[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) › 65.14 # Storia do Mogor 65.14 Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 65.14 - **Language:** English ### [65.14.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.14.1) At the time I was at Dihli he was received with great pomp, and given the highest place in the royal audience. Shahjahan accorded him the title of Vizir Azam (Wazir-i-a'zam) — that is to say, 'Great Secretary,' and the name of Mazamcan (Mu'azzam Khan) — that is to say, 'Greatest of the Great.' After a short time he was ordered to make ready an army for a march without delay against the King of Persia, from whom he (Shahjahan) was pledged to take the fortress of Qandahar. With this intent he had already made ready his artillery and a certain number of cavalry. Mir Jumlah, or the newly-made Mu'azzam Khan, gave a present to Shahjahan of a large uncut diamond which weighed three hundred and sixty carats. He added that if Qandahar produced such precious stones, his majesty might undertake the labour of going there, or could despatch some loyal vassal to take it. But to his mind, his majesty had better send some trusty person to conquer the lands where, of a verity, such stones were to be found. These were the kingdoms of Bizapur (Bijapur) and Golconda (Gulkhandah), and the island of Ceilao (Ceylon). Having spoken thus, he once more held forth his hand full of diamonds, already cut, of considerable size, though not so large as the first one. ### [65.14.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.14.2) He then undertook that he would himself deliver to Shahjahan after a short time the kingdoms referred to, and make him lord of all the coast of Choromandal and of Gengelim (Ginjili). Shahjahan was delighted at this speech, and at once ordered that the artillery should turn back from its march to Qandahar. He made a present to Mu'azzam Khan of the splendid mansion of the famous Sa'dullah Khan, which stood opposite the royal palace. The large diamond was returned to him to have it cut by an expert, and for this purpose they sent to him a Venetian lapidary named Ortensio Bronzoni. I saw this diamond many a time; it was as large as a nut. ### [65.14.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.14.3) After the lapse of some months, King Shahjahan decided to despatch a powerful army to the Dakhin country, appointing Mu'azzam Khan to the command thereof. Dara was much aggrieved by this resolve of his father, and did his best to hinder the undertaking. He was afraid that Aurangzeb would be assisted by this army. But the extreme eagerness of Shahjahan to possess himself of the diamond-mines weighed more than the petitions of Dara and of Begam Sahib. In addition to other famous leaders, there were sent with Mu'azzam Khan Najabat Khan (ante, I. 147), Mahabat Khan, son of the great Mahabat Khan, of whom I have already spoken (ante, I. 112), and Salabetcan (Salabat Khan). The condition was imposed that Prince Aurangzeb should remain at the city of Aurangabad as governor, and should not enter the lists of war; while Mu'azzam Khan was forced to leave at court as hostages his son Muhammad Amin Khan and the rest of his family. Marching rapidly for the Dakhin, he passed close to the city of Aurangabad, and invading the territory of Bijapur, he surrounded a place called Caliany (Kaliyan). ### [65.14.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.14.4) At court Aurangzeb's interests were attended to by his sister, called Royonara Begom (Roshanara Begam). She was not very good-looking, but very clever, capable of dissimulation \[165\], bright, mirthful, fond of jokes and amusement, much more so than her sister Begam Sahib. But she was not of equal rank with the latter. She was generous, and drank wine when she could get it. On the whole she had not the same liberty, and was not so much confided in as Begam Sahib, nor had she the same powers, seeing that she lived within her father's harem. In spite of her power of concealment, she could not hide the fact that she was the declared enemy of Dara and of Begam Sahib. As she lived in the palace, she never was at a loss for finding out matters of importance, and of these she sent secret intelligence to her brother Aurangzeb, who thereupon took remedial measures. ### [65.14.