[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) › 177 # Storia do Mogor 177: Death of Begam Sahib. Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 177 - **Language:** English ### Death of Begam Sahib. ### [177.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.177.1) But let us begin to recount the royal march. The women also moved with us, except Begam Sahib or Padshah Begam, who, being now old, had desired to remain in Agrah. During this march to the Dakhin we heard that she had ended her life, fulfilling her own prophecy. For before Aurangzeb left Agrah this princess tried to prevent the king beginning hostilities against the Rana. She told him the undertaking was very difficult, almost impossible, and that it was very probable they would never meet again, as \[201\] turned out to be the case. At the time of her death this princess divided her property and jewels among her nieces, leaving to each a good deal of money and jewels. Nor did she overlook her beloved Jani Begam, to whom she bequeathed her finest jewels and a greater share of money. Upon this news reaching the camp, we halted for three days by the wish of Aurangzeb, who showed himself touched by the death of a princess of good ability, who, although she had her faults, left behind her, on the whole, the name and fame of a wise woman. On hearing of Aurangzeb's approach to the Dakhin, Sambha Ji did not desist from his usual plundering expeditions in all directions. This was meant to show what little fear he had of that great army. Before we reached Burhanpur he sacked a large village four leagues distant from the royal camp. ### [177.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.177.2) Shah 'Alam was quite pleased, for Aurangzeb had withdrawn him from the Dakhin, after reproving him for allowing Shiva Ji during his government to get so close to him. Thus now Shah 'Alam rejoiced to see that Sambha Ji made no account of his father; on the contrary, he plundered quite close to his encampment. Angered at the temerity of Sambha Ji, Aurangzeb marched with the greatest haste to Aurangabad in order to distribute his army in different positions, and see if he could not capture Sambha Ji, and draw forth this thorn which was giving him so much annoyance. We arrived at Aurangabad, and here the king fixed his court. He kept with him his sons and grandsons, and sent out generals in different directions to invade the territories of Shiva Ji (the Mahrattahs). During this time the latter was ravaging the Dakhin. Some detachments he allowed to penetrate his territories, and there destroyed them by throwing poison into the water or closing the routes. He thus caused great losses in Aurangzeb's armies. The king did not know what course to adopt to impede Sambha Ji's assaults and conquer his lands. Assuming that his best plan would be to conquer the kingdom of Bijapur, he once more declared war against that king. Looking on him as a child, on one hand he made war against him, and on the other wrote him friendly letters. ### [177.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.177.3) The general sent against Bijapur was Diler Khan, who did his duty as a good soldier \[202\] . But Shah 'Alam had a grievance against him for his refusal to sign the paper of the feigned rebellion (II. 124), also for his not treating him (the prince) with sufficient respect. A splendid opening had now been found by Shah 'Alam for ending the life of this famous commander, and he caused poison to be administered to him whilst he was conducting the campaign against Bijapur. Aurangzeb was grieved at the death of so great and so faithful a general, for whom he had considerable affection, in spite of his being a Pathan. It is the rule in the Mogul realm not to trust that race. The unhappy Bijapur ruler, in addition to an invasion from Aurangzeb's army, found himself attacked by Sambha Ji, who at this time took from him some fortresses, and was thus ever strengthening himself against the Mogul. ### [177.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.177.4) It happened just then that some of Sambha Ji's officers quarrelled with him because he continued to interfere with other men's wives. They signed a treasonable letter against their prince, in which they promised to join Prince Akbar, to whom the letter was sent. The latter was eager enough to make use of such a good opportunity, but he would not act without the advice of the \[Rathor\] leader Durga Das, to whom he confided the secret. Durga Das counselled him not to rely on such a letter, and said it was possible that Sambha Ji was himself the originator of this fiction, in order to see whether he (Akbar) would countenance such a rebellion, or was in reality a prince grateful for the many favours done to him. The safe course would be to confide the said letter to Sambha Ji himself, and prove to him the fidelity and gratitude felt towards him. ### [177.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.177.5) Sambha Ji received the letter, and since the writing was genuine and also treasonable, he forthwith ordered those officers to be beheaded. He returned thanks to Akbar for his good faith, and assured him that he would always continue to favour his cause. By this time the prince had repented of not having seized the occasion, but now it was too late. It is incumbent on me to state that Sambha Ji's victories were not the fruit of his own valour, but were due to his officers. He was much more inclined to spend his time with women, amusement, and wine, than to take the field and emulate the example of valour and untiring exertion bequeathed him by his father. ### [177.