Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c54.s12.11

v4.c54.s12.11

13 Sept.—Jaswant Holkar came to Nāsik, invested it, divided the city by barriers, and confining the well-to-do to their houses without food or drink, is demanding forty lakhs as ransom. They offered him four lakhs, but he replied, “Pay down forty lakhs; or else I shall first sack your holy city and then set fire to it.” The people said, “We are present before you; our men, children, houses and city are at your disposal. Do what your heart desires”. . . . Seizing the well-to-do householders in the villages of this district, he has brought them to his camp, and is beating them for exacting money. . . . Fath Singh Māné has occupied Rasin, Bhosen, and Kārkomb, and is beating the *kārkun* for securing ransom. . . . At Kārkomb no man was spared, the habitations have been depopulated. . . Mangavidé was subjected to the same fate as Kārkomb”. (Kh. xiv. 6427, 6433.)