of their husbands, flogged them, in order to make them produce other jewels and effects, which he said they had buried somewhere under ground, and to make the inhabitants bring him money, notwithstanding there was yet no cultivation in the country.  Terrified with the flagellations, some of them produced their jewels and wearing-apparel of their women, to the amount of ten or fifteen pagodas, which they had hidden; others, who declared they had none, the aumildar flogged their women severely, tied cords around their breasts, and tore the sucking children from their teats, and exposed them to the scorching heat of the sun.  Those children died, as did the wife of Ramsoamy, an inhabitant of Bringpoor.  Even this could not stir up compassion in the breast of the aumildar.  Some of the children that were somewhat large he exposed to sale.  In short, the violences of the aumildar are so astonishing, that the people, on seeing the present situation, remember the loss of Hyder with regret.  With whomsoever the aumildar finds a single measure of natchinee or rice, he takes it away from him, and appropriates it to the expenses of the sibindy that he keeps up.  No revenues are collected from the countries, but from the effects of the poor, wretched inhabitants.  Those ryots [yeomen] who intended to return to their habitations, hearing of those violences, have fled for refuge, with their wives and children, into Hyder’s country.  Every day is ushered in and closed with these violences and disturbances.  I have no power to do anything; and who will hear what I have to say?  My business is to inform your Highness, who are my master.  The people bring their complaints to me, and I tell them I will write to your Highness.[74]

Translation of a Tellinga Letter from Veira Permaul, Head Dubash to Lord Macartney, in his own Handwriting, to Rajah Ramchunda, the Renter of Ongole. Dated 25th of the Hindoo month Mausay, in the year Plavanamal, corresponding to 5th March, 1782.

I present my respects to you, and am very well here, wishing to hear frequently of your welfare.

Your peasher Vancatroyloo has brought the Visseel Bakees, and delivered them to me, as also what you sent him for me to deliver to my master, which I have done.  My master at first refused to take it, because he is unacquainted with your disposition, or what kind of a person you are.  But after I made encomiums on your goodness and greatness of mind, and took my oath to the same, and that it would not become public, but be held as precious as our lives, my master accepted it.  You may remain satisfied that I will get the Ongole business settled in your name; I will cause the jamaubundee to be settled agreeable to your desire.  It was formerly the Nabob’s intention to give this business to you, as the Governor knows full well, but did not at that time agree to it, which you must be well acquainted with.