MURSHIDABAD CITY. 37 This granary the people called Mansúrganj, or the Granary of the Victorious, i.e. Sirij-ud-dauli, who outwitted his grandfather. The abzub extorted on this occasion is said to have amounted to Rs. 501,597.' It was from Motijhil that Siraj-ud-daula, in 1757, marched out for the battle of Plassey; it was in the palace here that Colonel Clive placed Mir Jafar on the masnad; and it was again at Motijhíl that Lord Clive, as diteun of Bengal, Behar, and Orissa, held the first English Punyi, in 1766. Mir Jafar fixed his residence on the farther side of the river; and Motijhíl—or Muradbágh, as the place was sometimes called, from the name of a second palace in the neighbourhood—now became the home of the English Political Resident at the court of Murshidabad. One of the first to fill this office was Warren Hastings. Subsequently, during the years 1771–73, Mr. John Shore (afterwards Lord Teignmouth) lived at Motijhil, where he amused himself by improving the grounds and studying the Oriental languages. He described his life there in the following words :—Here I enjoy cooing doves, whistling blackbirds, and purling streams. I am quite solitary, and, except once a week, see no one of Christian complexion. In 1785-86 the head-quarters of the English were removed from Motijhil to Máidapur, prior to their final transfer to Barhampur. The Punjá or annual settlement of the revenues of Bengal was annually held at Motijhil, until it was abolished in 1772, when the Khálsá or Treasury was removed to Calcutta. It was a ceremony of state, at which all the great zamindárs attended in person, and paid a sort of homage to the Nawab. Khilats or presents were distributed, which were regarded as a confirmation of their appointment; and the rent-roll of the Provinces was then fixed for the year. A form like the Punyú is still kept up at the kachari of every zamindár, but the Goveriment ceremony has never been re-established. Clive attached great importance to this institution, and raised a special revenue collection in order to defray the expenses; but in 1769 the Court of Directors prohibited the giving of presents. In 1767 the Punjá was held at Motijhíl with peculiar pomp. The Nawab was seated on the masnad, with Mr. Verelst, the Governor, on his right hand. The latter in the strongest manner urged the ministers and landholders to give all possible encouragement to the clearing : ouragement to the clearing and cultivating of lands for the mulberry. On this occasion, khilats were distributed to the amount of Rs. 216,870. Some of the items were—for the Governor and his Council, Rs. 46,750; for the Nizámat, Rs. 38,800; for the people of the Treasury, Rs. 22,634 ; for the Zamindar of Nadiya, Rs. 7352 ; for the Rájá of Birbhúm, Rs. 1200; for the Rájá of Bishnupur, Rs. 734. Khush Bágh, the Garden of Happiness, the old cemetery of the Nawabs, lies on the right bank of the Bhagirathi, opposite Motijhíl.
