Among young men there are always great numbers who prefer the life to that of a peasant, working steadily from daylight to dark, and I don't know that I altogether blame them." "Then you think, Uncle, there is no doubt whatever that there will be war ?" "Not a shadow of doubt, Dick--indeed, it may be said to have begun already; and, like the last, it is largely due to the incapacity of the government of Madras." "I have just received a message from Arcot," the Rajah said, two months later, "and I must go over and see the Nabob." "I thought," Mrs.Holland said, "that Tripataly was no longer subject to him.

I understood that our father was made independent of Arcot ?" "No, Margaret, not exactly that.

The Nabob had involved himself in very heavy debts, during the great struggle.

The Company had done something to help him, but were unable to take all his debts on their shoulders; and indeed, there was no reason why they should have done so, for although during most of the war he was their ally, he was fighting on his own behalf, and not on theirs.
"In the war with Hyder it was different.

He was then quite under English influence, and, indeed, could scarcely be termed independent.
And as he suffered terribly--his lands were wasted, his towns besieged, and his people driven off into slavery--the Company are at present engaged in negotiations for assisting him to pay his debts, which are very heavy.
"It was before you left, when the Nabob was much pressed for money, and had at that time no claim on the Company, that our father bought of him a perpetual commutation of tribute, taxes, and other monies and subsidies payable by Tripataly; thus I am no longer tributary to Arcot.