Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c44.s2.11

v4.c44.s2.11

A conference of physicians was held and they decided that as the best medicines known to their science had been employed in vain, the disease was not a bodily but an unearthly attack. A syndicate of learned astrologers confirmed the doctors' finding. A search was then set on foot for the workers of the diabolical conspiracy. Where evidence is so eagerly sought, it is always found. On 14th July spies reported that a woman of Vrindāvan had been boasting to her cronies that Sindhia's illness was the triumph of her witchcraft, and that she had practised it at the instigation of Gosain Himmat Bahādur's agents. She was brought before Sindhia, when she admitted her guilt. Later she identified the two servants of Himmat Bahādur (one disciple and one eunuch) who had paid her money and supplied the necessary materials for her infernal art. On being plied with promises of high reward, she performed then and there magical rites for counteracting the mischief already done, and lo! it had immediate effect in decreasing Sindhia's pain. Thus the charge was publicly proved true.