Page:History of India Vol 6.djvu/341

THE EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT AT HUGLI 275 commercial settlement at Hugli, about twenty leagues from Rajmahal in Bengal. In former times they had obtained the grant of a parcel of land for the stowing of their merchandise and for their abode. There they built a strong fort, with towers and walls, and furnished it with artillery. They also built a place of worship which they call " church " (kallsa). In course of time they overstepped the sufferance that they had obtained. They vexed the Mussul- mans of the neigh- bourhood and har- assed travellers, and were continually ex- erting themselves to strengthen their set- tlement. Of all their odi- ous practices the fol- lowing was the worst : In the ports which they occupied on the seacoast, they offered no injury either to the property or person of any of the Mohammedans or Hindus who dwelt under their rule; but if one of these inhabitants died, leaving children of tender age, they took both the children and the property under their charge, and, whether these young children were by birth Mohammed- ans, or whether they were of the religion of the Brah- A GROUP OP HINDU CHILD WIDOWS.