Travels in the Mogul Empire (Bernier) 2.8
Travels in the Mogul Empire (Constable) 2.8
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2.8.1
The invaders, in the mean time, were flushed with success, impressed with an idea of their invincibility, and persuaded that there was no object, however difficult and stupendous, which they might not achieve. Still more to increase the confidence of his troops, Aureng-Zebe vaunted aloud that in Dara's army there were thirty thousand Mogols devoted to his service; and that this was not entirely an empty boast will soon be made apparent. Morad-Bakche felt impatient of delay, and expressed his eagerness to push forward; but his brother repressed this ardour, representing the necessity of some repose on the banks of the beautiful river [Nerbudda], especially as it would afford an opportunity for corresponding with his friends, and ascertaining the situation of affairs. The advance on Agra was therefore slow and circumspect, exactly regulated by the information daily received. Chah-Jehan was now reduced to a state of hopelessness and misery. He saw that his sons were not to be turned aside from their determination to enter the capital, and viewed with dismay the mighty preparation made by Dara for a decisive battle. He had a prescience of the terrible evils impending over his house, which he endeavoured by every expedient to avert. He was not in a situation, however, to resist the wishes of Dara, for he still continued to labour under the influence of disease, and was the servant rather than the sovereign of his eldest son.
2.8.2
To that son he had long been compelled to resign all authority, and the military commanders, as well as the officers of the State, were instructed to yield implicit obedience to the orders of Dara. It is not surprising, therefore, that this Prince was enabled to assemble a numerous army, finer than perhaps had ever trod the plains of Hindoustan. The lowest calculation makes it amount to one hundred thousand horse, more than twenty thousand foot, and eighty pieces of cannon; besides an incredible number of camp-followers, and those bazar dealers, so necessary for the support of an army in peace as well as in war, and who, I suspect, are often included by historians in the number of combatants, when they speak of immense armies of three or four hundred thousand men. Unquestionable it is, that the force under Dara's command was sufficient, in point of physical strength, to overwhelm two or three such armies as Aureng-Zebe's, whose utmost number could not exceed forty thousand men of all arms, and these harassed and nearly worn out by long marches under a vertical sun. Yet, notwithstanding this disparity of numbers, no one seemed to presage success to Dara; the only troops on whose fidelity he could depend being with the army under Soliman-Chekouh, and the principal Omrahs having manifested symptoms of disaffection to his interests. His friends, therefore, earnestly recommended him not to hazard an engagement.
2.8.3
Chah-Jehan was most urgent on this point, offering, infirm as he was, to assume the chief command, and to face Aureng-Zebe's army. This scheme was admirably adapted to preserve peace, and to arrest the progress of that haughty prince: neither he nor Morad-Bakche would probably have felt disposed to fight against their father: or, if they had ventured upon such a step, their ruin must have been the consequence; for Chah-Jehan was popular among all the Omrahs, and the whole army, including the troops under the two brothers, was enthusiastically attached to his person. Failing in their attempt to prevent an appeal to the sword, Dara's friends exhausted every argument to dissuade him, at least, from acting with precipitancy, and to induce him to delay the battle until the arrival of Soliman-Chekouh, who was hastening to his assistance. This also was sound advice, the young Prince being generally beloved, and returning at the head of a victorious army, composed of soldiers, as I have before observed, attached to Dara, But he rejected this, as he had done the former proposition, and remained inflexible in his resolution to anticipate Aureng-Zebe and bring him immediately to action. If indeed Dara could have commanded fortune, and controlled events, his own reputation and peculiar interest might have been promoted by such a procedure. These were the considerations that actuated him, and which he could not altogether conceal : — he was master of the King's person ;
2.8.4
in possession of his treasure, and enjoying undivided authority over the royal armies. Sultan Sujah was already half ruined ; his other brothers were come, with a weak and worn-out army, voluntarily, as it were, to throw themselves into his hands. Once defeated, they would have no way of escape ; he would then become absolute lord, attain the end of his labours, and ascend the throne without competition or difficulty. If he intrusted the management of the campaign to his father, an amicable accommodation would take place; his brothers would return quietly to their respective provinces ;, Chah-Jehan, whose health was evidently improving, would resume the reins of government, and affairs revert to their former state. If, again, he awaited the arrival of his son Soliman-Chekouh, the King might employ the interval in forming some design to his disadvantage, or enter into negotiation with Aureng-Zebe injurious to his interests ; and, admitting that after the junction of his son's army, a battle were fought and gained, the part which he might have had in the success of the day would be denied him, and the honour of the achievement rest with Soliman-Chekouh, whose military reputation was already known and established. Then, who could tell the effect which the general applause might produce on his youthful and ardent mind, countenanced as he would be by his grandfather and many of the chief Omrahs ?
