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)

298 VILLOIETTEE BEGUM.

death as convenient. Her vakeel (agent) wrote
to Meer Syaad Mahumud very soon after the
lady's death, to apprize him of the bequest
Villoiettee Begum had willed to him, and at
the same time forwarded the portable articles
to him at Lucknow.

" The Maulvee was much surprised, and
fancied there must be some mistake in the per-
son for whom this legacy was intended, as the
lady herself was entirely unknown to him, and
an inhabitant of a station so remote from his
own residence as not likely ever to have heard
of him. He, however, replied to the vakeel,
and wrote also to a gentleman in the neigh-
bourhood, desiring to have a strict inquiry
instituted before he could venture to accept
the riches of this lady's bounty, presuming that
even if he was the person alluded to in her
will, that the Begum must have intended him
as her almoner to the poor of Lucknow. The
good, upright Maulvee acted on the integrity of
his heart and desired a strict scrutiny might be
instituted into the will of the deceased, which
was accordingly made, and he was assured