Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c8.s5.1

v1.c8.s5.1

This second Bargi invasion (March to May, 1743) repeated the misery of the previous year's raid, though in a smaller theatre and for a shorter time. The English merchants of Calcutta write, “An entire stop was put to (our) business for some time at Calcutta, Qāsimbāzār and Patna.” The defensive measures at Calcutta are thus described: “On the Marāthas’ return we on 17th March (1743) ordered the batteries to be put in good order and entertained a hundred Baksaris. We raised a militia of the inhabitants on 4th April. The merchants proposed at their own expense to dig a ditch round the town to secure their houses. (The Council) agreed thereto on 29th March and lent them Rs. 25,000 on four persons’ security to repay it in three months; which is completed as far as the Great Road that leads from the Fort Gate towards the Lake and is begun to be carried on as far as the extent of the Company’s bounds at Govindpur.” This was the origin of the famous Marātha Ditch of Calcutta. [Bengal letter, 3rd February, 1744.] At Patna the nāib nāzim, Zainuddin Ahmad Haibat Jang, constructed a mud wall round the city.