This practice has annoyed the land-owners very much, and at last one
owner, a Hindoo, determined to put an end to the nuisance.
The Mohammedans had seized a mud hut which he owned, and as usual they
refused to pay rent for it. The Hindoo appealed to the British
Government, and under its protection sent workmen over and had the hut
demolished.
This enraged the Mohammedans.
The hut had been converted into a mosque, and they regarded its
destruction as a wicked act.
They rose against the Europeans under whose authority this had been
done, attacked them, and the soldiers had to be called out to quell the
disturbance.
The riots lasted for two days. At the end of that time it was reported
that to pacify the mob the authorities had given them possession of the
land on which the mosque had stood.
The European residents were very angry when this news reached them. They
feared that it would make the people still more unruly, as they would be
sure to think the authorities were afraid of them if they gave in to
their demands.
This prediction appears to have been correct, for even after the rioters
had been subdued, it was unsafe for Europeans to venture into some parts
of Calcutta without protection.
It is stated that the authorities did not really give up the land, but
only allowed the rumor to be circulated for the sake of pacifying the
mob. The police have possession of the disputed property, and will not
allow any one to approach it.
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