It was Captain Macleod who, having said "by this observation (_a slight of hand_ in receiving and issuing grain by measure), I do not mean _to attempt_ to screen the bullock-contractors;" and added, "who, I am persuaded, _in my own mind_, must have embezzled the greatest proportion of the quantity deficient;" yet does shortly afterwards release from arrest, at the sole desire of the bullock-contractors, of all other men, not indeed a _bullock_, but yet its tantamount, a _flock_ contractor, notwithstanding this, "one of the duffadars, Narnapah by name, was detected in having _concealed_ seventy bags of rice in the bazar of the Nizam's camp, for the purpose of being sold there;" and, for all that, such seventy bags "were, on _discovery_, removed from the Nizam's bazar to the grain depôt, near head-quarters." Papers, p. 79. It was once more Captain Macleod, who having said, "I impute the deficiencies, generally, to the corruption of Sechiram," yet does not confine or arrest this "security for all the contractors,[D] because his holding a jaghire from government, in the Baramahl was _supposed to be_ a sufficient hold upon him," or hold, "which would put it _out of his power to elude_ any punishment or penalty that might afterwards be adjudged for his deception." Papers, p. 77. [D] "Except those of Selum, who appear, by the accompanying statement (part of Captain Macleod's often-mentioned Report,) to have lost or embezzled the _smallest_ proportion." And such is the mode of reasoning subscribed to, rather than implicitly believed in, by Lord Harris, where his Lordship says, "of Captain Macleod's merits I have already had occasion to speak in terms of the highest praise,[E] and although placed at the head of those persons from whose misconduct the most serious mischief might have proceeded, and which did actually produce considerable inconvenience to the army, I hold it incumbent on me to declare that Captain Macleod is, _in no degree_, blamable for this unfortunate business," or business, "which _no means in his power to elude_ could possibly prevent." Papers, p. 75. [E] It will be seen, in page 12, where Major-General Macaulay has similarly written: "But I retain my former respect for his integrity." We have said,--subscribed to, rather than implicitly believed in,--because Lord Harris pursues "the principal carriers and benjarries are now in the Baramahl, (the very place, observe, of Sechiram's jaghire,) and I recommend to the immediate attention of government such measures as it may appear proper to adopt for recovering from them the amount of rice embezzled, and punishing those chiefs of this class of men who stood forward in responsibility, and who certainly knew and connived at the disposal of the rice, _if they were not themselves the managers of the transaction_."