Travels in the Mogul Empire (Bernier) 2.12.9

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.