Storia do Mogor 65.11
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 65.11
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65.11.1
This prince (Dara) had two sons, the elder called Sultan Suliman Xacu (Sultan (prince) Sulaiman Shukoh)—that is to say, 'King Solomon'—and the younger called Sultan Super Xacu (Sipihr Shukoh)—that is to say, 'High as the Stars.' These were the children of the principal wife, who was of the blood-royal. When Shahjahan assigned to each prince a separate establishment, he kept Dara by his side, and made him lord of the kingdoms of Kashmir, of Lahor, and of Kabul. Out of the great love he bore him he granted him several privileges, such as to cause elephants to fight together whenever he pleased, and to display in his presence gold and silver maces, a thing otherwise allowed to the king only. To demonstrate still more his affection, he ordered a small throne to be placed near his own, and on this the prince was to take his seat. It must be added that out of the great respect he had for his father Dara would never consent to sit on this throne. He (Shahjahan) gave an order that all the nobles of his court should go first to make their morning bow in the presence of the heir-apparent, Sultan Dara, and then come to his (Shahjahan's) daily audience. He declared on various occasions that this son (Dara) was the successor that he desired, and he would do all in his power to get him made king; but the matter was according to the will of the Paraverdigar [Parwardagar]—that is to say, of the Creator, from whom he besought the gift of such a happy event.
65.11.2
By reason of these things the haughty Dara scorned the nobles, both in word and deed, making no account of them. It happened that one of Mahabat Khan's soldiers killed one of his (Dara's) men. Falling into a rage, and without any inquiry into the matter, he (Dara) ordered his troops to be collected, with orders to drag [155] Mahabat Khan before him. On hearing of this, the noble made ready to defend himself in his mansion. Shahjahan heard of these preparations, whereupon he ordered his son Dara to be sent for, and administered a severe reproof for what he had intended to do. He said that if soldiers had disputes among themselves, that was no reason for interfering with their commanders. After this incident Mahabat Khan bore a grudge against him (Dara), and failed him at his time of need, as I shall recount further on (I. 212).
65.11.3
It was also a rumour that Dara likewise took the life through poison of that able noble Sa'dullah Khan, a man esteemed by the king and the whole court. He was a partisan of Prince Aurangzeb. Dara also insulted Rajah Jasing (Jai Singh), a very powerful Hindu prince, lord of forty thousand horsemen and one hundred and fifty thousand infantry. He said that Jai Singh looked like a musician, an occupation much despised in Hindustan, because all such men act the part of buffoons. Apparently the rajah submitted to the insult received from Dara, but he only dissembled, and postponed the taking of vengeance to the time when Dara would need him. This he accomplished, and I will relate it hereafter (I. 169). Not content with having affronted so many, he must needs ridicule the great soldier Mirzamula (Mir Jumlah), when he arrived at his father's court. He ordered the noble's sword, that he was wearing at his waist, to be stolen as soon as he entered the royal palace by active fellows, of whom he kept a number for the execution of such-like tricks. In addition, he ordered his buffoons several times to imitate the gait and the gestures of the said Mir Jumlah, making mock of him.
65.11.4
Not contenting himself with these affronts to a commander who, for the benefit of the prince's father, Shahjahan, revolted against the King of Golconda (Gulkhandah), as I shall tell hereafter (I. 162), Dara, three days before the said Mir Jumlah left for the Dacan (Dakhin) to conquer the territories of Gulkhandah, deprived him by bribery of the eighty European artillerymen he (Mir Jumlah) had in his service. Mir Jumlah knew of all these things, and granting that he was capable of some dissimulation, he was not able to ignore this last piece of treachery, and racking his head, he tried to find some course to take, so that the artillerymen might continue under his orders. This in effect happened, because Aurangzeb afterwards made him (Mir Jumlah) the royal captain-general [156] for the conquest of Axaini (Assam), and thus the artillerymen came under his command, as I shall relate hereafter (II. 72).
65.11.5
But one of the chief generals of Shahjahan was suspected by Dara of being unfriendly. This man was found in his bed with his throat cut, and the populace whispered that he (Dara) had ordered the assassination. To sum up, he (Dara) depreciated all the nobles at the court, above all the generals and commanders. In order to insult them still more, he gave exaggerated praise to Barcandas Can (Barqandaz Khan)—that is to say, 'Grand Thunderer' — who, being a soldier of repute, was made by Dara head of his artillery. The appointment was due to his having killed an owl which had taken up its place upon the room where the prince was sleeping. He said this man was the bravest in the whole empire; that he by himself would suffice for the destruction of any prince who was his (Dara's) enemy; that all the commanders and generals put together could not reach the hundredth part of that man's valour. At this praise the other commanders showed themselves aggrieved and disgusted. All these things united were the chief causes of Dara's ruin and death. He might have been King of Hindustan if he had known how to control himself.
65.11.6
The second son of King Shahjahan was called Xaxujo (Shah Shuja') — that is to say, 'Valiant King.' He was arrogant, and reputed to be courageous, steadfast, and prudent in his undertakings. He knew how to acquire friends likely to aid him in his important and seasonable affairs. At the court of his father he had many agents, especially when he was in Bengal. These persons were able to seduce from the court of his brother Dara the best soldiers, artillerymen, and engineers by money grants and promises of doubling their pay. Besides this, he maintained a great friendship with Rajah Jasont Sing (Jaswant Singh Rathor), an ally of Prince Dara; and in the harem he had his sister Genorara Begom, who acted for him, and reported to him all that went on. I have nothing to write about that princess, and may be excused from taking that trouble. I will only state that she was proud, very passionate, fancied herself clever, was envious, not generous, and, furthermore, not good-looking.
65.11.7
Shah Shuja' followed the habits of his father, being a lover of songs, dances, and women, among whom he spent days without giving [157] audience, drinking wine to excess, and spending a great deal of money on dancing women, to whom he gave valuable jewels and handsome clothes, conferring on them increased pay, as the fancy took him, without any regard to merit. He had such a high idea of himself that he supposed his valour could conquer everybody. From this cause he despised his opponents, and was at times negligent in important things. He was the first to revolt against his father, as I shall tell hereafter (I. 166). Some assert that he followed the sect of Aly ('Ali), venerated by the Persians as a prophet; whereas in the Mogul realm, Balq (Balkh), Bocara (Bukhara), Badacxam (Badakhshan), Samarcand (Samarqand), and Cascar (Kashghar), they do not recognise 'Ali as a prophet, but follow the religion of Turkey and Arabia.
65.11.8
During the time that this prince governed the kingdom of Bengalla (Bengal), where he held his principal court in the city of Ragemal (Rajmahal), there happened, a few years before the rebellion in the Mogul kingdom, an extraordinary case, about which he wrote to King Shahjahan. At eight o'clock in the day there appeared near the said city, in a plain a league and a half broad, a great number of cobra snakes, large and small. They covered the field and moved from west to east until four o'clock in the afternoon; they looked like ripples in the ocean. In the greatest fright, the inhabitants of the villages climbed upon the tops of their houses and upon trees. They beheld moving in the midst of the said cobras one of great size, which carried on its head another smaller one, entirely white. They pursued their way without harming anyone, many remaining behind in the suburbs of the city and in the villages, and through losing their companions they died. Hearing of this event, Shahjahan asked his astrologers what it meant. They replied that the wickedness of the empire was taking its departure, and that he would survive for many prosperous years.