Meer Hassan Ali, B.: Observations on the Mussulmauns of India: descriptive of their manners, customs, habits, and religious opinions ; made during a twelve years residence in their immediate Society (Band 2) (London, 1832)

160 SOODADIIAARS.

dome, and is ascended by a flight of broad
steps. This building stands about three miles
from the city, in a good situation to be seen
from the road. I was told that the family of
Oude kept readers of the Khoraun in constant
attendance at the mukhburrah; and I observed
several soldiers, whose duty it was to guard the
sacred spot, at the expense of the Oude govern-
ment.

In explanation of the word Soobadhaar, it
may not be uninteresting to remark in this
place, that when the government of Hindoo-
staun flourished under the descendants of Ti-
moor, Soobadhaars were appointed over dis-
tricts, whose duty, in some respects, bore re-
semblance to that of a Governor; with this
difference, that the soobadhaaries were gifts,
not only for the life of the individuals, but to
their posterity for ever, under certain restric-
tions and stipulations which made them tri-
butary to, and retained them as dependants of,
the reigning sovereign :—as for instance, a cer-
tain annual amount was to be punctually trans-