382 COOCH BEHAR STATE
succeeded him, having quarrelled with Raghu's son, Parikshit, invoked
the aid of the Mughals and declared himself a vassal of the emperor of
Delhi. The history of the Koch kings now loses all general interest.
The eastern kingdom was gradually absorbed by the Ahoms, while the
western was shorn of its outlying possessions by the Mughals on the
south and west and by the Bhotias on the north, until at last only
the modern State of Cooch Behar remained in the precarious possession
of Biswa Singh's descendants. Internal affairs also fell into deplor
able confusion. In accordance with the curse of the Hindu political
system, three families, all scions of the royal stock, the Nazir Deo, the
Diwan Deo, and the Raikat of Baikuntpur, each claimed an hereditary
position which was inconsistent with unity of administration, and did
not hesitate to call in the foreign foe to support their pretensions.
It was under these circumstances that the attention of the East India
Company was first attracted to Cooch Behar and its affairs. In 1772,
the Nazir Deo having been driven out of the country by his rivals, who
were aided by the Bhotias, and the Raja having fled to Panga, the
former applied for assistance to Warren Hastings, then Governor of
Bengal. A detachment of sepoys was accordingly marched into Cooch
Behar, and the Bhotias were expelled after a short resistance and forced
to sue for peace through the intervention of the Lama of Tibet. The
treaty between the East India Company and the Raja of Cooch Behar
made on this occasion bears date April 5, 1773. By the third clause
the Raja acknowledged subjection to the East India Company and con-
sented to his country being annexed to the Province of Bengal. This
right of annexation was, however, eventually waived by the Govern-
ment. In subsequent clauses the Raja promised to make over one-half
of his annual revenues, according to an assessment to be made by
the Company. This moiety was permanently fixed by the Collector.
of Rangpur in 178o at Rs. 67,7oo. Fresh domestic dissensions soon
reduced the administration to a deplorable condition, and in 1788 a
Commission of two Civil Servants was nominated to inquire into the
state of the country. The Commissioners concluded their report by re-
commending the appointment of a Resident or Commissioner at the
town of Cooch Behar. This office subsequently became merged in that
of Governor-General's Agent for the North-East Frontier. The present
Maharaja, His Highness Colonel Sir Nripendra Narayan Bhûp Bahadur,
G. C. I. E., C. B., was placed on the gaddi on August 6, 1863, when he was
only ten months old. In January, 1864, the succession was sanctioned
by Government, but a British Commissioner was appointed to undertake
the direct management of affairs during the minority of the young ruler.
Several salutary reforms were thus introduced: a complete survey and
settlement was made, and the various departments of the State were put
upon the firm and substantial basis which underlies the present system
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