"If people were caught embezzling funds from the revenues allocated for them or there was a deficit in the collection, they were given the harshest of punishments. As Schwartz, too, had noted in his memoirs how on a daily basis the severest of tortures were organized for errant officials who literally trembled at the very thought of being apprehended. Mirza Ikbal elaborates: He [errant] was seized and tied with ropes, like a horse, before and behind, and having been stripped naked, an order was given to flog him with a whip . . . beat him cruelly over the back and loins, after which salt was thrown upon his wounds. If he complained, he was beaten on the mouth with a shoe; and if he cried, red pepper, dried and pounded, was thrown in his eyes; and he was tortured in this way every day for a month, if he did not agree to pay the money. Besides this, every two or three days, iron spits or rods were made red hot, and he was burned or branded all over him. This was in addition to imprisonment, starvation, and chains. As soon as the delinquent had paid the money, Hydur’s rage was softened and he presented him with shawls, and golden chains, and again offered the same office to the poor man who had just escaped from death. But if he refused to take it, the fire of Hydur’s wrath was rekindled. His cruelty, however, was still greater, when exerted in extorting money from the Hindoos."