520 MUH The following is an administrative sketch from Colonel Sleeman's Torer through Oudh:
- The late Hakeem Mehndee took the contract of the Mahomdee district,
as already stated, in the year A.D. 1804, when it was in its present bad state, at 3,11,000 rupees a year, and he lield it till the year 1819, or for sixteen years. He had been employed in the Azimgurh district under Boo Allee Hakeem, the contractor; and during the negotiations for the transfer of that district with the other territories to the British Government, which took place in 1801, he lost his place and returned to Lucknow, where he paid his court to the then Dewan or Chancellor of the Exchequer, who offered him the contract of the Mahomdee district at three lacs and eleven thousand rupees a year, on condition of his depositing in the treasury a security bond for thirty-two thousand rupees. There had been a liaison between him and a beautiful dancing girl named Peeajoo, who had saved a good deal of money. She advanced the money, and Hakeem Mehndee deposited the bond, and got the contract. The greater part of the district was then as now a waste, and did not yield more than enough to cover the Government demand, gratuities to courtiers, and cost of management. The Hakeem remained to support his influence at court, while his brother, Hadee Allee Khan, resided at Mahomdee, and managed the district. The Hakeem and his fair friend were married, and lived happily together till her death, which took place before that of her husband, while she was on a pilgrimage to Mecca. While she lived he married no other woman; but on her death he took to himself another who survived him; but he had no child by either. His vast property was left to Monowur- ood-dowlah, the only son of his brother, Aladee Allee Khan, and tohis widow and dependants. The district improved rapidly under the care of the two brothers, and in a few years yielded them about seven lacs of rupees a year. The Government demand increased with the rent-roll to the extent of four lacs of rupees a year. This left a large income for Hakeem Mehndee and his family, who had made the district a garden, and gained the universal respect and affection of the people. "In the year 1807, Hakeem Mehndee added to the contract of Mahomdee that of the adjoining district of Khyrabad at five lacs of rupees a year, making his contract nine lacs. In 1816, he added the contract for the Bahraetch district at seven lacs and seventy-five thousand; but he resigned. this in 1819, after having held it for two years, with no great credit to himself. In 1819 he lost the contract for Mahomdee and Khyrabad from the jealousy of the prime minister, Aga Meer. In April, 1818, the Gov. ernor-General, the Marquis of Hastings, passed through his district of Khyrabad, on his way to the Tarae forest on a sporting excursion after the Marhatta war. Hakeera Mehndee attended him during this excursion, and the Governor-General was so much pleased with his attentions, cour- teous manners, and sporting propensities, and treated him with so much consideration and kindness, that the minister took the alarm, and deter- mined to get rid of so formidable a rival. He in consequence made the most of the charge preferred against him of the murder of Amur Sing; and demanded an increase of five lacs of rupees a year, or fourteen lacs of rupees a year instead of nine, This Hakcem Mehndee would not consent
