A Journey through the Kingdom of Oude, Volumes I & II   By: William Sleeman (1788-1856)

THROUGH THE

KINGDOM OF OUDE,

IN 1849 1850;

BY DIRECTION OF THE RIGHT HON. THE EARL OF DALHOUSIE, GOVERNOR GENERAL.

WITH PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE RELATIVE TO THE ANNEXATION OF OUDE TO BRITISH INDIA, &c.

BY MAJOR GENERAL SIR W. H. SLEEMAN, K.C.B.

Resident at the Court of Lucknow

IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I.

LONDON: RICHARD BENTLEY, Publisher in Ordinary to Her Majesty. 1858.

[Transcriber's note: The author's spelling of the names of places and people vary considerably, even within a single paragraph. The spelling of place names in the text varies from that shown on the map. The author's spelling is reproduced as in the printed text.]

PREFACE

My object in writing this DIARY OF A TOUR THROUGH OUDE was to prepare, for submission to the Government of India, as fair and full a picture of the real state of the country, condition, and feeling of the people of all classes, and character of the Government under which they at present live, as the opportunities which the tour afforded me might enable me to draw.

The DIARY must, for the present, be considered as an official document, which may be perused, but cannot be published, wholly or in part, without the sanction of Government previously obtained.

W. H. SLEEMAN. Lucknow, 1852.

This permission was accorded by the Honourable Court of Directors in December last.

[Transcriber's note: Rambles and Recollections of an Indian Official by W. H. Sleeman 2nd Ed. 1915, p.xxxvi notes that the date of the permission was not December 1851, but December 1852.]

CONTENTS OF THE FIRST VOLUME.

Biographical Sketch of Major General Sir W. H. Sleeman, K.C.B.

Introduction

Private correspondence preceding the Journey through the Kingdom of Oude

CHAPTER I.

Departure from Lucknow Gholam Hazrut Attack on the late Prime Minister, Ameen od Dowla A similar attack on the sons of a former Prime Minister, Agar Meer Gunga Sing and Kulunder Buksh Gorbuksh Sing, of Bhitolee Gonda Bahraetch district Rughbur Sing Prethee Put, of Paska King of Oude and King of the Fairies Surafraz mahal

CHAPTER II.

Bahraetch Shrine of Syud Salar King of the Fairies and the Fiddlers Management of Bahraetch district for forty three years Murder of Amur Sing, by Hakeem Mehndee Nefarious transfer of khalsa lands to Tallookdars, by local officers Rajah Dursun Sing His aggression on the Nepaul Territory Consequences Intelligence Department How formed, managed, and abused Rughbur Sing's management of Gonda and Bahraetch for 1846 47 Its fiscal effects A gang robber caught and hung by Brahmin villagers Murder of Syampooree Gosaen Ramdut Pandee Fairies and Fiddlers Ramdut Pandee, the Banker the Rajahs of Toolseepoor and Bulrampoor Murder of Mr. Ravenscroft, of the Bengal Civil Service, at Bhinga, in 1823.

CHAPTER III.

Legendary tale of breach of Faith Kulhuns tribe of Rajpoots Murder of the Banker, Ramdut Pandee, by the Nazim of Bahraetch Recrossing the Ghagra river Sultanpoor district, State of Commandants of troops become sureties for the payment of land revenue Estate of Muneearpoor and the Lady Sogura Murder of Hurpaul Sing, Gurgbunsee, of Kupragow Family of Rajahs Bukhtawar and Dursun Sing Their bynama Lands Law of Primogeniture Its object and effect Rajah Ghalib Jung Good effects of protection to Tenantry Disputes about Boundaries Our army a safety valve for Oude Rapid decay of Landed Aristocracy in our Territories Local ties in groves, wells, &c.

CHAPTER IV.