwan of those Provinces. This union of the two offices, whilst weakening the Imperial hold thereon, greatly added to the prestige of the Bengal Satrap, and gave him almost a semi-regal aspect. This regal aspect was further broadened by Emperor Muhammad Shah adding Behar to the Bengal Satrapy, whilst Nawab Shuja‘u-d-din was the Bengal Viceroy. For purposes of administration, Shuja‘a-d-din appointed a State Council of three members to help him in the administration, and divided his entire Satrapy, consisting of three Provinces of Bengal, Bohar, nnd Orissa, into four Political or Administrative Divisions, viz. : (1) Bengal Proper, comprising Western, Central, and a portion of Northern Bengal, (2) Jahangir-nagar or 39 304 guardian, to be the Diwan and Minister of that place, and sent him to Dacca, in company of Ghalib Ali Khan. And out of regard for Nafisah Begam, his sister, he bestowed the office of Superin¬ tendent of the Nawarnh (war-vessels) on Murad A‘li Khan, 1 son of Syed Razi Khan. The control over Fiscal and Home affairs, and the management of Crown-lands, Jagirs, war-vessels, artillery, Accounts and Customs-house were all entrusted to Munshi Jasunat Rai. In that the aforesaid Munshi had been trained up by Nawab Ja*rar Khan, by dint of honesty and integrity, by thorough attention to details and by ripe wisdom, he effected not only an increase in the State Revenue, but secured the happiness of the people. He completely abolished the system of Sauda-i-khas, and banished tbe exactions and innovations introduced by Mir Habib, during the regime of Murshid Quli Khan.* Putting forth laudable efforts to keep down the selling-rates of food-grains, and effect¬ ing cheapness in their prices, he threw open the western gate of the Fort of Jahangirnagar (or Dacca), which Nawab Amiru-1- Umara Shaistah Khan had closed, inscribing on it a prohibition to the effect that no one should open it, until he succeeded in reducing Daoca Division comprising Eastern and Southern Bengal, and a small portion of Northern Bengal, and including Svlhet and Chittagong, (3) Behar Division, (4) Orissa Division. Shuja‘u-d-din Khan directly administered the first Divi- sion, and appointed a Deputy Nazim or Deputy-Governor to hold charge of each of the other three Administrative Divisions, under his general control and supervision. I Murad A‘1T Khiin was n son of Nafisah Begam, uterine sister of Sarfa- raz Khan. Nafisah Begam was a daughter of Shujii'u-d-din Khan, and was married to Syed Razi Khin, who was Diwan of Bengal, on the death of Syed Akram ^in, during the regime of Nawab Ja'far Khan. On Syed Razi Khau’s death, during the reign of Emperor Farrnkh Sir, on the nomina¬ tion of Nawab Ja'far Khan (his maternal grandfather), Mirza Asadu-l-lab received the title of Sarfnraz Khan and was appointed Diwan of Bengal. Sarfaraz Khan continued to be the nominal Diwan of Bengal, whilst hiB father Shuja'u-d-din Khan succeeded Nawab Ja'far Khan as Na^im of Bengal, being deprived, however, of all real power, which was transferred to the State Council, consisting of Haji Ahmad (brother of A ll Vardi Hian), Diwan Aiamoljand, and Fatihchand Jagat Set. ( a Mirza Lutfnllah, snrnamed Murshid Qali Khim II, son-in-law of Shnja u- d-din Khan. He was first Depnty-Governor of Jahangirnagar (Dacca), an was subsequently transferred in the same capacity to Orissa. He> shou not be confounded with Nawab Ja'far Khan who also held the title of Mursj Quli Khan. 305 tlie price of food-prams to one seer of the Bazar weight per Dirham ,* as was current in the Nawab’s time. From that time until now, no one else had been able to effect such cheapness in the rate of food- grains. Ho rendered the tract of Jahangirnagar (Dacca) fertile* like the garden of Irani 1 , by sprinkling on it the waters of liberality, equity and justice ; and in consequence, Sarfaraz Khan won a good name amongst all classes of his subjects. At the desire of Nafisah Begatn*, Murad Alt Khan was married to a daughter of Sarfaraz Khan, and was appointed Deputy-Governor of Jahangirnagar (Dacca) in the place of Ghalib A l * li Khan. Murad Ali Khan now promoted Raj Balab, a clerk attached to the Admiralty, to the office of Pcshkfir thereof, and commenced oppressions. 