A History of the Mahrattas v2.c51.7

v2.c51.7

Holkar now laid aside the mask of moderation, and began to extort and to plunder with all the violence of his habits and character. Chintoo Punt and Wyjunath Punt, who by their exertions in levying the contribution might have been at least entitled to his forbearance, were delivered over as prisoners to Huree Punt Bhawey and Hureenath, two Bramins, equally cruel and more systematically wicked than Shirzee Rao Ghatgay. They tortured both the persons thus made over to them, in order to extort money; and every respectable householder of Poona, possessed of property, was seized and forced by any means to give up his wealth. Several men died under the tortures they underwent. Amrut Rao was not less blameable than Holkar in the enormities thus inflicted on the unhappy inhabitants of Poona, whose sufferings at this time were particularly severe, owing to Bajee Rao’s having stationed guards to prevent their flight previous to the battle of the 25th October; and Holkar, though with a different motive, took care to observe a similar precaution, as soon as the issue of the contest had established his control.