Travels in the Mogul Empire (Bernier) 3.1.1

3.1.1

The war being ended, the Tartars of Usbec eagerly despatched ambassadors to Aureng-Zebe. These people had been witnesses of his conduct and valour in many battles, when in command of the corps which Chah-Jehan sent to the assistance of the Kan of Samarcande, then engaged in hostilities with him of Balk; and they had reason to apprehend that Aureng-Zebe did not forget the treachery of which they had been guilty when he was on the point of capturing Balk, the capital city of the enemy. Upon that occasion, the two Kans made up their differences, and united in one common effort to drive him back, lest he should seize upon both their territories, in the same manner as Ekbar had obtained possession of the kingdom of Kachemire. The Usbec Tartars were not ignorant of the occurrences which had taken place in Hindoustan, of the victories gained by Aureng-Zebe, and of the total discomfiture and death of the other competitors for the crown. They were aware that although Chah-Jehan still lived, yet his son was, in reality, the recognised and established King of the Indies. Whether, then, they dreaded his just resentment, or hoped, in their inbred avarice and sordidness, to obtain some considerable present, the two Kans sent ambassadors, with a proffer of their services, and with injunctions to perform the ceremony of the Moharek : that is, to express in a solemn manner their wishes that his reign might be long and auspicious.