[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [General histories](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general) › [Tārīkh-i Firishta](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tarikh-i-firishta) › [History of the Rise of the Mahomedan Power in India (Briggs)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tarikh-i-firishta~en-briggs) › 40.3.2 # Firishta's History (Gulshan-i Ibrāhīmī) 40.3.2 History of the Rise of the Mahomedan Power in India (Briggs) 40.3.2 - **Language:** English ### [40.3.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tarikh-i-firishta~en-briggs.40.3.2) At this time the taxes were so heavy, and exacted with such rigour by the revenue officers, that in the whole extent of that fertile tract lying between the rivers Ganges and Jumna, the cultivators, weary of their lives, set fire to their houses, and retired to the woods with their families and cattle. Many populous towns were abandoned, and remained so for several years. The colony of Dowlutabad was also in great distress. The people, without houses, and without employment, were reduced to the utmost misery. The tyrannical caprices of this despot exceed any thing we have met with in history; of which the following is a horrid instance. While he remained at Dehly he led his army out to hunt, as is customary with princes. When he arrived in the district of Beiram, he plainly told his officers, that he came not to hunt beasts but men, and without any obvious reason, began to massacre the inhabitants. He had even the barbarity to bring home some thousands of their heads and to hang them over the city walls. On another occasion he made an excursion towards Kunowj, and put to death the inhabitants of that city, and the neighbourhood for many miles round, spreading terror and desolation wherever he turned his eyes. - [Previous: 40.3.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tarikh-i-firishta~en-briggs.40.3.1) - [Next: 40.3.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tarikh-i-firishta~en-briggs.40.3.3) - [Up: 40.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tarikh-i-firishta~en-briggs.40.3) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tarikh-i-firishta~en-briggs.40.3.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.general.tarikh-i-firishta~en-briggs.40.3.2) · Pramāṇa