_ 346 _ looked after their own interests and personal profit rather than the common good, because it was necessary for them to remain in their positions, which still continues to the present. As a consequence, this kingdom and city have suffered and continue to suffer many hardships and adversities. Things have come to such a pass that none of its native merchants or people can afford to eat girasol rice, but only those who have ruined them and reduced them to their present state. The local people have left and it has been abandoned by the foreigners who had come here in times past, and were expelled if they committed crimes. At present, it is the opposite, since they leave and do not settle here because of what they feel about the governing and lack of justice. Although in years gone by this was partly so due to the offences and humiliations that were committed against the merchants and other people, these were of such a nature that they could bear and endure them, and they considered it better to remain in the country than to abandon it, as they do at present. To convince Your Lordship even more about this, Khwaja Ibrahim (of whom you will already have information) is the person who said to the Chief Treasury Officer that if he was in this city it was because it was an
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