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.177.6) Aurangzeb heard of the plot that the officers of Sambha Ji wished to carry out, and of Akbar's refusal of such a good opportunity. He feared that, owing to Sambha Ji's irregular life, those men might a second time propose to make Akbar their prince, that he might then accept, and be able then to come against him (Aurangzeb) with a strong army. He therefore sent endearing letters to Akbar, pressing him to return; he knew well (he said) that the rebellion the prince had headed during the campaign against the Rana was not his own doing, but the work of his officers. He could now return with confidence, and he would be pardoned. Aurangzeb pledged his word, backed by an oath on the Quran, that no harm would be done to him. Letters went back and fore, but Akbar knew his father, and was not such a fool as to trust himself to the hands of one who had already murdered one son. But he wrote such humble and submissive letters that Aurangzeb dispatched his tutor to him, and a considerable sum in gold accompanied by a letter, which declared that he (Aurangzeb) was anxiously expecting his son's return. ### [177.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.177.7) Finally, Aurangzeb, finding that his son still hesitated to start, wrote to him another letter, in which he pretended astonishment at the delay, and once more invited him to come back. But Akbar, who had now drawn from his father enough funds to last him a long time, wrote that most certainly he meant to come, but it could be in one way only — sword in hand, and at the peril of his life to make himself King of Hindustan, after killing his father. By this time Aurangzeb recognised that the procedure of Shah 'Alam in sending money to his brother, at the time when he first went in pursuit, was no such great fault of judgment, since he (Aurangzeb) himself had fallen into the same mistake. ### [177.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.177.8) It was at this juncture that news reached Aurangzeb about the governor of Surat, called Cartalab Can (Kar-talab Khan). At the said port he had committed many wrongful acts, so that many times the inhabitants were forced to send complaints to the court. But as he was rich, and gave bribes to the ministers, the complaints never reached the royal ear; or if they did reach it, they were depicted as much more trifling than they really were. But God will not suffer for long the screening of the evil-doer, and opened a door by which \[204\] Aurangzeb was informed of the truth. He then sent the governor an order calling him to Aurangabad. As soon as he arrived, before he had been presented in the royal audience-hall, Aurangzeb sent a eunuch with poison to be given to the said governor. When the eunuch reached the tents of Kartalab Khan, he called for him in a loud voice, and according to the custom of these overbearing instruments, said it was the royal order that in his presence, and without delay, the poison sent by the king should be swallowed. Thus he was forced to take it, so as not to give the king a chance of issuing an order for the destruction of his entire family. In this way did the man end his life who had given rise to so many complaints, affording a warning to others to comport themselves with greater equity, and carry out the king's service with more tenderness. ### [177.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.177.9) Finding that he could not effect anything of value against Sambha Ji, Aurangzeb became desirous of completing his acquisition of the Bijapur kingdom. He therefore corresponded with the generals of that realm, sending them large gifts and presents in the hope that they might rebel against their king and come over to his army. Among those who consented to Aurangzeb's proposals was Abdul Aquim ('Abd-ul-hakim). This man, knowing by experience the bravery of the Goa Portuguese, for they had defeated him, counselled Aurangzeb to make friends with those Europeans. If they continued their hostilities, Sambha Ji would be forced to keep two armies in the field, one in the direction of the Dakhin, the other opposed to the Portuguese. Thus it would be more easy to stop him from plundering in all directions. ### [177.10](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.177.10) Aurangzeb wrote to the viceroy, Francisco de Tavora, Conde de Alvor, asking him to make war on Sambha Ji, and offering to make him a gift of all the lands he took from that prince. Aurangzeb's rebellious son, Akbar, was in Sambha Ji's company: they must refuse him any passage, and decline to give him any assistance; in fact, if they could capture or kill him, they would be doing him (Aurangzeb) a great favour. In due time he would require such a service. To carry these things through, he sent to them Sec Mahamed (Shekh Muhammad) as his envoy. Meanwhile, on the advice of the said 'Abd-ul-hakim, he made preparations to send Shah 'Alam in the direction of Goa to invade the territories of Sambha Ji. A fleet was to go by sea \[205\] from Surat, taking supplies of provisions for the army of that prince. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.177](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.177) · Pramāṇa