Travels in the Mogul Empire (Bernier) 2.6
Travels in the Mogul Empire (Constable) 2.6
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2.6.1
Morad-Bakche was disappointed in the amount of treasure found in Sourate; perhaps it had been exaggerated by report; or the governor, as was generally suspected, had appropriated a large portion of it to his own use. The money of which he came into possession only sufficed to pay the soldiers, who had been induced to enlist by the expectation of the immense wealth which the walls of Sourate were believed to enclose. Nor ought the capture of the town to have increased the military reputation of this Prince: for, although destitute of regular fortifications, it yet baffled his utmost endeavours for more than a month: and he had made no progress in the siege until the Dutch instructed him, for the first time, in the art of mining. The blowing up of a considerable part of the wall spread consternation in the garrison, and terms of capitulation were immediately proposed.
2.6.2
The fall of Sourate facilitated the future operations of Morad-Bakche. It procured him a great name; mining is yet imperfectly known among the Indians, and nothing could have inspired them with more astonishment than the efficacious method in which this new art had been employed by Morad-Bakche. It was moreover universally believed that vast riches had fallen into his hands. But notwithstanding the fame acquired by this event, and all the flattering promises of Aureng-Zebe, the eunuch Chah-Abas urged him to disregard the extravagant declarations of his brother, and not rashly to throw himself into his hands. 'Listen,' he said, 'while it is yet time, to my advice; amuse him with fair words, if you please; but do not think of joining him with your forces. Let him advance alone toward Agra. We shall by and by receive positive intelligence of your father's state of health, and see the course that events may take. In the mean time you may fortify Sourate, a most important post, which will secure to you the dominion of an extensive country producing a rich revenue, and with a little management you may become master of Brampour, also a town in a commanding situation, and the key, as it were, of the Decan.'
2.6.3
But the letters daily received from Aureng-Zebe determined Morad-Bakche not to relax his exertions, and the wise counsel of the eunuch Chah-Abas was rejected. This acute statesman had a warm and affectionate heart, and was sincerely attached to the interests of his master. Happy would it have been for the young prince if he had listened to his sage advice; but Morad was blinded by an inordinate thirst for dominion: his brother's letters were more and more expressive of his entire devotedness to his cause, and he considered that, if left to his own resources, he should never be able to realise those schemes of greatness that continually haunted his imagination. He therefore broke up from his encampment at Amed-Abad, abandoned Guzarate, and made the best of his way, over mountains and through forests, to the rendezvous where Aureng-Zebe had halted some days in expectation of his arrival.
2.6.4
The junction of the armies was celebrated by great rejoicings and much festivity. The two brothers were inseparable, and Aureng-Zebe renewed his professions of unalterable affection and his protestations of complete disinterestedness. Of the kingdom, he repeated that he most assuredly entertained no thought; he had placed himself at the head of an army for the sole purpose of combating Dara, their common foe, and of seating Morad on the vacant throne. During the march of the armies toward the capital, Aureng-Zebe spoke in the same tone, and never omitted, either in private or public, to address his brother with the reverence and humility due from a subject to his sovereign, calling him Hazaret, 'King,' and 'Your Majesty.' Strange that Morad should never have suspected his honesty of intention, or that the late nefarious transactions in Golkonda should have made so slight an impression on his mind! but this Prince was blinded by a wild ambition for empire, and incapable of perceiving that he who had recently incurred so much infamy by his attempt to usurp a kingdom could feel little inclination to live and die a Fakire.
2.6.5
The combined armies formed an imposing force, and their approach created a great sensation at the seat of government. Nothing could exceed the uneasiness of Dara, and Chah-Jehan was appalled at the threatening aspect of affairs. Whatever scope he permitted to his imagination, he could conceive no event, however momentous and fraught with evil consequences, which might not be brought to pass by the talents of Aureng-Zebe and the intrepidity of Morad-Bakche. In vain did he despatch courier after courier announcing his convalescence, and assuring the two brothers that the whole of their proceedings should be buried in oblivion if they immediately returned to their respective governments: the united armies continued to advance, and as the King's malady was really considered mortal, the Princes had recourse to their usual dissimulation, affirming that the letters purporting to bear the King's sign-manual were forgeries by Dara; that Chah-Jehan was either dead or on the point of death; and that if he should happily be alive, they were desirous of prostrating themselves at his feet, and delivering him from the thraldom in which he was held by Dara.
