Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c8.s5.22

v1.c8.s5.22

From the Bengal letter of 8th November 1744 we learn: "Horse and foot were gone to impede business at the *garā ārangs* (i.e., factories of coarse cotton cloth). The Nawāb went on seizing and whipping every person. Preet Cotmah was tortured till he agreed to pay Rs. 1,35,000, and (was then) delivered to another tormentor to make him agree to three *lakhs*. The (English Company's) *wakils* were kept two days at the *darbar* without eating.” . . . . After a time the Nawāb referred the affair (of the English Company) to Chain Rāi and Fathchand (Jagat Seth), who said, “The Nawāb does not expect this sum (namely, 30 *lakhs*) from the Company, but expects that they raise it among the merchants under their protection and from the number of rich persons (who have) fled to Calcutta during (these) troubles.” (They added) “that the Nawāb, to pay his troops, had spent the revenues of the province, his own wealth, and was forced to take money from his relations and servants, and therefore thought it highly reasonable (that) the inhabitants of Calcutta should pay a share. The military officers were impatient and daily importuned the Nawāb to give (them) orders to fall on the English and the *ārangs*.”