Storia do Mogor 238.8.6

238.8.6

It is necessary for the reader to be aware that these Moguls, admitting that they profess the Mahomedan religion, do not fail at the same time to retain in their habits certain Hindu practices, such as offering up victims on any occasion when they desire to do some work or undertake a journey. Not to be open to reproof, they do this under the title of executing justice. This happened when Aurangzeb wanted to leave Aurangabad to wage war against the Kings of Bijapur and Gulkandah. More than six days before his march began he sent orders to kill on the route that he was about to travel eighty men, under the name of infidels and non-observers of the Mahomedan religion. He ordered them to be placed in a row with hands bound and in a kneeling position, then their heads were cut off one by one. It was observed that among them all, one dead body after six days remained on its knees as if just decapitated; the others lay on the ground at the mercy of animals. The reason that one only among so many remained upright on its knees without falling like the rest, granting that it was inflated and decayed like the others, I leave for the consideration of the reader. As for me, it seems possible to suppose that, out of fear and before they could cut off his head, this victim was stupefied at seeing the others beheaded and thus became petrified. They also maintain some observances which have in themselves some human morality.