Storia do Mogor 281.13.6

281.13.6

It must be avowed that things have turned out with this king [Aurangzeb] very differently from what he anticipated when only a prince. For at that time he used to say that if ever God allowed him to mount the throne, he would undertake to rule the empire with an army of no more than twelve thousand horse. Yet at this present moment he has fifty thousand continually in the field, and is nevertheless quite incapable of undertaking anything serious against Shiva Ji [the Mahrattahs]. In addition, he has several other armies posted at various places in his empire, and these are incessantly occupied in recalling to their duty certain rebel Hindu princes. For these men adhere still to their ancient practices, and remain loyal as little as possible. This fact can be seen in my earlier Parts. Shiva Ji, on his side, was not idle, and allowed no occasion of doing injury to escape him, making continual attacks upon the general, Zu,lfiqar Khan. Seeing this, and suffering from that prince's (the Mahrattah) strength, the general was forced to withdraw and seek for safer quarters. During his retreat he was pursued by the enemy for five days, and lost a number of men. At the end of that time the rajah desisted, seeing that to all appearance he would be unable to inflict a crushing defeat; he then turned off towards the province of Barrar (Barar). On his way he pillaged and plundered everything he could find, as is his custom.