History of the Parsis : including their manners, customs, religion and present position : with coloured and other illustrations : in two volumes

CHAP. 11.] ZLHE NIZAM’ S GOVERNMENT. 127

year or two of their connection with the Nizam’s Government, the firm of “Pestanji Vikaji” of Hydrabad became its principal banking-house, lending to the Government for State purposes, including the expenditure on military forces, several lakhs of rupees every year.

From 1835 to 1845 their direct advances to the State amounted to the gigantic sum of one crore and eight lakhs of rupees (£1,080,000), out of which no less than eighty-three lakhs were handed over to the Hast India Company for defraying the expenses of the ‘‘contingent troops” which the Nizam, under treaty, was bound to provide the means of supporting. For the liquidation of these advances the Nizam entered into a scheme or arrangement by which he mortgaged to them the revenues of the valley of the Berars, together with the province of Aurangabad, which amounted to about twentythree lakhs of rupees a year, and actually placed them, with the cognisance and approval of the British Resident at Hydrabad, in charge of Belapur, Akola, Mekhar, Parbani, and other districts, They were also allowed to retain in their service a small armed force, and it is said that the Nizam received from them, as from his other vassal chiefs, the usual feudatory homage of Nazarana. The State mint at Aurangabad was also entrusted to their charge, and since the advent of the Parsis into the country there