Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c25.s4.11

v2.c25.s4.11

The Afghan conqueror’s haughty agent had been expelled from Delhi, but the agony of the imperial city showed no sign of ending. It had been squeezed dry of its wealth twice by Abdali and his troops in the first quarter of the year 1757; Najib’s war requisitions had kept up the strain in July and August, and Maratha cannon had damaged its palaces and bastions; the high price and scarcity of foodstuffs had continued throughout, and now during the two months of September and October “a shaking fever raged with violence through the entire city, and left the eyes affected. Then came an epidemic of brain fever * in the following March and April. Grain became very dear, mung dāl was so scarce that only half a seer could be had for a Rupee, māsh dāl 5 seers, and wheat 9 seers ; even medicines became very dear and scanty on account of the exactions of the Marathas.” |DC.| Inside the walls, “theft and dacoity prevailed greatly owing to the break-down of the Emperor’s administration. Respectable men like Sayyids, Mughals &c., who formerly used to earn a living by service as soldiers, now found no employment, while those in service could not get their salaries. The jāgirdārs received nothing from their jāgirs, which other men had usurped. Every one [of these classes] took to burglary in the houses of the city, collecting large gangs armed with muskets. Their leaders were two Turki soldiers. The head of the city police was accused of shielding the burglars and sharing their spoils ! To crown this long-drawn agony came a visitation of earthquake on 21st November, 1757. The first shock, felt about one o’clock in the afternoon, was a severe one, followed by six lighter tremours. Then, about 9 P. M. "it was so violent that Doomsday seemed at hand." | *TALS.* 148 ; *DC.* |