Travels in the Mogul Empire (Bernier) 2.12
Travels in the Mogul Empire (Constable) 2.12
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2.12.1
At this period Aureng-Zebe wrote a letter to his father which, before he sealed it, was shown to everybody. 'I cannot better explain my conduct,' observed the Prince, 'than by stating that while you professed extraordinary partiality for me, and expressed your displeasure at Dara's proceedings, I was informed, on indisputable authority, that you had sent him two elephants laden with golden roupies. Thus is he furnished with means to collect new armies, and to prolong this disastrous war; I, therefore, put it to you plainly whether I am not driven by his pertinacity to resort to measures which appear harsh and unnatural? Is he not, properly speaking, the cause of your imprisonment? and is it not owing to him that I have so long been deprived of the pleasure of throwing myself at your feet, and discharging the duties, and paying the attentions, you have a right to demand from an affectionate son? It only remains for me to beg that you will pardon what now seems strange in my conduct, and to recommend the exercise of patience under the temporary loss of liberty; for be assured that, as soon as Dara shall be rendered incapable of disturbing our repose, I shall fly to the citadel, and with my own hands open the doors of your prison.'
2.12.2
I have been told that Chah-Jehan did, in fact, send the elephants, with the roupies of gold, to Dara, on the very night of his departure from Dehli, and that it was Rauchenara-Begum who communicated the information to Aureng-Zebe. That Princess also apprised him of the presence of the Tartar women, by whom it was intended he should be assailed when he entered the castle. It is even said that Aureng-Zebe intercepted some letters written by his father to Dara.
2.12.3
Many intelligent persons, however, deny the truth of these allegations, and contend that the letter, thus generally exhibited, was a mere invention to deceive the public, and to reconcile them to the outrageous measures of which the Mogol's adherents had so much right to complain. Be the truth what it may, it is certain that the close confinement of Chah-Jehan seemed the signal for nearly the whole body of Omrahs to pay their court to Aureng-Zebe and Morad-Bakche. I can indeed scarcely repress my indignation when I reflect that there was not a single movement, nor even a voice heard, in behalf of the aged and injured Monarch; although the Omrahs, who bowed the knee to his oppressors, were indebted to him for their rank and riches, having been, according to the custom of this court, raised by Chah-Jehan from a state of the lowest indigence, and many of them even redeemed from absolute slavery. A few there were, such as Danechmend-Kan and some others, who espoused no party; but, with this small exception, every Omrah declared in favour of Aureng-Zebe.
2.12.4
It may, however, diminish our censure of this ungrateful conduct, if we call to mind that the Omrahs of Hindoustan cannot be proprietors of land, or enjoy an independent revenue, like the nobility of France and the other states of Christendom. Their income, as I said before, consists exclusively of pensions which the King grants or takes away according to his own will or pleasure. When deprived of this pension, they sink at once into utter insignificance, and find it impossible even to borrow the smallest sum. The combined Princes, having thus disposed of Chah-Jehan, and received the homage of the Omrahs, set out in pursuit of Dara. The royal treasury supplied their pecuniary wants, and Chah-hest-Kan, the uncle of Aureng-Zebe, was appointed governor of Agra.
2.12.5
When the day arrived for the departure of the army, Morad-Bakche's particular friends, and chief among them the eunuch Chah-Abas, employed every argument to induce him to remain with his own troops in the neighbourhood of Agra and Dehli. An excess of respect, and too smooth a tongue denoted, they said, a treacherous heart. They represented to him that being King, and universally acknowledged as such, even by Aureng-Zebe himself, it was his wisest policy not to remove from the neighbourhood of Agra or Dehli, but to let his brother go alone in pursuit of Dara. Had he been swayed by this prudent counsel, Aureng-Zebe would indeed have felt greatly embarrassed; but it made no impression upon his mind, and he continued to repose unreserved confidence in his brother's solemn promises, and in the oaths which they had mutually and repeatedly sworn on the Koran. The two brothers quitted Agra together, and took the road to Dehli.
