Siraj ud-Daulah

"This successor was Siraj-uddaula a young man of twenty-four or twenty-five, very common in appearance. Before the death of Aliverdi- khan the character of Siraj-uddaula was reputed to be one of the worst ever known. In fact he had distinguished himself not only by all sorts of debaucheries but by a revolting cruelty. The Hindu women are accustomed to bathe on the banks of the Ganges. Siraj-uddaula, who was informed by his spies which of them were beautiful, sent his satellites in disguise in little boats to carry them off. He was often seen, in the season when the river overflows, causing the ferry boats to be upset or sunk, in order to have the cruel pleasure of seeing the confusion of a hundred people at a time, men, women and children, of whom many, not being able to swim were sure to perish. If there was any necessity to get rid of some great lord or Minister, Siraj-uddaula alone appeared in the business, whilst Aliverdikhan retired to one of his houses or gardens outside the town, so as not to hear the cries of the persons whom he was causing to be killed. Every one trembled at the name of Siraj- uddaula. People however flattered themselves that when he became Nawab he would become more humane. One may judge of this by the terrible scene presented to us in the capture of Calcutta."