290The Imperial Court, the New Subadars and the Region

Moreover, the road was within striking distance of the Bundelas. Since the early 1730s it was suggested that the route of the Bengal treasury, therefore, should be diverted to the road that passed through Benaras, Chunar and Jaunpur to the territory of Awadh, and thence to Bareilly and Delhi. It was also suggested that the deputy governor should provide sufficient armed contingents to escort the treasury. As this meant greater importance for Awadh and more power and privileges for its governor, Safdar Jang welcomed the suggestion and himself conducted the treasury through the province of Awadh.54 From that time Mir Rustam Ali Khan, the ijaradar of the four sarkars of Allahabad, would customarily go to Sahsaram (Bihar) to escort the treasury to Benaras from where (p.265) Safdar Jang took charge and conducted it to the north-west borders of Awadh.55 It was also possibly in appreciation of this assistance that initially some sarkars and later the whole of Allahabad province was allowed by the centre to pass into the charge of Burhan-ul-Mulk.