What is "begums"

Usage examples of "begums".

In those days (if the Major is to be believed) the lovely scandalous begums of India became awfully clumsy, and their chap‑pals spoke of rendezvous‑at‑midnight, of trellises of bougainvillaea outside bedroom windows, of husbands conveniently away launching ships or exporting tea or buying ball‑bearings from Swedes.