28 
NACKEE KHAN’S CRUELTY. 
that, at present, there was scarce a tomaun in the place.” En¬ 
raged at this answer, he repaired full of wrath to the town, and 
ordering eighteen of the principal inhabitants to be brought 
before him, again demanded the money, but with threats and 
imprecations which made the hearers tremble. Still, however, 
they could only return the same answer — “ their utter inability 
to pay and the tyrant, without a moment’s preparation, com¬ 
manded the men to be seized, and hurled from the top of the 
precipice, in his sight. Most of them were instantly killed on 
the spot; others, cruelly maimed, died in terrible agonies where 
they fell; and the describer of the dreadful scene was the only 
one who survived. He could form no idea of how long he lay 
after precipitation, utterly senseless ; “ but,” added he, “ by the 
will of God I breathed again ; and, on opening my eyes, found 
myself amongst the dead and mangled bodies of my former 
neighbours and friends. Some yet groaned.” He then related, 
that in the midst of his horror at the sight, he heard sounds of yet 
more terrible acts, from the top of the cliff; and, momentarily 
strengthened by fear of he knew not what, for he believed that 
death had already grasped his own poor shattered frame, he ma¬ 
naged to crawl away unperceived, into one of the numerous 
caverned holes which perforate the foot of the steep. He lay 
there in an expiring state the whole night, but in the morning 
was providentially discovered by some of the town’s people, who 
came to seek the bodies of their murdered relatives, to mourn 
over, and take them away for burial. The poor man, feeble as 
he was, called to these weeping groups ; and to their astonish¬ 
ment and joy, they drew out one survivor from the dreadful 
heap of slain. No time was lost in conveying him home, and 
administering every kind of assistance; but many months 
