Storia do Mogor 370: [339] Another detached Leaf translated from the Portuguese by Commandatore Andrea Cardeira, P.P.
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 370
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[339] Another detached Leaf translated from the Portuguese by Commandatore Andrea Cardeira, P.P.
370.1
With this I bring to an end Part V., and if time allows me, and I should come across anything worthy of record, I will go on with a Sixth Part, hoping thereby to complete the satisfaction of the inquiring reader. Let us now turn and say something of the old and wily king, Aurangzeb. We find him, then, with his army not far from the fortress of Ahmadnagar, of which we have spoken before (V. 202), feeble and old, full of disillusions, and near to the day of his death. On February 7, 1707, he fell ill, and on no day was he able to appear in public audience. His absence raised a tumult in the camp, the shops were closed, supplies grew dear, and many other disorders arose. The chief wazīr, Asad Khān, worked hard among both the nobles and the smaller men to keep them quiet, and did all that was possible to show the royal person to the populace, as he had done on other occasions. But the king's weakness was so complete that this had become impossible. Meanwhile the king, being somewhat afraid of A'zam Tãrã, ordered him not to come to audience without being sent for. But Prince Kãm Bakhsh went frequently to see his father. He perceived the king's malady was mortal, and petitioned his Majesty before he died to give him liberty to depart as promised. Otherwise it was quite certain that he would lose his life. Then the king ordered him to surround the royal tent with his guards, and to this direction effect was given at once.
370.2
A'zam Tãrã refused to endure this ; he imagined that Prince Kãm Bakhsh was trying to take possession. Forthwith he sent some of his own troops to chase away the guards round the royal tent and take their place. In this affair some force was used on both sides, and some men were killed — twelve on Kãm Bakhsh's side and eight on A'zam Tara's. Hearing the great uproar, the king asked what was the matter. Asad Khãn, who was always present during the king's sickness [340], told him the whole story. Then the king ordered him to go at once at the head of a number of eunuchs and suppress the tumult. By other orders Aurangzeb directed Prince A'zam Tãrã to leave the army; he was appointed lord over Aurangãbãd, Burhãnpur, Barãr, et cetera, as far as the Naibadã river. An order was issued to Prince Kãm Bakhsh making him lord over the provinces of Bljãpur and Gulkandah. A letter was delivered to him addressed to the governor of the former place, ordering the delivery of the fortress.
370.3
The prudent wazir so adjusted matters that both princes quitted the army. A'zam Tãrã marched very slowly and the Prince Kãm Bakhsh in haste, being anxious to take possession of the fortress of Bljãpur. Four days after the above disturbance, the king being still in the same state — nay, in the agonies of death — the wazir, being a partisan of A'zam Tãrã, sent that prince a message telling him to return in all possible haste. When he arrived the king was already dead, having died on the Friday. This was one day before the arrival of A'zam Tãrã, which took place on March 4 [1707], an hour after noon. Aware that he was near the hour of death, the king had ordered and eagerly pressed the wazir, Asad Khãn, to unlock the treasury and pay the soldiers all that was due to them. If he neglected this direction, he would have to give answer for it in the presence of God, and in the meanwhile his conscience would hurt him. Thus the wazir, with the consent of the new king, A'zam Tãrã, carried out the order.
370.4
When the old king found himself in this helpless condition, he said just before he died : ' I die happy, for at least the world will be able to say that I have employed every effort to destroy the enemies of the Mahomedan faith.' At this time there were many friends of Shãh 'Alam who attempted to get the king before he died to nominate that son as his successor. But his answer was that he made him (Shãh 'Alam) King of Hindustan, which he had already made over to him ; but as to his reigning there or elsewhere, that was in the hands of God alone. At the time the king died a whirlwind arose, so fierce that it blew down all the tents standing in the encampment. [341] Many persons were killed, being choked by the dust, and also animals. The day became so dark that men ran into each other, being unable to see where they were going ; villages were destroyed, and trees overthrown. This whirlwind lasted up to six o'clock in the evening. The chief wazir, the principal officials at the court, and the generals went out to meet A'zam Tãrã, and escorted him to the royal tents. For several days before taking his seat on the throne he directed everybody to appear at court in rich and handsome robes.
370.5
On March 15 [1707] A'zam Tãrã decided to take his seat on the throne. This day was fixed by the astrologers when they came to see him. On beholding the throne afar off, A'zam Tãrã stopped, and raising his hands and eyes to heaven, prayed God to grant him favour and confer on him understanding to govern with strict justice, and gain the victory over his enemies. He appeared clad in rich vestments adorned with precious stones. His prayer finished, he sat on the throne at ten o'clock, and remained seated until midday. He ordered new money to be coined, one-twelfth part larger than the pieces current, and of the small change he ordered two coins to be made into one. Thus nowadays one rupee is worth thirty-two pieces of copper. Upon the new coin were impressed the words: 'Secadzad der Jaan badablout iaè Patxa mamalek Azamxa' (Sikkah zad dar jahãn ba daulat wa jãh Pãdshãh-i-mamãlik-i-A'zam Shãh). which means 'Struck . . .' [the rest is wanting]. [342] Omitted fols. 342-345, account of events following the Battle of Jãjau in June, 1707, which has already been taken from Part IV. (Codex XLIV., fol 241).