History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c66.s3.1

v4.c66.s3.1

During the twelve years of Madanna's ministry the internal administration of the country was marked by the same disorder and tyranny as in the reign of Abdullah, and matters naturally declined from bad to worse. As the English at Madras wrote on 23rd July 1676, "Madanna has sole control, and nothing is thought of but peeling and squeezing the people. . . . The government of the country (i.e., the Karnatak) is now in so bad hands that nothing but fraud and oppression, and so void of shame that no credit can be given to either agreements, promises, qauls or farmans." (Love, i. 356-357.) With a grasping and suspicious paramount Power, a sensual king, a venal aristocracy, and an ignorant and timid people, the reform of the kingdom was hopeless.