Muntakhab al-lubab 79: War with Bijapur.

79

[Text, vol. ii. p. 316.] Aurangzeb determined that he would march in person to effect the conquest of Bijapur, and he started with that intention on the 4th Sha'ban. * * Prince A'zam, with some experienced nobles and a suitable force, was sent to reduce Bijapur. On approaching the place, he found that the forces of the Dakhin, under the command of 'Abdu-r Rauf and Sharza Khan, hovered round him in all directions. In that year calamity had fallen on the crops, and grain was very dear. The Dakhini forces occupied the country all around, and prevented all supplies of corn from reaching Bijapur, so that grain became very scarce and dear in the (Imperial) army, and it was difficult to get a loaf. * * At length, after many severe actions, * * the forces of the enemy were driven back, and convoys of provisions were brought safely into the camp of Prince Muhammad A'zam, and he was relieved from the difficulties which had beset him. * * Great favours and honours were bestowed on Ghaziu-d din Khan for the service he had rendered in bringing in the convoy.
The protracted duration of the siege of Bijapur, and the information he had received of the disaffection of the allies who accompanied Prince Muhammad A'zam, made Aurangzeb determine to proceed thither in person. At the beginning of Sha'ban, in the twenty-eighth year of the reign, he set out from Sholapur, and on the 21st of the month he arrived before the fortress, to the great dismay of the besieged. He appointed * * several of his best officers to assist the Prince in carrying on the siege, and addressed to them some soul-stirring words. They set heartily to work constructing lines of approach, driving mines and filling up the ditch. * *
Some mischief-making people reported to Aurangzeb that on a day when an attack was made Shah Kuli was inside the fortress along with Sikandar; also that a person named Saiyid 'Alam used to come out of the city by night, and have interviews in secret with the Prince. This was confirmed by the report of Ruhu-llah Khan kotwal. Orders were accordingly given for the arrest of Saiyid 'Alam when he came out to see Prince Shah 'Alam, and also for the apprehension of Shah Kuli. Shah Kuli was at length seized and brought before Aurangzeb, who examined him and endeavoured to extract from him the truth about his visits to the city. Nothing but denial was obtained from the prisoner, so the order was given for binding him and submitting him to the torture. After receiving a few blows, his spirit gave way; he divulged the whole secret, and named several others who had been concerned with him.
Aurangzeb sent for Prince Shah 'Alam, and in a private interview reproached him with these secret negociations. The Prince denied them, and said that Shah Kuli was no servant of his. Orders were given for the confinement of Saiyid 'Abdu-llah Khan, and for the expulsion of several other persons from the army. Aurangzeb's feelings had been estranged from Prince Shah 'Alam since the transactions at Haidarabad, and he was now still more offended with him. He made no outward change in the Prince's rank and allowances, or in the honours due to him as heir apparent, but his estrangement daily increased.