NABOB, a corruption from nawaub, the plural of naib. The title means de puted, but it is often assumed in India without a right to do it. As the real sig nification and import of this word are not generally known, we shall extract a pas sage out of Mr. Orme's " History of the Carnatic," that will place them in the clearest point of view : " Most of the countries which have been conquered by the Great Mogul in the peninsula of India, are comprised under one viceroyalty, call ed from its situation, Decan, or South. From the word Soubah, signifying a pro vince, the viceroy of this vast territory is called soubadar, and by Europeans, im properly, soubah. Of the countries under his jurisdiction, some are entirely sub jected to the throne of Delhi, and govern ed by Mahomedans, whom Europeans Improperly call Moors ; whilst others remain under the government of their original Indian princes, or rajahs, and are suffered to follow their ancient modes, on condition of paying tribute to the Great Mogul. The Moorish governors depending on the soubah assume, when treating with their inferiors, the title of nabob, which signifies deputy ; but this in the registers of the throne (of Delhi) is synonymous to Soubadar, and the greatest part of those ' who style them selves nabobs are ranked at Delhi under the title of phousdar, which is much infe rior to that which they assume. The Eu ropeans established in the territories of the pseudo-nabobs, (if we may be allow ed the expression) following the example of the natives with whom they have most intercourse, have agreed in giving them the title they so much affect.
"A nabob ought to hold his commis sion from Delhi, and if, at his death, a successor has not been previously ap pointed by the Great Mogul, the soubah has the right of naming a person to admi nister the nabobship until the will of the sovereign is known ; but a nabob thus appointed by a soubah is not deemed au thentically established until he is confirm ed from 'Delhi. The soubah receives from the several nabobs the annual reve nues of the crown, and remits them to the treasury of the empire. The nabobs are obliged to accompany him in all military expeditions within the extent of his vice royalty, but not in any without that ex tent. These regulations were intended to place them in such a state of depen dence on the soubah as shall render them subservient to the interest of the empire, and at the same time leave them in a state of independence, which would ren der it difficult for the soubah to make use of their assistance to brave the throne. Nabobs, however, have kept possession of their governments in opposition both to the soubah and the throne ; and what is more extraordinary, in the offices of a despotic state, both soubahs and nabobs have named their successors, who have often succeeded, with as little opposition as if they had been the heirs apparent of an hereditary dominion."