Travels in the Mogul Empire (Bernier) 2.11
Travels in the Mogul Empire (Constable) 2.11
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2.11.1
The young Prince could not fail to understand from this discourse that he had lost all authority both with the Raja and the troops; and that he should endanger the safety of his own person if he refused to relinquish the command: he yielded, therefore, to the sad necessity of the case, and proceeded toward the mountains. He was attended by a few affectionate friends, chiefly Mansebdars and Saieds, and others who considered themselves bound to follow him. The bulk of the army remained with the Raja and Delil-Kan, who had the baseness to send a body of men to plunder the Prince's baggage. Among other booty they seized an elephant laden with Roupies of gold. Many of Soliman-Chekouh's attendants, discouraged by this disgraceful outrage, deserted him, and the peasantry, after spoiling them, even assassinated many of the Prince's followers. He made his way, however, to the mountains with his wife and family, and was received with the honours due to his rank; the Raja of Serenaguer assuring him he should be in perfect security while in his territory, and that he would assist him with all his forces. We must now resume the thread of our narrative, as it relates to what took place at Agra.
2.11.2
Three or four days after the battle of Samonguer, Aureng-Zebe and Morad-Bakche presented themselves before the gate of the city, in a garden, about a league distant from the fortress. They then despatched a message to Chah-Jehan, by an eunuch in the confidence of Aureng-Zebe, and possessing all his address and deceit. This man saluted the aged Monarch in the name of his master, assured him of his undiminished respect and affection, and expressed his deep sorrow for the events which had recently taken place, events attributable to the inordinate ambition and sinister designs of Dara. He begged leave most sincerely to congratulate his august parent on the improvement which was manifesting itself in the state of his health, and declared that he was come to Agra only to receive and execute his commands. Chah-Jehan affected to approve of his son's conduct, and expressed himself satisfied with these expressions of allegiance. He was, however, too well acquainted with his hypocrisy and love of power, to place any confidence in his protestations; yet, instead of acting with decision, showing himself to his people, and assembling his Omrahs, for which there was still time, he chose rather to try his own skill in artifice and dissimulation with Aureng-Zebe, who surpassed all men in both. It is not surprising, therefore, that the father fell into the snare which he had spread for his son.
2.11.3
He sent a trusty eunuch to say how sensible he was not only of the improper behaviour of Dara, but also of his incapacity; to remind Aureng-Zebe of the peculiar tenderness he had ever borne him, and to request he would visit his affectionate father, that such arrangements might be concluded as the present distracted state of affairs rendered necessary. The cautious Prince likewise mistrusted Chah-Jehan; for he knew that Begum-Saheb quitted him neither night nor day; that he was completely under her control; that she had dictated the message, and that there were collected in the fortress several large and robust Tartar women, such as are employed in the seraglio, for the purpose of falling upon him with arms in their hands, as soon as he entered the fortress. Aureng-Zebe would not, therefore, venture within its walls; and though he repeatedly fixed the day for obeying his father's summons, he as often deferred it to the morrow. Meanwhile, he continued his secret machinations, and sounded the opinions of the most powerful Omrahs, until, having well digested his plans, the public all at once found to their astonishment that his son, Sultan Mahmoud, had taken possession of the fortress. This enterprising young man, having posted a number of men in the vicinity, entered the place on the plea of visiting the Mogol with a message from Aureng-Zebe, and fell suddenly on the guards stationed at the gate;
2.11.4
he was quickly followed by his men, who overcame the unsuspecting garrison, and made themselves masters of the fortress. If ever man was astonished, that man was Chah-Jehan when he perceived that he had fallen into the trap he had prepared for others, that he himself was a prisoner, and Aureng-Zebe in possession of the fort. It is said that the unhappy Monarch sent at once a message to Sultan Mahmoud, promising, on his crown and the Koran, to nominate him King, provided he served him faithfully in this conjuncture. 'Come to me,' added the Mogol, 'and lose not this opportunity of delivering your grandfather from prison; an act which will obtain for you the blessing of heaven, and a glorious name that shall never die.' If Sultan Mahmoud had possessed sufficient daring to close with these proposals, it appears extremely probable that he might have supplanted his father. Chah-Jehan's influence was still powerful, and if he had been permitted to leave the citadel, and to assume the personal command of the troops, I have reason to believe that they would have acknowledged his authority, and the leading Omrahs remained faithful to his government. Aureng-Zebe would not himself have been bold or savage enough to fight against his own father in person, especially as he must have thought that he would have been abandoned by every one, possibly by Morad-Bakche himself.
2.11.5
It is the general opinion that Sultan Mahmoud committed the same error upon this occasion as his grandfather had done after the battle of Samonguer and flight of Dara. And, as I am again led to the subject, it is fair I should observe that there are several politicians who contend that, considering all the circumstances of his situation, the aged Monarch, after the battle and the defeat of Dara, adopted the most prudent course in remaining within the fortress, and endeavouring to overcome Aureng-Zebe by stratagem. It is the vulgar practice, these people say, to judge of the wisdom of every plan according to the event by which it is followed: the worst-digested schemes are frequently attended with success, and then they are applauded by all the world; and if, as there was reason to expect, the appearance of affection and goodwill toward Aureng-Zebe, assumed by Chah-Jehan, had enabled him to seize the person of that Prince, he would be extolled for sagacity and wisdom, as much as he is now contemned for being, as is injuriously said, a mere driveller, guided by his Begum, a woman whose passions blinded her understanding, and whose vanity led her to believe that Aureng-Zebe would hasten to visit her ; in other words, that the bird would, of his own accord, fly into the cage. But to return to Sultan Mahmoud.—It is inconceivable, according to the politicians of this country, that he did not eagerly grasp at a sceptre which seemed to fall into his hands;
2.11.6
especially when, by thus gratifying his ambition, he would have gained a reputation for tenderness and generosity. By restoring his grandfather to freedom this young Prince might have become the sovereign arbiter of affairs; whereas he is now probably destined to terminate his existence in Goulaleor. Few will believe that Sultan Mahmoud was restrained by a sense of duty to his father from acceding to the wishes of Chah-Jehan : it is more likely that he doubted the sincerity of the King's promises, and felt all the danger of disputing the crown with a man endued with the mental energy and imposing talents of Aureng-Zebe. Whatever were his motives, he disregarded the offers of the unhappy prisoner, and even refused to enter his apartments, alleging that he was not authorised to visit him, but had received positive orders not to return to his father without carrying away with him the keys of every gate in the fort, in order that Aureng-Zebe might come in perfect security for the purpose of kissing his Majesty's feet. For the space of nearly two days, Chah-Jehan could not persuade himself to surrender the keys ; but observing that his people were gradually deserting him, especially the soldiers stationed at the little gate, and that he was no longer safe, he delivered the keys at length into the hands of Sultan Mahmoud, with an injunction to Aureng-Zebe to come to him without further delay, if he were wise, as he had secrets of the greatest moment to disclose.
2.11.7
As may be well supposed Aureng-Zebe was too wary a man, and knew too much to commit such a glaring blunder, and so far from obeying the injunction, he immediately appointed his eunuch Etbarkan governor of the fortress, by whose orders Chah-Jehan, with Begum-Saheb and the whole of the women, were closely confined. Many of the gates were also walled up, and all intercourse between the Mogol and his friends was effectually prevented. He was not even permitted to leave his apartment without the knowledge of the Governor.