2.12.6
When they halted at Maturas four short journeys from Agra, the friends of Morad-Bakche, who had seen and heard enough to excite their suspicion, once more endeavoured to awaken his fears. They assured him that Aureng-Zebe entertained some evil design, and that some dreadful plot was certainly in progress. Of this, information had reached them from various quarters: he must, therefore, absolutely abstain from visiting his brother, at least for that day. Indeed it was advisable, they added, to anticipate, without delay, the meditated blow; for which purpose the Prince need only excuse himself, on the plea of indisposition, from visiting Aureng-Zebe, who would thus be induced to come to Morad-Bakche attended, as usual, with very few persons. But neither argument nor entreaty could remove the spell by which he appeared bound. The feigned and fulsome adulation of Aureng-Zebe had indeed enchanted the unhappy Prince; and, notwithstanding the strenuous efforts of his friends, he accepted an invitation from his brother for supper. The latter expected him, and had concerted his measures with Mirkan and three or four other of his minions. Morad-Bakche was greeted with even more external courtesy and respect than had been usual since Aureng-Zebe had marked him for his victim; tears of joy seemed to flow, and his brother wiped, with a gentle hand, the perspiration and dust from the face of the devoted and credulous Prince.
2.12.7
During supper, the utmost good-humour and conviviality apparently prevailed; the conversation was enlivening and incessant, and at the end of the repast, a large quantity of the delicious wines of Chiraz and Caboul was introduced. Aureng-Zebe then rose softly, and with a countenance that beamed with affection and delight, said, 'I need not inform your Majesty of the serious turn of my mind, and that, as a Mahometan, I feel scruples which do not permit me to indulge in the pleasures of the table; but though I deem it my duty to retire, yet I leave you in excellent company. Mirkan and my other friends will entertain your Majesty.' An extravagant fondness for wine was among Morad-Bakche's foibles, and upon the present occasion, finding it peculiarly good, he drank to such excess that he became intoxicated, and fell into a deep sleep. This was precisely the effect which Aureng-Zebe intended the wine should produce. His servants were ordered to withdraw that their master might not be disturbed; and Mirkan took away both his sword and dagger. It was not long before Aureng-Zebe came to rouse him from his sleep. He entered the room, and pushing the Prince rudely with his feet, until he opened his eyes, uttered this short and insolent reprimand, 'Oh, shame and infamy! Thou a King and yet possessing so little discretion? What will the world now say of thee, and even of me?
2.12.8
Let this wretched and drunken man be bound hand and foot, and removed there within, to sleep away his shame.' The command was no sooner given than executed; five or six soldiers rushed upon Morad-Bakche, and in spite of his cries and resistance, fetters and handcuffs were applied, and he was carried away. This violence could not be perpetrated without the knowledge of his immediate attendants; they wished to sound an alarm, and attempted to break into the apartment; but they were silenced and overawed by Allah-Couly, the chief officer in Morad-Bakche's artillery, who had long been corrupted by the gold of Aureng-Zebe.
2.12.9
Some agitation soon began, however, to manifest itself among the troops; and to prevent the consequences of any sudden movement, emissaries were busily employed during the night in representing the occurrences in Aureng-Zebe's tent, as perfectly trifling and unimportant: they were present (they pretended), and Morad-Bakche having drunk to excess, had lost his self-possession, and made use of very intemperate language. There was no one upon whom he had not cast injurious reflections, and he had even loaded Aureng-Zebe himself with the foulest abuse. In short, he had grown so quarrelsome and ungovernable, that it became necessary to confine him apart: but in the morning, when recovered from his night's debauch, he would be again set at liberty. In the mean time, large bribes and larger promises were given to all the superior officers; the pay of the whole army was immediately augmented; and, as there were few who had not long foreseen the downfall of Morad-Bakche, it is not surprising that when the day dawned scarcely a trace of the late partial commotion existed. Aureng-Zebe felt that he might venture to shut his brother up in a covered embary, a kind of closed litter in which women are carried on elephants; and in this manner the Prince was conveyed to Dehli, and incarcerated in the ancient citadel of Selim-guer, which is situated in the middle of the river.