Muntakhab al-lubab 29.1

29.1

[vol. ii. p. 80.] The sad circumstances of the remainder of Dara Shukoh's career must now be related. On leaving the mountains of Ajmir, he proceeded with his wife, daughter, some jewels, a little money, and a few domestic servants, towards Ahmadabad. The rest of his treasure, goods, and necessary baggage, with some female servants, borne by twelve elephants and horses, he left behind in charge of servants, some of them old, some new, in the company and under the superintendence of some trusty eunuchs, with orders to follow as quickly as possible. When this party had marched four or five kos, all the servants began to plunder the property, and struggling and fighting with each other, every man seized what he could lay hands on. The baggage was taken from the backs of the elephants and placed on camels, and the women were stripped of their jewels and taken off the camels to be mounted on the elephants; then the plunderers, with camels and horses laden with money and articles of great value, made off for the desert. The eunuchs were unable to prevent the proceedings of their escort. In great distress, and in dread of the pursuit of the victorious troops, they were intent upon preserving their own honour and that of their master; so they led off the women on the elephants, and pursuing all night the track of Dara through the desert, after a night and a day they overtook him.