Travels in the Mogul Empire (Bernier) 2.19
Travels in the Mogul Empire (Constable) 2.19
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2.19.1
This visit proved as unavailing as every preceding effort to induce the barbarian to fulfil his engagements; and to add to the mortification and perplexity of the illustrious fugitive, the King, five or six days after this interview, made a formal demand of one of his daughters in marriage. Sultan Sujah's refusal to accede to this request exasperated him to such a degree that the Prince's situation became quite desperate. What then ought he to do ? To remain inactive was only quietly to await destruction. The season for departure was passing away ; it was therefore necessary to come to a decision of some kind. He meditated, at length, an enterprise which never was exceeded in extravagance, and which proves the hopelessness of the situation to which he was reduced.
2.19.2
Although the King of Rakan be a Gentile, yet there are many Mahometans mixed with the people, who have either chosen to retire among them, or have been enslaved by the Portuguese before mentioned, in their expeditions to the neighbouring coasts. Sultan Sujah secretly gained over these Mahometans, whom he joined with two or three hundred of his own people, the remnant of those who followed him from Bengale ; and with this force resolved to surprise the house of the King, put his family to the sword, and make himself sovereign of the country. This bold attempt, which resembled more the enterprise of a desperado than that of a prudent man, had nevertheless a certain feasibility in it, as I was informed by several Mahometans, Portuguese, and Hollanders, who were then on the spot. But the day before the blow was to be struck, a discovery was made of the design, which altogether ruined the affairs of Sultan Sujah, and involved in it the destruction of his family.
2.19.3
The Prince endeavoured to escape into Pegu ; a purpose scarcely possible to be effected, by reason of the vast mountains and forests that lay in the route ; for there is not now, as formerly, a regular road in that direction. He was pursued and overtaken, within twenty-four hours after his flight : he defended himself with an obstinacy of courage such as might have been expected, and the number of barbarians that fell under his sword was incredible ; but at length, overpowered by the increasing host of his assailants, he was compelled to give up the unequal combat. Sultan Banque, who had not advanced so far as his father, fought also like a lion, until covered with the blood of the wounds he received from the stones that had been showered upon him from all sides, he was seized, and carried away, with his two young brothers, his sisters, and his mother. No other particulars, on which much dependence may be placed, are known of Sultan Sujah. It is said that he reached the hills, accompanied by an eunuch, a woman, and two other persons; that he received a wound on the head from a stone, which brought him to the ground; that the eunuch having bound up the Prince's head with his own turban he arose again, and escaped into the woods. I have heard three or four totally different accounts of the fate of the Prince, from those even who were on the spot. Some assured me that he was found among the slain, though it was difficult to recognise his body;
2.19.4
and I have seen a letter from a person at the head of the Factory which the Hollanders maintain in that region, mentioning the same thing. Great uncertainty prevails, however, upon the subject, which is the reason why we have had so many alarming rumours at Dehli. It was reported, at one time, that he was arrived at Maslipatam, and that the Kings of Golkonda and Visapour engaged to support his cause with all their forces. It was confidently said, at another period, that he had passed within sight of Souraie, with two ships flying red colours, with which he had been presented either by the King of Pegu or of Siam. Again, we were told that the Prince was in Persia; that he had been seen in Schiras, and soon afterwards in Kandahar, ready to invade the kingdom of Caboul. Aureng-Zebe once observed, perhaps by way of joke, that Sultan Sujah was become at last an Agy or pilgrim; insinuating that he had visited Meca; and even at this day, there are a great many persons fully persuaded that he is returned to Persia from Constantinople, having obtained large supplies of money in that city. But in my opinion there never existed ground for any of these reports. I attach great importance to the letter from the Dutch gentleman, which states that the Prince was killed in his attempt to escape;
2.19.5
and one of Sultan Sujah's eunuchs, with whom I travelled from Bengale to Maslipatan, and his former commandant of artillery, now in the service of the King of Golkonda, both assured me that their master was dead, although they were reluctant to communicate any further information. The French merchants whom I saw at Dehli, and who came direct from Ispahan, had never heard a syllable of Sultan Sujah's being in Persia. It seems also that his sword and dagger were found soon after his defeat: and if he reached the woods, as some people pretend, it can scarcely be hoped that he escaped; as it is probable he must have fallen into the hands of robbers, or have become a prey to the tigers or elephants which very greatly infest the forests of that country. But whatever doubts may be entertained of the fate of Sultan Sujah, there are none as to the catastrophe which befell his family. When brought back, men, women, and children were all thrown into prison, and treated with the utmost harshness. Some time after, however, they were set at liberty, and used more kindly: the King then married the eldest Princess, and the Queen-mother evinced a strong desire to be united to Sultan Banque.
2.19.6
While these events were happening, some servants of Sultan Banque joined the Mahometans, of whom I have spoken, in a plot similar to the last. The indiscreet zeal of one of the conspirators, who was probably heated with wine, led to the discovery of the design on the day on which it was to be executed. In regard to this affair, too, I have heard a thousand different tales; and the only fact I can relate with confidence is, that the King felt so exasperated against the family of Sujah as to give orders for its total extermination. Even the Princess whom he had himself espoused, and who, it is said, was advanced in pregnancy, was sacrificed according to his brutal mandate. Sultan Banque and his brothers were decapitated with gruesome-looking axes, quite blunt, and the female members of this ill-fated family were closely confined in their apartments, and left to die of hunger. In this manner terminated the war which the lust of domination had kindled among these four brothers. It lasted between five and six years; that is to say, from about the year 1655 to the year 1660 or 1661; and it left Aureng-Zebe the undisputed master of this mighty Empire.