Odynarain*, whose family had long enjoyed the zemindary of Rajeshahy*, was so distinguished by his abilities and application to business, that Moorshed Kuly Khan entrusted him with the superintendance of the khalseh collections; and placed under his orders Gho­laum Mohammed* jemidar*, with two hundred horse. The jemidar having demanded his pay in a riotous manner, Moorshed Kuly Khan sent Mohammed Jan*, one of his chee­lahs*, with troops to punish him. A con­flict ensued near the Rajebary*, in which the jemidar was killed; and Oudynarain, dreading Moorshed Kuly Khan’s displeasure, destroyed himself. The zemindary of Rajeshahy was then conferred upon Ramjewun*, and Kanoo­khenwer*, two zemindars on the east side of the Ganges, in consideration of their having been more exact in the payment of their rents than the other zemindars of Bengal.

The collections of the year were always completed by the end of Cheyte*, and Moorshed Kuly Khan held the Bengal pooneah* in the beginning of the month of Bysack*. He then dispatched to Dehly the royal revenues, which amounted to a crore and thirty lacks of rupees. The bags of treasure were put into two hundred carts, and escorted by a guard of 300 cavalry, and 500 infantry, with the darogah of the treasury. The savings out of the jageers, and khassneveesy, he remitted separately. Along with the treasure, he sent for the Emperor, a number of elephants, tan­ghen, and goonth* horses, buffaloes, antelopes, hawks, fine linens for the Emperor’s own wear, fabricated at Jehangeernagur, shields made of rhinoceros’s hides, Sylhet mats, woven of gold and ivory, musk, and clothes of Asham, sword blades called bunpassy*, and many valuable curiosities in presents from Europeans. The soobahdar, accompanied by his officers, went with the treasure about two miles, as far as Jehpayedeh*; and, in order to provide against accidents, as well as for the information of the Dewans of the presence, he caused an account thereof to be entered in the public intelligence, transmitted to court by the proper officers.

It was then the custom, that when the trea­sure of Bengal arrived on the borders of Bahar, the soobahdar thereof sent his own escort to convey it to the fort of Patna, where the carts were changed; and from Bahar it proceeded in like manner through the other Soobahs, till it reached Dehly.

The upright and judicious conduct of Moor­shed Kuly Khan was so conspicuous, that the Emperor was continually bestowing favours upon him; till at length he obtained the titles of Motemen ul Moolk, Allaeddowlah, Jaffer Khan, Nussieree, Nassir Jung*, with a munseb of seven thousand zât* and the standards of the fish* and the Merateb*, and was enrolled amongst the principal Omrahs of the empire. His interest with the emperor was now so great, that all appointments in Bengal were made solely at his recommendation; and, with­out his approbation, it was impossible to obtain the royal assent to any application. If any one happened to obtain an appointment in Bengal by the means of any of the principal courtiers, Jaffer Khan would not allow him to act.

The munsebdars, seeing the credit which Jaffer Khan had obtained, were now as eager to be stationed in Bengal, as they had before been anxious to avoid it, and solicited his recommendation, which always obtained the royal approbation.

Seif Khan*, the grandson of Ameer Khan* who was related to the royal family, at the request of Jaffer Khan was ordered to be stationed with him. As soon as he arrived in Ben­gal, Jaffer Khan appointed him foujdar* of Purnea, and governor of the fort of Jilal­gurh*, on the borders of Morung*, together with its rich Jageer Mushroot of Beer­nagur*, commonly called Dehrum poorah* and Gowndwareh* which formerly were part of Bahar, but had been lately annexed to Purnea. Jaffer Khan offered him in marriage Nefeeseh Khanum* the daughter of Shuja Mohammed Khan, his son in law; but Seif Khan excused himself from accepting the honor intended him; which refusal, however, made no alteration in the behaviour of Jaffer Khan; who, on account of his high descent, shewed him every kind of favour and respect, and remitted all increase in the revenues of Purnea, in order that he might have the credit of giving him a pro­vision suitable to his birth and pretensions.

Seif Khan being appointed governor of that province, with the most absolute powers, expelled from the zemindary of Beernagur the son of Beer Sawh*, who had rebelled, and opposed him in arms in several actions. He fol­lowed the example of Jaffer Khan, and imprisoning all the zemindars, collected annually, from Purnea, eighteen lacks of rupees, the whole of which was at his disposal. He after­wards extended the boundaries, and considerably increased the revenues. The zemindar of Morung, intimidated by his power, gave no molestation, which enabled him to clear away the jungles, and bring into cultivation large tracts of land at the foot of the mountains. Jaffer Khan was fully apprized of those aug­mentations of the collections, and allowed Seif Khan to enjoy them; whilst he, in return, always shewed great respect to the soobahdar. Every year he paid a visit to Jaffer Khan, at Moorshedabad, with whom he lived upon terms of brotherly affection.

Seif Khan paid his troops half in specie, and half in old goods and furniture. He also used to bestow upon his companions and inti­mates, women from his haram*; on which account Jaffer Khan used to call him Zun Bukhsh*, or the bestower of women, and in pri­vate would laugh and ridicule him.

Purnea is watered by the rivers Cowsee* and Sownra*: some parts are very low, and large tracts of cultivated soil are frequently washed away by the cataracts from the moun­tains, during the periodical rains. The pro­ductions of this province are rice, wheat, mash*, mustard seed and other grain in abundance, turmeric, black pepper, large cardamums, salt petre, ghee, and teizpaut*, which is an aromatic leaf of a large tree. The fruits are few, being only the mangoe, the kuthel*, the pine apple, the lime, and the plantain.

The mountains of Morung are six days jour­ney north of Purnea. Their forests produce the timber called Bahaderee*, so useful in build­ing. There is a road over these mountains from Cashmeer to Niepal*, but craggy, and in some parts very steep.

Half of the present province of Purnea consists of annexations from Bahar. The fort of Jilalgurh was built to awe the Morungians into obedience.

Seif Khan had always a store of grain suffi­cient for a year’s consumption, no part of which was suffered to be exported.

The water of Purnea is very unwholesome, from whence many of the inhabitants are afflicted with wens in their necks.

In Purnea, there are not any buildings of brick or stone, excepting the fort and the palace called Loll Baugh*.

Cundahgolah*, on the banks of the Ganges, is a place of great trade; and, on account of the cheapness of provisions, well inhabited by people of all nations.

The country in general is fertile, and well planted with trees: Sireeneah* is more fruit­ful than Purnea. The sicca* rupee, and Morady* of Azeemabad, are the coins most current in this province.