Travels in the Mogul Empire (Bernier) 2.18.6

2.18.6

Morad-Bakche was put to death in a more violent and open manner. Though in prison, he was yet very popular, and verses were continually composed in praise of his courage and conduct. Aureng-Zebe, therefore, did not deem it safe to make away with him in secret, by the poust, as the others were; fearing that there would always be some doubt whether he had been really put to death or not, and that this uncertainty might some day be used as a pretext for an uprising, the following charge, they say, was brought up against him. At the period when Morad-Bakche was making extensive preparations for war, in his government of Guzarate he put to death a certain Sayed at Amed-Abad, that he might obtain possession of his great wealth. The children of the murdered Sayed now presented themselves in open court, calling loudly for justice, and demanding the head of Morad-Bakche. No Omrah would venture to reprove or silence this procedure; both because the person whose innocent blood had been shed was a Sayed, or descendant of the prophet Mahomet, to whom unbounded veneration is due, and because it could not but be evident to every person that this was a mode designed by the King to rid himself of a dangerous rival under the cloak of justice. The demand of the sons was granted, and without any other form of process, an order for the head of the murderer was given, with which they immediately repaired to Gualeor.