Travels in the Mogul Empire (Bernier) 2.10
Travels in the Mogul Empire (Constable) 2.10
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2.10.1
Had Dara considered the consequences of quitting the back of his elephant on which he had displayed so much valour, and served as a rallying-point to the army, he would have become master of the Empire; but the credulous Prince, duped by the artful obsequiousness of Calil-ullah, listened to his advice as though it had been sincere. He descended from the elephant, and mounted his horse; but a quarter of an hour had not elapsed when, suspecting the imposture, he inquired impatiently for Calil-ullah-Kan. The villain was not, however, within his reach : he inveighed vehemently against that officer, and threatened him with death ; but Dara's rage was now impotent, and his menace incapable of being executed. The troops having missed their Prince, a rumour quickly spread that he was killed, and the army betrayed ; an universal panic seized them ; every man thought only of his own safety, and how to escape from the resentment of Aureng-Zebe. In a few minutes the army seemed disbanded, and (strange and sudden reverse !) the conqueror became the vanquished. Aureng-Zebe remained during a quarter of an hour steadily on his elephant, and was rewarded with the crown of Hindoustan : Dara left his own elephant a few minutes too soon, and was hurled from the pinnacle of glory, to be numbered among the most miserable of Princes : — so shortsighted is man, and so mighty are the consequences which sometimes flow from the most trivial incident.
2.10.2
These immense armies frequently perform great feats; but when thrown into confusion it is impossible to restore them to discipline. They resemble an impetuous river which has burst its banks; and whose waters, unrestrained in their course, disperse over the surrounding country, while no means can be devised to arrest them in their career of desolation. I could never see these soldiers, destitute of order, and marching with the irregularity of a herd of animals, without reflecting upon the ease with which five-and-twenty thousand of our veterans from the army in Flanders, commanded by Prince Condé or Marshal Turenne, would overcome these armies, however numerous. I am no longer incredulous, or even astonished, when I read of the exploits of the ten thousand Greeks, or of the achievements of the fifty thousand Macedonians under Alexander, though opposed to six or seven hundred thousand men; if, indeed, it be true that the armies of Darius amounted to so many, and that the servants, and various other persons employed to procure provisions, were not comprehended in this number. By receiving the onset with their usual steadiness, the French troops would throw any Indian army into consternation; or they might, as Alexander did, direct their chief effort to a particular part of the line; and the success attending such a movement would fill the enemy with terror, and occasion an immediate and general dispersion.
2.10.3
Aureng-Zebe determined to derive every possible benefit from this unexpected and almost miraculous victory; and, to ensure the attainment of the sole object of his desire, absolute dominion, resorted to every kind of unprincipled base intrigue. The perfidious Calil-ullah-Kan soon appeared in his presence, proffering his submission, and the services of whatever portion of the troops he might seduce from their first allegiance. The Prince thanked him, and loaded him with promises, but was cautious not to receive him in his own name. He carried him at once to Morad-Bakche, by whom the traitor was hailed, as may easily be imagined, with every profession of kindness. During this interview Aureng-Zebe addressed his brother as his acknowledged King and Sovereign, observing to Calil-ullah-Kan that it was Morad-Bakche alone who was qualified to wear the crown, and that the victory was gained only by the skilful conduct and irresistible valour of that Prince.
2.10.4
Notwithstanding this semblance of fealty to his younger brother, Aureng-Zebe was actively employed day and night in writing to the Omrahs, whom he brought over gradually to his party. Chah-hest-kan, his uncle, was unwearied in promoting the views of his nephew, and was indeed an invaluable coadjutor, being active, intelligent, and possessed of extensive influence. He had the reputation of writing the most insinuating letter, and using the most persuasive eloquence, of any man in Hindoustan. It is known that owing to some real or imaginary affront he greatly disliked Dara, and therefore embraced this opportunity of contributing to his downfall. Aureng-Zebe concealed under the garb of disinterestedness and purity of intention his raging passion for sovereignty. Everything that was done, the negotiations entered into, and the promises made, all was in Morad-Bakche's name : from him every command was to emanate, and he was to be regarded as the future King. Aureng-Zebe acted only as his lieutenant, as his zealous and dutiful subject ; the turmoils of government were ill suited to the disposition of his mind ; to live and die as a Fakire was his firm and inflexible resolution ! As for Dara, he was weighed down with despondency and terror. He repaired with all diligence to Agra, but did not venture into his father's presence ; for his last stern injunction, 'Remember, Dara, if thou art defeated, never return to me,' still sounded in his ear.
