Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c7.s6.2

v1.c7.s6.2

To individuals the Ruhelas, like others of the Afghan race, were not free from cruelty* vindictiveness and treachery. But as rulers, they saw the unwisdom of killing the goose that laid the golden eggs. They protected the peasants and traders in their lands from unauthorised oppression and were eager to drive away other robbers from their own preserves. In this they formed an honourable contrast to the Marāthās, who extorted their *chauth* and then went away, without recognising any moral obligation to protect the people whom they had robbed or whose regular Government they had overthrown. The Ruhela chieftains left the revenue collection in the hands of Hindu ministers (*diwāns*) and their household accounts and correspondence in charge of Hindu secretaries (*munshis*), who were generally very capable men of business and faithfully devoted to their masters' interests. The result was that both rulers and subjects prospered in their dominions when once the violent act of annexation was over.∗