The people of the country respect the British Government, its officers, and Europeans generally, from other causes.  Though the Resident has not been able to secure any very substantial or permanent reform in the administration, still he has often interposed with effect, in individual cases, to relieve suffering and secure redress for grievous wrongs.  The people of the country see that he never interposes, except for such purposes, and their only regret is that he interposes so seldom, and that his efforts, when he does so, should be so often frustrated or disregarded.  In the remotest village or jungle in Oude, as in the most crowded streets of the capital, an European gentleman is sure to be treated with affectionate respect; and the humblest European is as sure to receive protection and kindness, unless be forfeits all claim to it by his misconduct.

The more sober-minded Mahommedans of Lucknow and elsewhere are much scandalized at the habit which has grown up among them, in the cities of India, of commemorating every event, whether of sadness or of joy, by brilliant illuminations and splendid processions, to amuse the idle populations of such cities.  It is, they say, a reprehensible departure from the spirit of their creed, and from the simple tastes of the early Mahommedans, who laid out their superfluities in the construction of great and durable works of ornament and utility.  Certainly no event can be more sorrowful among Mahommedans than that which is commemorated in the mohurrum by illuminations and processions with the Tazeeas; and yet no illuminations are more brilliant, and no processions more noisy, costly, and splendid.  It is worthy of remark, that Hindoo princes in Central and Southern India, even of the Brahmin caste, commemorate this event in the same way; and in no part of India are these illuminations and processions more brilliant and costly.  Their object is solely to amuse the population of their capitals, and to gratify the Mahommedan women whom they have under their protection, and their children, who must all be Mahommedans.

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CHAPTER VI.

Nawabgunge, midway between Cawnpoor and Lucknow—­Oosur soils how produced—­Visit from the prime minister—­Rambuksh, of Dhodeeakhera—­ Hunmunt Sing, of Dharoopoor—­Agricultural capitalists.  Sipahees and native offices of our army—­Their furlough, and petitions—­ Requirements of Oude to secure good government.  The King’s reserved treasury—­Charity distributed through the Mojtahid, or chief justice—­Infanticide—­Loan of elephants, horses, and draft bullocks by Oude to Lord Lake in 1804—­Clothing for the troops—­The Akbery regiment—­Its clothing, &c.,—­Trespasses of a great man’s camp in Oude—­Russoolabad and Sufeepoor districts—­Buksh Allee, the dome—­ Budreenath, the contractor for Sufeepoor—­Meeangunge—­Division of the Oude Territory in 1801, in equal shares between