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.14.5) The fourth son of King Shahjahan was Morad Bacx (Murad Bakhsh), the youngest of all the brothers. He was a man of little wisdom, who could not plan anything beyond his amusements, drinking, singing, and dancing. He was very bold and valorous, for ever practising himself in the use of arms, and perfect in the use of bow and arrow. He was a constant and energetic hunter, risking his life by spearing wolves and boars with his own hands, a thing none of his brothers did. He delighted in listening to talk about war, and through his over-confidence he felt contempt for all that was done at courts; relying solely on his own right hand and on his sword, he thought other men of no account. While he was governor of Gujarat, a man who was disaffected to his minister told him that this official was a traitor. Without any further inquiry he gave the minister a spear-thrust that passed right through him, whereupon he died. Murad Bakhsh was a concealed adherent to the sect of Aly ('Ali). The fourth daughter of King Shahjahan was called Merniza Begom (Mihr-un-nissa Begam). She took the side of her brother, Sultan Murad Bakhsh. She was young, and always occupied with her toys and games, and was rather pretty. I have nothing to tell about her, for being so young she did not trouble her head about affairs of State, and during the disturbance in the kingdom lived on in the harem. ### [65.14.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.14.6) At the time when Mu'azzam Khan was investing Kaliyani Shahjahan fell suddenly ill. It was in the year one thousand six hundred and fifty-four, on the 17th November, when the court was at Dihli. I was then in the service of the prince Dara. Shahjahan brought this illness on himself, for being already an old man of sixty-one, he wanted still to enjoy himself like a youth, and with this intent took different stimulating drugs. These brought on a retention of urine for three days, and he was almost at death's door. This illness produced great confusion in the city of Dihli and throughout the empire. When the king saw himself in this plight, he ordered all the gates of the fortress (palace) to be closed up, leaving only two wickets open. Placing no reliance on the Mahomedan commanders, he ordered Rajah Jaswant Singh (Rathor) to post himself at one gate with his men, and the other he made over to Rajah Ram Sing Rotella (Ram Singh). These officers guarded the fortress on all sides with thirty thousand soldiers, all of them Rajputs. Their orders were that only Prince Dara might enter twice a day with a retinue of ten persons. But he was not allowed to sleep within the fortress. Begam Sahib decided to stay inside to look after her father's food; but both she and the other persons left in the fortress were made to swear on the Quran to be faithful to him. He was afraid of being given poison. ### [65.14.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.14.7) Imagining that the king, his father, had but a few days to live, Prince Dara \[166\] set to work to raise as great a force as he could. Orders were sent to enlist men at the cities of Lahor, Agrah, and Dihli, which are the chief towns in the empire. His chief reason was his anticipation that when Shahjahan should fall ill, everybody would fly to arms for the defence of their houses from the robberies and assaults that would take place. ### [65.14.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.14.8) This confusion lasted in the city for three days and three nights, the shops remaining shut, and there being a scarcity of supplies. The agents (procuradores = wakīls) wrote, each of them, in haste to the princes about the king's illness, whereupon every one of the sons began to plan and prepare his army. The 'sarrafos' (sarraf, a banker or money-lender), who are the men who issue bills of exchange, wrote to their correspondents in metaphors that they should guard themselves, as follows: 'Let it be known to your worship that the vessel of butter was filled to overflowing, and the butter in it was lost.' By this they wished it to be understood that the king was already dead, and they wrote as above, not daring to write any plainer, for these men are very cautious in conducting themselves. Many letters were received in which it was distinctly stated that the king was already dead. These were founded on the non-appearance of the king, as is the custom. Shahjahan was very much concerned at being unable to appear, he being in great pain, and he feared some disturbance. ### [65.14.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.14.9) When the above news reached Prince Shah Shuja', he arranged to take the field with a large force and a quantity of treasure, collected by him in the realm of Bengal, a very productive country, a treasure to which he had added by plundering several Hindu princes. He started with forty thousand horsemen and a great many infantry. Of the latter no count was taken, because in Hindustan such troops are not esteemed. He also placed a fleet on the river Ganges; it was commanded by Portuguese in his service. Having come to this resolution and ended his preparations, he mounted his horse, with this exclamation: 'Hia thech, hia tabut!' (Aya takht, ya tabut) — that is to say, 'Either throne or tomb,' a proverb current among princes laying claim to a crown. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.14](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.14) · Pramāṇa