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Machine transcription
merciless marauders no one stands out so pro-
minent in point of cruelty as Malik Mohsin, the
Governor of Kabul. This old rogue (he was
seventy years of age) plumed himself on the
fact that the Bacha himself had once been in
his service as a menial, for Malik Mohsin
was a big landlord in the village of Bacha's
birth. Those who were summoned by him
usually took a last farewell of their family, as
they had no hopes of returning alive. He had
a separate prison of his own where daily a
large number of people were tortured under
his cruel orders.
Wealthy traders were ordered to supply
the Government with huge sums of money,
or in default undergo severe physical tortures.
Prices were abnormally high, trade was almost
at a standstill and nearly all the citizens
were thrown out of employment. Only those
who offered themselves for active service
could get employment, for the Bacha had
the provinces yet to subdue. But even the
higher posts were reserved for robbers and
notorious adventurers, and an honest man
hardly ever rose above the ranks.
Wealthy people, important public servants
and men of influence were the chief
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Roughly two thirds of characters agree with a modern printed edition of the same text. Much of the disagreement is editorial, not misreading. Treat the transcription as a finding aid and read the page image before quoting. How this was measured.