Bengal did not experience any inconvenience from the change of Emperors, as Jaffer Khan was afraid of no one, but ruled with absolute sway; and during his government, the country never suffered from any invasion.

The Germans*, who are an European tribe, at first traded to Bengal, through the medium of the French, who at length exerted their interest so far, in behalf of these new comers, that Jaffer Khan accepted of their nuzzir, and granted them permission to erect a factory at Banky bazar*. At first they dwelt in straw buildings; but afterwards, at a great expence, erected a factory of brick, which they sur­rounded with a wall flanked with bastions; and cut a ditch, communicating with the river, of such a size, as to admit sloops of considerable burthen. They now inconsiderately boasted, that they would undersell all the other Europeans, which excited the jealousy and secret resentment of the English and Dutch, who sup­plied the Moghul merchants with money to engage Ahsenullah Khan, the foujdar of Hooghly, to make complaints against the Germans to Jaffer Khan, and to set forth the danger of suffering them to possess a place of such strength. Jaffer Khan, on those representations, sent a perwannah to the foujdar, commanding him to hinder them from proceeding any farther with the forti­fications; but they pretended to disbelieve his having such orders, and could not be prevailed upon to desist. Violent disputes ensued, which led to open hostilites on both sides. Meer Jaf­fer*, the naib foujdar, threw up an intrench­ment, to defend himself from the shot of the can­non; and the passage of the river for boats was entirely stopped. The French now secretly aided the Germans with arms and ammunition, whilst they openly pretended to assist in negotiating a treaty, through the mediation of Khojeh Mohammed Fazel Cashmeery*, one of the prin­cipal merchants of Hooghly. Khojeh Mohammed Kamel*, the eldest son of that merchant, who was employed in going back­wards and forwards upon the business, the Germans seized, by the advice of their friends, the French. The other Europeans, the Arme­nians, and the Moghuls, entreated for his release; and for fear of his being put to death, the naib foujdar suspended the military operations for two or three days. At length the merchant was obliged to purchase his liberty with a large sum of money; and to give good assurances, that the treaty should speedily be concluded, to the satisfaction of the Germans. At this juncture, the foujdar, by his threats, prevailed upon the French to withdraw their assistance; when he so blockaded the Germans, by land and water, that they were almost starved, having been deserted by all their native servants. The garri­son consisted only of an officer, and thirteen other Germans, who served the guns them­selves, and kept up such a constant fire, that the foujdar dared not stir out of his intrench­ment. At last the German officer had the mis­fortune to lose his right arm by a cannon ball, upon which he embarked his men on board his ship the same night, and set sail for Europe. In the morning, when the enemy took possession of the factory, they found nothing in it but a few guns and some shells. After levelling the forti­fication with the ground, Meer Jaffer returned to Hooghly.

Shuja Khan*, and Nejabut Khan*, two Afghan zemindars of Tunghee Seroo­poor*, in Sircar Mahmoodabad, after com­mitting several highway robberies in their own district, and making depredatory incursions into the neighbouring zemindarries, at length had the boldness to seize sixty thousand rupees of the revenues of Mahmoodabad, on the way to the treasury at Moorshedabad. The zemin­dars carried their complaints to Jaffer Khan, who sent proper persons, to make enquiry on the spot; and when he received their report, authenticated by the signatures of the canoon­goes and the officers of the collections, he ordered the foujdar of Hooghly to apprehend the offenders. The foujdar, having come upon the Afghans by surprize, seized them without opposition, and sent them in chains to Moor­shedabad. Jaffer Khan confiscated all their property, transferred their zemindarries to Ramjewun, and condemned them to perpetual imprisonment. In satisfaction for the plundered treasure, he levied a Mutthote* from all the neighbouring zemindars. In every place where a robbery was committed, Jaffer Khan obliged the foujdar and zemindar to find out the thief, and to recover the stolen goods. The goods, or their equivalent, were given to the person who had been robbed; and the thief was impaled alive. By these means, during his government, travellers were protected on the roads; and every man’s house was secure.

The tannahs of Kutuah* and Moorshed­gunge*, on the Burdwan road, were erected by him, for the protection of travellers, at the time he bore the title of Moorshed Kuly Khan. He afterwards gave the command of those tannahs to Mohammed Jan, his cheelah; who, for the farther protection of the country, established another tannah, called Poobthel*, dependant on Kutuah. This man, whenever he seized a highway robber, used to have his body split in two, and hung upon trees on the high-road: on this account he was commonly called Koolhareh*, or the axe. He was always attended by executioners, with their axes; and his name was the terror of the thieves.

Since the time of Shayisteh Khan* there had not appeared in Bengal, nor indeed in any part of Hindostan, an aumeer who could be compared with Jaffer Khan for zeal in the propagation of the faith; for wisdom in the estab­lishment of laws and regulations; for munificence and liberality, in the encouragement and support given to men of family and eminence; for rigid and impartial justice, in redressing wrongs, and punishing offenders: in short, whose whole administration so much tended to the benefit of mankind and the glory of the creator. His judicial decisions were so rational and proper, that they were as much respected and obeyed as the decrees of those monarchs, whose names are most renowned for equity and justice. He was such an observer of his word, that he never failed in the performance of any engage­ment. He slept but little; and carefully observed the stated times of prayer; and frequented the congregations of the Sunnies*. From break­fast to noon, he employed himself in copying the Koran; and in administering justice. Every year he sent Korans of his own writing, with valuable offerings, to Mecca, Medina, and other holy places.

He maintained above two thousand readers, beadsmen, and chanters, who were constantly employed in reading the Koran, and in other acts of devotion. During the first twelve days of the month Rebby ul Awwel, which include the birth and death of the holy prophet, he feasted people of all conditions; and on those nights, the road from Maheenagur* to Loll Baugh, which is above three miles, was illuminated with lamps, representing verses of the Koran, mosques, trees, and other figures. Near an hundred thousand persons were employed on these latter occasions; and, on the firing of a gun, the whole was illuminated at once, exhibiting, in an instant, such a sheet of light as astonished the beholders. He also kept the festival of the prophet Khyzir*, when paper boats, decorated with lighted lamps, are set afloat upon the river.

Besides feeding a multitude of people, he also provided food for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of the air.

He always provided against famine, and severely prohibited all monopolies of grain. He constantly made private enquiries concerning the market price of grain; and, whenever he discovered any imposition, the offenders suf­fered the most exemplary punishments.