Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c22.s7.26

v2.c22.s7.26

As for the common people, a levy house by house for the entire city was decreed, the town was divided into sections for convenience of assessment, offices for collection were opened, and the entire work put in charge of Yahiya Khan, a son of the celebrated Zakariyā Khan of Lāhor and for a short time his successor as subahdar of that province, but living in unemployment and poverty since 1748. "The richer men were summoned by name by means of letters. In every ward of the city a *kalaposh* sardar was stationed with his troops. Counting the houses, he demanded from each householder more than he could possibly pay. Great beating and extortion went on. Men, in fear of torture, wanted to sell their ornaments utensils and clothing, but found no buyer. Gold sold at Rs. 8 to 10 a *tola* [=180 grains], pure silver at 2 tolas a Rupee, and alloyed silver at three. Utensils [of copper or brass] sold at 3 seers to the Rupee. Many citizens took poison on account of their poverty, many died under torment from wounds or burns being inflicted on their bodies. Even men who paid the levy, had their floors dug up and their houses plundered. Not a man in the city could escape this calamity. This trouble raged from the 4th to the 20th of February, when at last a rumour arose that the Shāh was about to march away, and the collectors were urged to speed up the collection. Then they made a second demand on those who had paid already and the beating and slaying began again! Many houses that had at first escaped were now plundered." [TALS. 100b-101a.]