[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) › 294.4 # Storia do Mogor 294.4 Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 294.4 - **Language:** English ### [294.4.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.294.4.1) I spoke a great deal formerly of the general Bahādur Khan, who was highly esteemed by the king on account of his bravery, also because he was the son of his wet-nurse, and thus his foster-brother. In addition, he had taken a leading part in the warlike conquests of this king, acquiring thereby a high degree of pride and a boldness of speech rare among orientals. This line of behaviour was displeasing to the monarch, and he thought of a means of mortifying him somewhat. With this object he directed that this general's palanquin should be placed behind that of Asad Khan, the first minister of state. But having been warned of the affront to be shown him, Bahadur Khan refrained that day from attending the audience. All he did was to order some of his men to appear there, and should they try to place Asad Khan's palanquin in his place, they should offer opposition. His orders were only too well executed. For when it was attempted to put the other palanquin in the general's place, his soldiers resisted and raised a hot quarrel with the first minister's men. It proceeded to such lengths that blood was spilt \[118\]. In the end the king was forced to intervene with his authority before the fight ceased. ### [294.4.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.294.4.2) In spite of his having been the principal instigator, he (Aurangzeb) concealed the fact as much as ever he could. He feared the power and ability of Bahadur Khan, and he knew him to be an intimate friend of Shah 'Alam. The king feared that if Bahadur Khan learnt that the affront had been given by his orders, he might ally himself with the prince and raise a rebellion. For this reason he went a few days afterwards to visit the general, and told him he must think no more of the affair. It had occurred without his (Aurangzeb's) knowledge, and solely through the captious temper of the minister's servants. For the future, he would issue an order preventing the raising of similar disputes in regard to his rank. He should experience nothing but the gratifications which he might look for as due to his merits and his services, of which he (Aurangzeb) would cherish an eternal remembrance. Bahadur Khan appeared satisfied with this sort of excuse, and upon this the quarrel was dropped. When Khelna was ceded Aurangzeb felt no little satisfaction, and he gave the necessary orders for garrisoning it. That done, his next move was to effect his retirement. In that matter the Mahrattahs were far from idle, and discovering that the old man's only anxiety was to beat a retreat, they invaded the province of Barar. The officer in charge as governor there was the 'Ali Mardan Khan, of whom I have spoken before (IV. 16). ### [294.4.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.294.4.3) They devastated every place that they found upon their route; whereupon the above officer, having gathered together all the troops he had, came against the said Mahrattahs. They thrashed him neck and crop, cut his troops to pieces, and took him prisoner. Out of their clutches he is hardly likely to come without the payment of a considerable sum by way of ransom, just as he had to do the first time he was captured in the way I have already recorded (IV. 16). Although it might be said in a general way that since this prince ascended the throne his reign has been a continued series of victories, still, he has not been exempt from misfortunes. Now and again accidents befall him, which inflict terrible mortification upon him without lessening in the least his courage or his ambition. Neither do they diminish his dissimulation, his unfailing resource in prosperity as in adversity. The taking of Khelna has been followed by very disagreeable incidents, caused by the heavy rains and bad weather which overtook the army on its march. The rains have been so prodigious that they have washed away all the roads, devastated the country, and ruined the inhabitants. These latter place all their hopes upon a good harvest, and this has been entirely lost to them by the tempests destroying all the grain. A famine has been produced in the royal army. ### [294.4.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.294.4.4) This famine, joined to the difficulty, not to say the impossibility, there was of advancing by reason of those disorders and the occurrence of a most terrible pestilence, caused the loss on this occasion of more than half of the army. The distress has been so great that there were men who, unable to carry their wives with them without exposing them to public view, have been so inhuman as to prefer killing them to enduring that affront. Even the king's own household felt the sad effects of this tempest, and several ladies held very dear by the king perished, the king himself having some difficulty in escaping. ### [294.4.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.294.4.5) Aurangzeb had no sooner heard the news that Da,ud Khan had cleared the Karnatik of the Mahrattahs than he forwarded orders to that general to force payment from the Rajah of Tanjor, the Queen of Trichinopoly, and some other neighbouring princes of the tribute they had hitherto paid to the Mahrattahs. These sums were to be in addition to the existing tribute previously collected by him from these princes. In these orders he set forth his reasons for making such a demand. Of these, the principal was that he had disbursed enormous sums in carrying on the war against this prince (i.e., Shiva Ji, or the Mahrattahs). The Mahrattahs had continuously harassed these (local) princes by their raids and never-ending pillage. At present they had been delivered from those plunderers, and were enjoying the fruit of the Mogul victories. It was only fair that they should undertake a share of the expense that all these things had put him to. He also enjoined on Da,ud Khan in express terms that he must declare war against these princes, and constrain them to comply by force of arms. ### [294.4.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.294.4.6) In conformity with these orders Da,ud Khan sent to demand this tribute from the king and the queen above mentioned. He also asked for three hundred elephants, two hundred from the former and one hundred from the latter. He pointed out to them that the king was in urgent need of this number of these enormous beasts, to replace those that he had lost during the war, chiefly at the siege of Khelna. It should be noted that this is no more than the beginning of a quarrel about nothing (querelle d'Allemands), which the Mogul means to force upon these poor rulers, with the object of despoiling them and becoming absolute master of all their territories and all their treasures. For it is an almost impossible thing for them to furnish him with the number of elephants he has requisitioned. The difficulty is increased by their never having maintained a quarter of these numbers in their service. But this king strives to be master of everything, and what matters it to him by what means he secures his end? These poor rajahs asked a month's time before replying to the demand. We shall see hereafter the result of their deliberations and what will come to pass. ### [294.4.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.294.4.7) In the end the above king and queen, of whom I have just spoken, have complied with the Mogul demands. Rather than have a war, of which the consequences could be no less than fatal to them, they have consented to furnish to the general, not the number of elephants he claimed, but as many as could be found in their states and belonging to their subjects. I have spoken already of Bahadur Khan, Aurangzeb's foster-brother, but I overlooked a rather curious adventure which took place at his death. When he fell ill \[120\], he grew so much worse that in a few days all hope was gone. Thus his doctor considered it advisable to warn the king of his dangerous condition. Instantly the king went off to visit him. The patient was warned of the king's intended visit, and at once ordered the preparation of a sort of throne, most gorgeous, all adorned with precious stones, and estimated as worth nearly five millions of rupees. Subsequently to the prince taking his seat, there were brought several trays filled with precious stones of inestimable value, some weapons, also some horses and elephants. ### [294.4.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.294.4.8) The king accepted all the gifts, and intimated to him his sorrow at his illness. Then that noble began complimentary speeches, thanking his majesty for all his gracious favours, for all the benefits he had conferred, and imploring pardon for all his shortcomings, and the scanty gratitude he had shown for such signal condescension; for all this kindness he now felt deeply touched, and if he survived longer on earth he would give evidence by his conduct how deeply repentant he was for his faults. But since in all probability he was about to quit this world, he had no other medium for showing his sorrow except a flood of tears. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.294.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.294.4) · Pramāṇa