It had, therefore, in a fiscal point of view, but a poor equivalent for its crore of rupees; but it gained a great political advantage in confining the Nepaulese to the hills on its border.  Before this arrangement took place there used to be frequent disputes, and occasionally serious collisions between the local authorities about boundaries, which were apt to excite the angry feelings of the sovereigns of both States, and to render the interposition of the paramount power indispensable.

It was at Bhinga, on the left bank of the Rabtee River, in the Gonda district, and eight miles north-east from Bulrampoor, that Mr. George Ravenscroft, of the Bengal Civil Service, was murdered on the night of the 6th May, 1823.  He had been the collector of the land revenue of the Cawnpore district for many years; but, having taken from the treasury a very large sum of money, and spent it in lavish hospitality and unsuccessful speculations, he absconded with his wife and child, and found an asylum with the Rajah of Bhinga, on the border of the Oude Tarae, where he intended to establish himself as an indigo planter.  Strict search was being made for him throughout India by the British Government, and his residence at Bhinga was concealed from the Oude Government by the local authorities.  The Rajah made over to him a portion of land for tillage, and a suitable place in a mango grove, about a mile from his fort, to build a house upon.  He built one after the Hindoostanee fashion, with bamboos and grass from the adjoining jungle.  It consisted of a sitting-room, bed-room, and bathing-room, all in a line, and forming one side of a quadrangle, and facing inside, with only one small door on the outside, opening into the bathing-room.  The other three sides of the quadrangle consisted of stables, servants’ houses, and out-offices, all facing inside, and without any entrances on the outside, save on the front side, facing the dwelling-house, where there was a large entrance.

PLAN OF MR. RAVENSCROFT’S HOUSE.

_____________________________________  ___
|                  |             |       |
|                  |              Bathing|
|  Sitting Room.   |  Bed Room.     Room. |
|_______   ________|____   ______|_______|
|     |                          |       |
|     |                          |       |
|                 ___                    |
|                |   |                   |
|     |          |   |           |       |
|_____|          |___|           |_______|
|     |           Cot            |       |
|     |                          |       |
|  O                                 S   |
|  u                                 t   |
|  t  |                          |   a   |
|     |                          |   b   |
|__O__|                          |___l___|
|  f  |                          |   e   |
|  f  |                          |   s   |
|  i  |                          |       |
|  c                                     |