largely covered with thick jungles in which the denizens of the forest held their solitary sway. Raghab reclaimed the jungles, and, in the place of the savages of the wood whom he had killed or cast out, settled human beings of different orders by making them grants of rent-free lands and helping them in various other ways. Thus, what was a little obscure village, partly tenanted by savage beasts and partly by equally savage men, became in a few short years something like a town with a large sprinkling of peaceful citizens of all castes and creeds.
Raghab was a remarkable man. Not only did he raise the Patuli family in honor, he also added much to its affluence. The Zamindari left by his father was considerably augmented by the addition of one and twenty Parganas. Some of these Parganas were very large and rich. The gross collections of the biggest and richest of them all namely, Arsha in Sarkar Satgaon amounted to upwards of two lakhs. Indeed, the net profits after paying the Government revenue in respect of that single Pargana were sufficient to entitle a man to be called a big Zamindar. Thus, Raghab had become one of the greatest men and was deservedly held in high esteem by the neighbouring Zamindars. He lived like a prince and died full of years and honours.
