Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c21.s5.19

v2.c21.s5.19

This surrender of territory allayed only one evil. It did nothing to meet the just demands of the palace servants and the imperial soldiery whose salaries had remained unpaid for three years. Men with arms in their hands and trained to act in concerted bands cannot be expected to starve in silence in the midst of a wealthy and masterless city. Anarchy reigned in Delhi after Alamgir II's accession in a worse form than before. The Marathas had been paid lakhs and lakhs, but the Mughal army could not actually get even half a month's salary in three years, in spite of the solemn promises of the wazir, and this fact exasperated the imperial soldiery beyond endurance; they daily plundered houses in the city on their own account. The powerful nobles put their mansions in a posture of defence, and the middle class,—especially the Hindu officials and traders, —alone suffered. *|TALS. 20b.|*