Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c22.s7.22

v2.c22.s7.22

Secure in the possession of Delhi, the conqueror began the exaction of a money tribute. Before this, stray groups of his soldiers had robbed houses and wayfarers here and there, but that was unauthorized occasional looting and a few of the looters had been brutally punished by way of example. Now a methodical official spoliation of the fallen capital was ordered. Abdali was pressed for time. He must realize the spoils of war as quickly as possible, in order to avoid the Indian summer and also to allow the Marathas no time for assembling and bringing up a large army from the Deccan. He expected a vast sum, worthy of the richest capital in Asia.* While Intizām was urged to collect the two *krores* promised by him, the screw was put on other rich men also. Imād was ordered to deliver to the Shāh all the jewels he had removed from the palace stores during his two and a half years of dictatorship, and on his pleading poverty he was abused and subjected to “an extreme degree of dishonour.” [*DC.*] His house had been escheated from the first and he naturally replied, “I have given you all I possessed. Whence can I produce more?” At this, Abdali’s officers rebuked and insulted him, beat his head servants with sticks as only heartless Afghans know how to beat, and dishonoured them in many ways. They also bastinadoed Sangi Beg and Abdur Rahman Khan, the chief officers of Intizām’s household, and Basant Khan, the eunuch in charge of the Emperor’s harem. Other palace eunuchs and noblemen’s servants were subjected to similar violence to make them yield money.