2.10.5
The good old man nevertheless sent a faithful eunuch in secret to condole with the unhappy Prince, to assure him of his unalterable affection, and of the grief into which he was plunged by the late disaster. 'But,' added the King, 'there is surely no reason for despair while an army under Soliman-Chekouh remains. For the present, I advise you to take the road to Dehli, where you will find a thousand horses in the royal stables ; and the governor of the fort has my orders to furnish you with money and elephants. You should not withdraw to a greater distance than prudence may demand ; I shall write frequently, and wish you to be within easy reach of my letters. I still think I possess the means of bringing Aureng-Zebe into my power, and of inflicting due chastisement upon him.' So utterly cast down, so absorbed in sorrow was Dara, that he could frame no answer to this affecting communication, or even transmit a formal acknowledgment of it to his father. He sent several messages to Begum-Saheb, and departed at midnight, with his wife, daughters, and his youngest son Sepehr-Chekouh, accompanied, and this is almost incredible, by not more than three or four hundred persons. Let him pursue his melancholy way to Dehli, while we consider the deep policy and consummate address which marked the conduct of Aureng-Zebe at Agra.
2.10.6
One of his first measures was to gain over, or at least to sow the seeds of disunion, among the victorious troops commanded by Soliman-Chekouh, and thus destroy Dara's last hope of retrieving his fortunes. He, therefore, represented to the Raja Jesseingue and to Delil-kan, the principal officers in that army, the utter ruin of Dara's affairs. The formidable force on which he founded such confident hopes of success, observed Aureng-Zebe, after sustaining a total overthrow, had come over to his standard. Dara was now a fugitive, unattended by a single regiment, and must soon fall into his hands; and, with respect to Chah-Jehan, such was the state of his health, that no expectation could be entertained of his surviving many days. It was evident that they were engaged in a cause which was now desperate, and that a longer adherence to Dara's fallen fortune would be extremely imprudent. He counselled them to consult their best interests by joining his army, and bringing with them Soliman-Chekouh, whose person they might easily seize.
2.10.7
Jesseingue hesitated for some time as to the line of conduct he should pursue. He still feared Chah-Jehan and Dara, and dreaded the consequence of laying hands on a Royal Personage; a violence not likely to escape punishment, sooner or later, though that punishment should be inflicted by Aureng-Zebe himself. He was acquainted, too, with the high and undaunted spirit of Soliman-Chekouh, and could have no doubt that the Prince would die rather than submit to the loss of liberty. At last this was what he determined upon. After having taken counsel with Delil-kan his great friend, and having renewed oaths of fealty to each other, it was decided between them that Jesseingue should straightway repair to Soliman-Chekouh's tent, show him the overtures made by Aureng-Zebe, and disclose frankly the whole state of his mind. 'I ought not to disguise from you,' he told the Prince, 'the danger of your situation: you can depend neither upon Delil-kan, or Daoud-kan, nor upon any part of the troops; and, by advancing to the relief of your father, you may involve yourself in irretrievable ruin. In this emergency you cannot do better than seek refuge in the mountains of Serenaguer. The Raja of that country will receive you kindly; his territory is inaccessible, and he can be in no dread of Aureng-Zebe. While in this secure retreat, you may calmly observe the progress of events, and descend from your mountains when a favourable occasion shall arise.'