Travels in the Mogul Empire (Bernier) 2.9
Travels in the Mogul Empire (Constable) 2.9
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2.9.1
The army was formed into three divisions. The command of the right wing, consisting of thirty thousand Mogols, was given to Calil-ullah-Kan, and the left wing was intrusted to Rustam-Kan Dakny, a brave and famous captain, conjointly with the Rajas Chatresale, and Ramseingue Routle. Calilullah had been made Bakchis, or grand-master of the horse, in the stead of Danechmend-Khan (afterwards my Agah), who resigned that situation because he knew that he had incurred Dara's displeasure by his solicitude to uphold the sole and unshackled authority of Chah-Jehan. Aureng-Zebe and Morad-Bakche made a nearly similar disposition of their forces, excepting that among the troops of the Omrahs, stationed on either flank, a few pieces of field artillery were intermixed and concealed ; a stratagem invented, it is said, by Emir-Jemla, and attended with some success. I am not aware that in this battle recourse was had to any other artifice, unless it were that here and there were placed men who threw bannes, which are a sort of grenade attached to a stick, and which were thrown, from various parts of the line, among the enemy's cavalry, and which produced the effect of terrifying the horses, and sometimes of killing the men.
2.9.2
It cannot be denied that the cavalry of this country manoeuvre with much ease, and discharge their arrows with astonishing quickness; a horseman shooting six times before a musketeer can fire twice. They also preserve excellent order, and keep in a compact body, especially when charging the enemy. But, after all, I do not think very highly of their proficiency in the art of war as compared with our well-equipped armies, for reasons which I shall mention in another part of this work. The preparations I have described being completed, the artillery of both armies opened their fire, the invariable mode of commencing an engagement; and the arrows were already thick in the air, when suddenly there fell a shower of rain so violent as to interrupt the work of slaughter for a while. The weather had no sooner cleared than the sound of cannon was again heard, and Dara was at this time seen seated on a beautiful elephant of Ceylon, issuing his orders for a general onset; and, placing himself at the head of a numerous body of horse, advanced boldly toward the enemy's cannon. He was received with firmness, and soon surrounded by heaps of slain. And not only the body which he led to the attack, but those by which he was followed, were thrown into disorder. Still did he retain an admirable calmness, and evince his immoveable determination not to recede. He was observed on his elephant looking about him with an undaunted air, and marking the progress of the action.
2.9.3
The troops were animated by his example, and the fugitives resumed their ranks; the charge was repeated, but he could not come up to the enemy before another volley carried death and dismay among the assailants: many took to flight; but the greater part seemed to have imbibed Dara's spirit, and followed their intrepid commander, until the cannon were forced, the iron chains disengaged, the enemy's camp entered, and the camels and infantry put completely to the rout. It was now that the cavalry of both armies coming in contact, the battle raged with the greatest fierceness. Showers of arrows obscured the air, Dara himself emptying his quiver: these weapons, however, produce but little effect, nine out of ten flying over the soldiers' heads, or falling short. The arrows discharged, the sword was drawn, and the contending squadrons fought hand to hand, both sides appearing to increase in obstinacy in proportion as the sword performed its murderous work. During the whole of this tremendous conflict, Dara afforded undeniable proofs of invincible courage, raising the voice of encouragement and command, and performing such feats of valour that he succeeded at length in overthrowing the enemy's cavalry, and compelling it to fly.
2.9.4
Aureng-Zebe, who was at no great distance, and mounted also on an elephant, endeavoured, but without success, to retrieve the disasters of the day. He attempted to make head against Dara with a strong body of his choicest cavalry; but it was likewise driven from the field in great confusion. Here I cannot avoid commending his bravery and resolution. He saw that nearly the whole of the army under his immediate command was defeated and put to flight; the number which remained unbroken and collected about his person not exceeding one thousand—I have been told it scarcely amounted to five hundred,—he found that Dara, notwithstanding the extreme ruggedness of the ground which separated them, evidently intended to rush upon his remaining little band; yet did he not betray the slightest symptom of fear, or even an inclination to retreat; but calling many of his principal officers by name, called aloud to them, Delirane! (Courage, my old friends)—I am repeating his exact words—Koda-he (there is a God). What hope can we find in flight? Know ye not where is our Decan? Koda-he! Koda-he! And then, to remove all doubt of his resolution, and to show that he thought of nothing less than a retreat, he commanded (a strange extremity surely!) that chains should be fastened round the feet of his elephant; a command he would undoubtedly have seen obeyed, if all those who were about him had not given the strongest assurances of their unsubdued spirit and unshaken fidelity.