2.6.6
Chah-Jehans situation was indeed distressing: — afflicted with disease, and almost a prisoner in the hands of Dara, who, guided by a furious resentment, breathed nothing but war, and was unwearied in preparations for conducting it with vigour; — while his other children, regardless of repeated injunctions, accelerated their march toward Agra. But what a sad alternative was left him in this extremity! his treasures, he saw, must be dissipated, abandoned to his sons, and squandered at their pleasure; he was compelled to summon around him his faithful and veteran captains, who were generally unfavourable to Dara, and whom nevertheless he must command to espouse his cause, and take the field against the other Princes, though in his heart the old monarch felt more affection for them than for Dara. The danger being most pressing on the side whence Sultan Sujah was advancing, an army was immediately sent against that prince, while another was assembled in order to encounter the combined forces of Aureng-Zebe and Morad-Bakche.
2.6.7
Soliman-Chekouh, Dara's eldest son, was the general nominated to the command of the corps sent to oppose Sultan Sujah's progress. He was about five-and-twenty years of age, of a fine person, not without ability, generous and popular. He was a favourite with Chah-Jehan, from whom he had already received great riches, and who intended him for his successor in preference to Dara. As the Mogol's chief anxiety was to avoid the effusion of blood in this unnatural contest, he appointed an old Raja, named Jesseingue, to be the companion or counsellor of his grandson. Jesseingue is at present one of the richest Rajas in Hindoustan, and perhaps the ablest man in the whole kingdom. The King gave him secret instructions to avoid, if possible, coming to an engagement, and to leave no method untried to induce Sujah to retrace his steps. 'Represent to my son,' he said, 'that not his duty alone, but also his policy, demand the reservation of his strength for a more justifiable and promising occasion: until my malady have terminated in death, or at least until the result of the united efforts of Aureng-Zebe and Morad-Bakche shall be ascertained.' But all the efforts of Jesseingue to prevent a battle proved abortive. Soliman-Chekouh, on the one side, was full of military ardour, and ambitious of acquiring a great name; and, on the other, Sultan Sujah apprehended that if he delayed his march, Aureng-Zebe might overcome Dara and gain possession of the two capital cities, Agra and Dehli.
2.6.8
Thus the two armies were no sooner in sight, than a heavy cannonade commenced; but I need not detain my readers by detailing the particulars of this action, especially as I shall have to describe others of greater consequence: it is sufficient to state that the onset was impetuous on both sides, and that after a warm struggle Sultan Sujah was obliged to give way, and at length to fly in confusion. It is certain that if Jesseingue and his bosom friend Delil-kan, a Patan and an excellent soldier, had not purposely held back, the rout of the enemy would have been complete, and their commander probably made prisoner. But the Raja was too prudent to lay his hands on a Prince of the Blood, the son of his King; and he acted conformably to the Mogol's intentions when he afforded Sultan Sujah the means of escape. Although the loss of the enemy was inconsiderable, yet as the field of battle and a few pieces of artillery remained in Soliman-Chekouh's possession, it was immediately reported at court that he had gained a decisive victory. This affair, while it raised the reputation of Soliman-Chekouh, was injurious to that of Sultan Sujah, and the ardour of the Persians who favoured his cause was proportionably abated. Soliman-Chekouh had been a few days employed in the pursuit of Sujah, when he received intelligence of the rapid and resolute march of Aureng-Zebe and Morad-Bakche on Agra.
2.6.9
Aware of his father's want of conduct and prudence, and knowing that he was surrounded by secret enemies, he prudently determined to return to the capital, in the neighbourhood of which Dara would probably offer battle. Every one is of opinion that the young prince could not have adopted a wiser course; and that if he could have brought up his army in time, Aureng-Zebe would have gained no advantage, if indeed he had ventured to engage in so unequal a contest.