Administrative System of the Marathas c11.s3.t1.11

c11.s3.t1.11

This is by no means the worst that the English traveller has to say against the Maratha officers. He continues—"It is a General Calamity, and much to be deplored, to hear the Complaints of the poor People that remain, or are rather compelled to endure the Slavery of Seva Gi: The Desies have Land imposed upon them at double the former Rates, and if they refuse to accept it on these hard Conditions (if Monied Men) they are carried to Prison, there they are famished almost to death; racked and tortured most inhumanly till they confess where it is: They have now in Limbo several *Brachmins*, whose Flesh they tear with pincers heated Red-hot, drub them on the Shoulders to extreme Anguish (though according to their Law it is forbidden to strike a *Brachmin*). This is the accustomed Sawce all *India* over, the Princes doing the same by the Governors, when removed from their Offices, to squeeze their illgot Estates out of them; which when they have done, it may be they may be employ'd again: And after this fashion the *Desies* deal with the *Combies*; so that the Great Fish prey on the Little, as well by Land as by Sea, bringing not only them, but their Families into Eternal Bondage."³⁶ Fryer was of opinion that even Bijapore rule was milder than that of Shivaji.