The Institutes of Akbar 250.9

250.9

Shahjahan rebelled, returned with M. ’A. to Mandu, and then moved to Burhanpur. On the march thither, Shahjahan intercepted a letter which M. ’A. had secretly written to Mahabat Khan, whereupon he imprisoned him and his son Darab Khan, and sent him to Fort Asir, but released them soon after on parole. Parwiz and Mahabat Khan had, in the meantime, arrived at the Narbaddah to capture Shahjahan. Bairam Beg, an officer of Shahjahan’s, had for this reason removed all boats to the left side of the river, and successfully prevented the imperials from crossing. At M. ’A.’s advice, Shahjahan proposed, at this time, an armistice. He made M. ’A. swear upon the Quran not to betray him, and sent him as ambassador to Parwiz. Mahabat Khan, knowing that the fords would not now be so carefully watched as before, effected a crossing, and M. ’A., forgetful of his oath, joined Prince Parwiz, and did not return to Shahjahan, who now fled from Burhanpur, marching through Talinganah to Orissa and Bengal. Mahabat and M. ’A. followed him up a short distance beyond the Tapti. M. ’A. wrote to Rajah Bhim, a principal courtier of the Daulatshahi party, to tell Shahjahan, that he (M. ’A.) would do every thing in his power to detain the imperial army, if the prince would allow his sons to join him, Rajah Bhim replied that the prince had still from five to six thousand followers, and that he would kill M. ’A.’s sons, should it come to a fight.