. The Indian empire: history, topography, geology, climate, population, chief cities and provinces; tributary and protected states; military power and resources; religion, education, crime; land tenures; staple products; government, finance, and commerce . lf, he ordered his troops to retaliate, and not leave asoul alive where they should discover the corpse of a Persian. This command involvinglicense for a general massacre, was eagerly obeyed: the soldiery rushed into the houses,and gave free loose to their revenge, and lust, and covetousness. The streets of Delhistreamed with blood; many tho
. The Indian empire: history, topography, geology, climate, population, chief cities and provinces; tributary and protected states; military power and resources; religion, education, crime; land tenures; staple products; government, finance, and commerce . lf, he ordered his troops to retaliate, and not leave asoul alive where they should discover the corpse of a Persian. This command involvinglicense for a general massacre, was eagerly obeyed: the soldiery rushed into the houses,and gave free loose to their revenge, and lust, and covetousness. The streets of Delhistreamed with blood; many thoroughfares were blocked up with carcasses; flames burstforth in all parts of the town, where the wretched inhabitants, distracted by the thoughtof beholding their wives and children in the hands of the enemy, had preferred sharingwith them a fiery death. The shrieks and groans of the dying and the dishonouredpierced the air, overpowering at times the fearful imprecations, or yet more fiendishscoffings of their persecutors; and, from sunrise to broad noon, these horrid sights andsounds continued unabated. Nadir Shah, after issuing the terrible mandate, went to alittle mosque in the great bazaar near the centre of the city, and there remained in =^ j. THE INDIAN EMPIRE ILLUSTRATED. 145 gloomy silence until he was aroused by the entrance of his royal prisoner, MohammedShah, whose deep distress for the sufferings of the people at length prevailed upon theconqueror to command that the massacre should cease. In this terrible punishment,according to the lowest trustworthy statement, 30,000 human beings were put to thesword; while the native authors compute the number as reaching 120,000; adding, thatabout 10,000 women threw themselves into wells, to escape outrage; some of whom weretaken out alive, after being there two or three days. The wretched survivors of thiscalamity were so prostrated by the blow, that they appear to have wanted energyeven to perform the obsequies of the dead.
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