But, to my great disappointment, _I found every place through which I
passed abandoned; nor had there been a man left in any of them for their
protection_. I am sorry to add, _that, from Buxar to the opposite
boundary, I have seen nothing but traces of complete devastation in
every village: whether caused by the followers of the troops which have
lately passed, for their natural relief, (and I know not whether my own
may not have had their share,)_ or from the apprehensions of the
inhabitants left to themselves, and of themselves deserting their
houses. I wish to acquit my own countrymen of the blame of these
unfavorable appearances, and in my own heart I do acquit them; for at
one encampment a crowd of people came to me complaining that _their new
aumil (collector), on the approach of any military detachment, himself
first fled from the place; and the inhabitants, having no one to whom
they could apply for redress, or for the representation of their
grievances, and being thus remediless, fled also; so that their houses
and effects became a prey to any person who chose to plunder them_.
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