2.8.5
There was no saying how boundless his ambition might become, or how little it might be restrained by the affection and respect he owed to his father. Such were the reasons which induced Dara to turn a deaf ear to the voice of prudence and friendship. He ordered the whole army to take the field, and presented himself before Chah-Jehan, then in the fortress of Agra, for the purpose of bidding him farewell. As his Father embraced him, the unhappy old man shed tears; but addressing him in a grave and serious tone, he said, 'Well, my son, since you will have it your own way, may heaven bless your undertaking! but remember this—my injunction—if the battle be lost have a care how you come again into my presence!' Little impressed with these words, Dara took a hasty leave of the King, and marched his army to the river Tchembel, about twenty leagues from Agra, where having fortified himself he waited with confidence the arrival of the enemy. But the quick-sighted and wily Fakire, who was everywhere provided with spies, fully aware of the difficulty of passing the river when thus defended, came indeed, and encamped sufficiently near to have his tents descried by Dara, but was at the same time intriguing with a Raja of the name of Chempet, whom he gained over by presents and promises, and through whose territory he obtained permission to march his army for the purpose of reaching speedily that part of the river where it is fordable.
2.8.6
Chempet even undertook to be his guide through forests and over mountains which perhaps were considered impracticable by Dara; and Aureng-Zebe, leaving his tents standing to deceive his brother, had crossed with his troops to the other side of the river almost as soon as the enemy was apprised of his departure. In this emergency, Dara was compelled to abandon his fortifications, and pursue Aureng-Zebe, who advanced by rapid strides towards the river Geinna, on the banks of which he had time to intrench himself, refresh his men, and in his turn, await composedly the approach of the enemy. The position chosen by him was five leagues distant from Agra; the name of the place which was formerly called Samonguer is now Fateabad, that is to say the Place of Victory. Dara soon came up, and encamped also near the banks of the same river, between Agra and the army of Aureng-Zebe.
2.8.7
The two armies remained in sight of each other three or four days without coming to an engagement. During this interval, Chah-Jehan sent letter upon letter to Dara, apprising him of Soliman-Chekouh's near approach, and entreating him to do nothing rashly or prematurely; but to draw closer to Agra, and select advantageous ground whereon to intrench his army until the arrival of his son. The only answer returned by Dara to these letters was, that three days should not elapse ere he brought Aureng-Zebe and Morad-Bakche, bound hands and feet, to his father, who might pass such judgment upon his rebellious sons as to him should seem meet. This answer despatched, he prepared for battle.
2.8.8
He placed the whole of his cannon in front, linked together by chains of iron, in order that no space might be left for the entrance of the enemy's cavalry. Immediately in the rear of the cannon, he ranged a line of light camels, on the forepart of whose bodies small pieces of ordnance, somewhat resembling swivels in our vessels, were fixed: these the rider could charge and discharge at pleasure, without being obliged to dismount. Behind these camels was posted the most considerable part of the musketeers. The rest of the army consisted principally of cavalry, armed either with sabres, and those kind of half-pikes used by the Ragipous; or with sabres and bows-and-arrows; which latter weapon is generally used by the Mogols, that is (according to the present acceptation of the term Mogol) foreigners whose complexions are white, and who profess Mahometanism ; such as Persians, Turks, Arabs, and Usbeks.