4 Munshl Jasunat Rai, who had acquired a good name amongst the people, appre¬ hending that his reputation might be tarnished, resigned his office of Diwan, and the Province of Jahangirnagar or Dacca turned to desolation through the tyranny of the new oppressive Deputy Nazim. •• Mirza Muhammad Said, tlie second sou of Hajl Ahmad, who was on behalf of Sarfaraz Khan Faujdar of the Chaklah of Ghoraghat and Rangpar and Kuch Behar, desolated the Mahals of Rangpur by his exactions and oppressions, and acquiring the treasures of 1 See n. aulc and the text with reference to Nawnb Shaista Khan. * See n. ante. 8 Nafisah Begum was a 6i9terof Sarfaraz Klpn, and Muriid Aii KhSn was a son of Nafisah Berlin, by Sycd Rn<i Khan, Sarfaraz Khan's predecessor in the office of Diwan of Bengal. Thus, Murad Aii Khan was a nephew of Sarfaraz Kban. lie, hitherto, held the office of Superintendent of the Naivarah (war-vessels) at Dacca, and on his marriage with Sarfaraz KhiWs daughter, was promoted to the oltico of Deputy-Governor of Jahangirnagar (Dacca), in sapercession of Ghalib A‘li Khan. It may bo interesting to note that there is a place called Muradtmgur, near Daudknndi, in Commillah, which is associated with somo former Nawabs of Dacca, and where some landed pro¬ perty is still, I believe, owned by tlie Rhiktmpuliari Nawabs of Patna, said to bo descended from an extinct old Nawab family of Dacca. I fancy, therefore, Muradnagar owes its name and origin to this Murad A'li Khan. 4 Rajballab’s son, Kishun Bultub, in tho time of Nnwuli Sirain-d-duuluh, fled from Dacca to Calcutta, and by his intrigues brought about a rupture between Siraju-d-daulah and tho English. See Sciru-i-JfutaiJeriii, Vol. 11, Pcrs. text, p.62l. Rajballab was tho evil genius of Murad Ail K]um us Alamchand was tho evil genius of Shuja‘Qd-diu Khan, and UuUmchand that of tho Syed brothers. Seo note ante. Rajballab subsequently ingratiated himself with tho iufainons Miran, sou of Mir Ja‘far. 306 those whom he oppressed, he mobilised an army. Requisitioning troops from the Emperor, he marched with his troops against the Rajahs of Kuoh Behar and Dinajpur. Those Rajas fancying they were masters of large armies, and also fancying that they were sheltered by numerous forests and rivers, had hitherto paid little heed to the authority of the Nazim. By dint of diplomacy and by nse of force, and by wars and battles, Mirza Muhammad Sa id conquered those tracts, and acquired possession of the treasures, buried hoards, jewelleries and effects of those Rajahs. Owing to the immense treasure—indeed the treasure of a Croesus that thus fell into his hands, he acquired much power. After the conquest of Kuoh Bihar, by humouring Haji Ahmad, on the recommenda¬ tion of Nawab Shuja‘u-d-daulah and Sarfaraz Khan, Mirza Muhammad Sa‘id received the titles of ‘ Khan ’ and ‘ Bahadur.’ Nawab Shuja’u-d-danlab, on the advice of his Triumvirate Council, deputed Sarfaraz Khan to chastise Badi‘u-z-zaman, zamindar of Birbhum. Sheltered by rocks and forests and support¬ ed by numerous Afghans, this zamindar did not bend his head in submission to the Nazim, and failed to pay the revenue beyond the stipulated tribute. He had also diverted to dancing-parties and pleasures fourteen laks of revenue derived from the measured and cultivated lands, that had been endowed for the express pur¬ pose of helping the poor and the scholarly. The zamindar him¬ self was plunged in dissipations and frivolities. On the ndges Khubra Kandi and Lakra Khondah and of other hills and narrow rocky deflies, he had mounted stroug guards, and cut off allingie and egress of the Imperial troops and scouts, and he fancied forest flanked by the hills to be a secure recess, in that no one corid euter that tract without his passport. He had a PP 01 “ brother, Azam Khan, to administer his State and his son A h Quh Khan, to command his army, and Naubat ©an 0 e fc d “d Minister. Baddu-z-zaman himself did no work, but wasted his time on flute-playing and on carousals. S “ t “‘ ® t of Mm a message, containing prom,ses and rewards m . th, eve Ms submission to Nawab Shuja'n-d-daulah and umbodymg threats and ponishments in the event of h,s r^^ wgn disloyalty. Subsequently, Sarfaraz ©an despatched t rd his special confidantes, Khwajah Basant and Mir second P ay master- G eneral, with a Urge a '\ nd teu . now prudently woke up from the sluinbei of vanity, 307 dered hia homage and submission. Inducing the aforesaid Mir and the above Khwajah to become his intercedere, he sent through the latter a petition expressive of submission and loyalty, and subse¬ quently in the company of the former he set out for Murshidabad^ And after waiting on Sarfaraz Sa<, through the introduction of Mir Sharfu-d-din, Badi‘u-z-zatnan was granted an audience by Nawab Shuja‘u-d-daulah, who not only pardoned his past misde¬ meanour, but generously bestowed on him khila'ts. Badi n-z- zaman agreed to pay three laks of rupees annually on account of the Imperial revenue, consented to abide by the ordinary proce¬ dures for payment of land-revenue and for execution of orders, and furnished as bis surety KaratoJjand, 1 * zamindar of Bardwan.. He was then allowed to return to Birbhum.