Storia do Mogor 199: Akbar comes from Persia and then retreats.
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 199
- Language
- English
Akbar comes from Persia and then retreats.
199.1
Shah 'Alam's arrival in Hindustan was well timed, for a false rumour having got abroad that Aurangzeb was dead, Akbar advanced at the head of twelve thousand Persian horsemen to test his fortunes. But encountering the great army of Shah 'Alam not far from Multan, he was obliged to retreat. Then it was heard that he had halted at the fortress of Qandahar, within Persian territory, there to await his father's death. Since that time, as it would appear, there has been no want of people to collect and espouse his cause. Therefore Shah 'Alam continued [in those regions] with his sons and family, excepting 'Azim-ud-din. He did not remain in one fixed place, but scattering [254] his troops, kept watch, so that his brother Akbar might not invade India. Things went well with Shah 'Alam, favoured by Fortune as also with his son, Sultan 'Azim-ud-din, in Bengal. The latter, imitating his grandfather, denuded the rajah little by little until the rebel was forced to retire into his own country.
199.2
It now remains to remark that when Akbar fled he left behind him two daughters. Aurangzeb married one to Sultan Mu'izz-ud-din, and the other to Sultan 'Azim-ud-din. It is not known why he carried out these marriages. Another matter having reference to Akbar is that, when he took flight, he left in the hands and under the protection of the famous Rani, widow of Jaswant Singh, two pregnant wives, who both gave birth to sons. Repeated excuses were made for not sending the little ones to Aurangzeb; the Rani hoped that Akbar would return from Persia and make himself king. In the end, finding that this prince never came, she sent them to be delivered to their grandfather. It was an amusement to the old man to get two grandchildren who could speak nothing but the Rajput tongue, which differs from that used at the court. He gave them establishments, and kept them lovingly near his person. Aurangzeb was very anxious to draw Akbar back to the Mogul kingdom, and with this view he went on writing him friendly letters with invitations to return. Promises were given to make him master from Bhakkar as far as Tattah, which is the province of Sind. But he knew his father's nature, and up to this day (? 1700) has put faith neither in his letters nor his promises.
199.3
Thus do matters go on in the Mogul kingdom ; sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons are making preparations for the terrible wars which must ensue upon the death of the old king. For there are many aspirants to dominion, it being among them a saying that in such a case a father should not trust a son, nor a son his father. The thing most to be wondered at in my History is the wisdom of Aurangzeb, who, in spite of being an old man of eighty-four years, knows how to regulate affairs with such skill that he maintains himself as king against the will of so many claimants ; and at this great age he still mounts on horseback [255].
199.4
I know quite well that some in reading this History will comment on my leaving the Mogul country so many times and then going back. Some will say to themselves that in those lands there must be some delectable fields which caused my return there. But in reality, granting that by God's favour I did have the luck to attain some good fortune, yet never had I any desire to settle there. For, of a truth, they have nothing that can delight or win people from Europe, or make them desire to live there. The country is not good for the body, much less for the soul ; for the body, because it is requisite to live ever on the qui vive and keep your eyes open, since no one ever says a word to be relied upon. It is continuously requisite to think the worst and believe the contrary of what is said ; for it is the habit there absolutely to act according to the proverb of my country, ' Pleasant words, sad actions.' They deceive both the acute and the careless ; thus, when they show themselves the greatest friends, you require to be doubly careful. The country is not good for the soul, as much from the licence one has there as from the absence of Catholic observances. Thus, when I could leave it, I did so ; nor should I ever have gone back there had I not been forced by necessity.
199.5
I offer up many thanks to God that at length He granted me means to deliver myself; and I assure the reader that few Europeans could live there with the advantages and honours I was able to achieve. Nor let him be led away by the hope that, resorting thither, he would be able to improve himself in any degree. For few indeed are they who return thence bettered, and many are those who have been made worse.