600 
THE CAPTURE OF CALCUTTA. 
the guard had been cut to pieces, as the lesser evil. ' It was about 
eight o’clock when these unhappy people, exhausted by continual 
action and fatigue, were thus crammed together in a close sultry night, 
into a dungeon about eighteen feet square, shut up to the east and 
south, the only quarters where air could reach them, by dead walls, 
and by a wall ami door to the north, open only to the west bv two 
windows strongly barred with iron, from which they could scarce 
receive any circulation of fresh air. 
They had been but a few minutes confined before every one fell 
into a perspiration so profuse, that no idea can be formed of it. This 
brought on a raging thirst, which increased as the body was drained 
of its moisture. Various expedients were thought of, to give more 
air. Every man was stripped, and every hat put in motion ; they 
several times sat down on their hams, but each time several fell, and 
W'ere instantly suffocated or trod to death. Before nine their thirst 
grew intolerable, and respiration difficult. Efforts w'ere again made 
to force the door ; but still in vain. “ Water ! water !” became the 
general cry. Some water was brought ; but these supplies, like water 
sprinkled on fire, only served to raise and feed the flames. The 
confusion became general and horrid, from the cries and cravings for 
water. This scene of misery proved entertainment to the brutal 
wretches without, \\ho supplied them with the water, that they might 
have the satisfaction of seeing them fight for it, as they termed it ; 
and held up lights to the bars, that they might lose no part of the 
inhuman diversion. 
Before eleven o’clock one-third of the w hole were dead. Thirst grew 
intolerable; but Mr. Holwell kept his mouth moist by sucking the 
perspiration out of his shirt sleeves, and catching the drops as they 
fell from bis head and face. By half an hour after eleven, most of the 
living were in an outrageous delirium. They found that water height- 
ened their uneasiness : Air ! air !” w as the general cry. Every 
insult that could he devised against the guard, all the opprobrious 
names that the viceroy and his officers could be loaded with, were 
repeated, to provoke the guard to fire upon them. Every man had 
eager hopes of meeting the first shot. Then a general prayer was 
offered to Heaven, to hasten the approach of the flames to the right 
and left of them, and put a period to thei,r misery. Some expired 
upon others, while a steam arose from the living as well as the dead, 
which was very offensive. 
About two in the morning tliev crowded so much to the w'indows, 
that many died standing, being so pressed all round, that they could 
not fall down. When the day broke, the stench arising from the dead 
bodies was intolerable. At that juncture, the Souhah, who had 
received an account of the havoc death had made among them, sent 
one of his officers to inquire if the chief survived. Mr. Holwell was 
shewn to him, and a little before six o’clock an order came for their 
release. — Thus they had remained in this infernal prison from eight 
at night until six in the morning, when the poor remains of one hun- 
dred and forty six souls, (only twenty-three,) came out barely alive, 
and most of them in a high putrid fever. The dead bodies were 
dragged out of the hole by the soldiers, and thrown promiscuously 
