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including the Bacha himself, were illiterate
and had no experience of administration what-
soever. But they were invariably assisted by
Sher Jan, the Chamberlain. But for the help
of this man, the Bacha's regime would have
been a very brief one indeed.
During the period of nine months
that this reign lasted unspeakable atrocities
and appalling cruelties were daily per-
petrated, the poor citizens of the capital
providing the chief victims. The Arg was
the seat of this stern and relentless despotism,
which trampled on every principle of law,
justice and humanity, and which derived its
right and power not from God or the people
but from the sword.
Schools and colleges and all the useful
institutions were closed. Libraries, labora-
tories and the royal museum were sacked and
rare books and articles of value were either
destroyed, burnt or sold at ridiculous prices.
For one Kiran (about 3 pence) down, one
could buy as many books as he could carry
on one's shoulders. No man of birth, accom-
plishment or knowledge was suffered near
the person of this tyrant. Of the noblemen
and the scholars those who could find a
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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.