2.9.5
Dara all this time meditated an advance upon Aureng-Zebe, but was retarded by the difficulty of the ground and by the enemy's cavalry, which, though in disorder, still covered the hills and plains that intervened between the two commanders. Certainly he ought to have felt that without the destruction or capture of his brother, victory would be incomplete; nor should he have suffered any consideration to move him from his purpose of attacking Aureng-Zebe, now that he was so clearly incapable of offering effectual resistance. He had an easy opportunity to crush this formidable rival; but the circumstance I am about to relate distracted his attention, and saved Aureng-Zebe from the impending danger.
2.9.6
Dara perceived at this critical moment that his left wing was in disorder; and some one then brought him intelligence of the deaths of Roustam-Kan and Chatresale, and of the imminent peril into which Ramseingue Routle was placed in consequence of having valiantly burst through the enemy, by whom he was, however, entirely surrounded. Dara then abandoned the idea of pushing toward Aureng-Zebe, and determined to fly to the succour of the left wing. After a great deal of hard fighting, Dara's presence turned the tide of fortune, and the enemy was driven back at all points; but the rout was not so complete as to leave him without occupation. Meanwhile Ramseingue Routle was opposed to Morad-Bakche, and performing prodigies of valour. The Raja wounded the Prince, and approached so near as to cut some of his elephant's girths, hoping in that way to bring his antagonist to the earth; but the intrepidity and adroitness of Morad-Bakche did not permit him to accomplish his object. Though wounded and beset on all sides by the Ragipous, the Prince disdained to yield: he dealt his blows with terrible effect, throwing at the same time his shield over his son, a lad of seven or eight years of age, seated at his side; and discharged an arrow with so unerring an aim that the Ram-singue Routle fell dead on the spot.
2.9.7
It was not long before Dara was made acquainted with the serious loss he had sustained; and hearing also that Morad-Bakche was hemmed in by the Rajpous, rendered furious by the death of their master, he determined, notwithstanding every obstacle, to advance to the attack of that Prince; the only measure by which he could hope to repair the error committed in suffering Aureng-Zebe to escape: but even this step was rendered abortive by an act of treachery, which involved Dara in immediate and irretrievable ruin. Calil-ullah-Kan, who commanded the right wing, consisting of thirty thousand Mogols, a force which alone was sufficient to destroy Aureng-Zebe's army, kept aloof from the engagement, while Dara, at the head of the left wing, fought with courage and success. The traitor pretended that his division was designed for a corps of reserve, and that he could not, consistently with his orders, move one step, or discharge a single arrow, until the last extremity: but the blackest perfidy was the cause of his inaction. Some years prior to this period, Calil-ullah had suffered the indignity of having been shoebeaten at the hands of Dara, and he considered the hour arrived when he might gratify the resentment which had never ceased to rankle in his bosom. His abstinence from all share in the battle did not, however, produce the mischief intended, Dara having proved victorious without the co-operation of the right wing. The traitor, therefore, had recourse to another expedient.
2.9.8
He quitted his division, followed by a few persons, and riding with speed towards Dara precisely at the moment when that Prince was hastening to assist in the downfall of Morad-Bakche, he exclaimed, while yet at some distance, 'Mohbarek-bad, Hazaret, Salamet, Elhamd-ulellah: May you be happy! May your Majesty enjoy health and reign in safety! Praise be to Allah, the victory is your own! But, my God! why are you still mounted on this lofty elephant? Have you not been sufficiently exposed to danger? If one of the numberless arrows, or balls, which have pierced your howda had touched your person, who can imagine the dreadful situation to which we should be reduced ? In God's name descend quickly and mount your horse ; nothing now remains but to pursue the fugitives with vigour. I entreat your Majesty permit them not to escape.'