[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Travellers (1500–1858)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel) › [Storia do Mogor](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci) › [Storia do Mogor (Irvine)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine) › 174 # Storia do Mogor 174: Shah 'Alam marches against Akbar. Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 174 - **Language:** English ### [174](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.174) Aurangzeb, who never allowed delay in matters of importance, upon being told that Akbar had fled, gave orders the same day to Shah 'Alam to pursue until he had seized him. Shah 'Alam replied that on his part he would do what was possible to capture him; but as Akbar was a man of resolution, it might be that he would turn to give battle. In the battle he might be killed. He therefore prayed His Majesty that if such an unwished-for event resulted, he should not be blamed. Aurangzeb answered that even if Akbar were killed, it would be well, for a rebellious son is unworthy to live. Thus we issued from the royal camp with a considerable force, and we had to suffer enough from the recent rains. We were also worn out by the haste we had made in coming from the Rana's country to reinforce Aurangzeb. Now we marched out in search of Akbar, who fled through the lands of the Rajputs, and kept us running in one direction, and then in another, up to the end of March (1681). During this time Shah 'Alam, who had learnt the lesson from his father, wrote letter after letter to Akbar telling him to surrender, and he would find a way to procure their father's pardon. Akbar, who by this time knew Aurangzeb tolerably well \[196\], although he had no faith in him pretended to believe. He wrote to Shah 'Alam that very willingly would he come in, but having incurred some debts, he was in need of four thousand gold coins. Having paid his debts, he would, without fail, come and place himself under his brother's protection and pledged word. Shah 'Alam, who imagined his brother to be speaking the truth, sent him the four thousand coins, which were used to pay the Rajputs. Akbar then made for the Dakhin, there to throw himself upon Shiva Ji's (i.e., the Mahrattahs') protection. We were unable to pursue him over the impassable roads of those mountain ranges. In this negotiation between Shah 'Alam and Akbar, Kanealam (Khan 'Alam), son of Nazabatcan (Najabat Khan), a very fat man, who was a partisan of Akbar, wrote a letter to Shah 'Alam that if he were willing to pledge his word to protect him, he would quit Akbar and desert to his (Shah 'Alam's) side. Shah 'Alam pledged his word, and Khan 'Alam came and put himself in the hands of Shah 'Alam, and he was sent to court with a recommendation. But Aurangzeb, who did not pardon sons, was not likely to pardon Khan 'Alam. As soon as the man arrived he ordered him to be built up in a room, leaving only a small aperture through which they gave him poisoned food, and he was forced to do there the offices of nature, and there he died. On this occasion Shah 'Alam wrote that Akbar had now escaped. The king had spies who informed him of everything that happened, and he replied that before he (Shah 'Alam) had thought of writing, he had already received news of Akbar's flight; and as he (Shah 'Alam) was doing no good, he must come back to headquarters. Thus we retraced our steps by the orders of Aurangzeb. He saw that Akbar's revolt had thrown the kingdom into confusion; he therefore wrote to all his governors and viceroys with orders to beat the kettledrums and hold festivals, to let the people know that he had gained the victory over his rebel son Akbar. During this time the defeated prince fled hither and thither. In spite of all the efforts to seize or kill him, there were no results, for by this time Akbar had found refuge in the country of Sambha Ji, who made it his pride to have within his territories a son of his deadly enemy \[197\]. - [Previous: 173.12](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.173.12) - [Next: 175](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.175) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.174](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.174) · Pramāṇa