Storia do Mogor 65.26
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 65.26
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65.26.1
On learning that Dara was resuming his journey and making for Dihli, I decided that very instant upon rejoining him. But my steed was so worn out that he could hardly stand, just as were those of everyone who reached the city that night. I decided to take a rest for twenty-four hours, and after that to start and go in search of Dara. Aurangzeb showed no want of promptitude in carrying out his designs. Within twenty-four hours he despatched Bahadur Khan with several troops of cavalry to occupy the road to and from Agrah on the west. This was to hinder anyone following Dara. As a result, the first men to take to the road before the day dawned, among them several Europeans, found free passage; but the rest, not knowing that Bahadur Khan was already in position, started on the journey, only to be plundered of all they carried and sent away with a good beating, coming back to the city.
65.26.2
Without knowing these facts, at nine o'clock in the morning I made a start, riding my horse, followed by a loaded camel and some servants. Issuing from the city, I saw several squadrons dispersed in the plain. As I imagined these to be our men, I decided to join them. Then I saw that a body of some five hundred horsemen with its commander was bearing down upon me. On its drawing near, the leader advanced from it, attended by two horsemen. When quite close he asked me lovingly where I was going. I replied without subterfuge that I was on my way to find my master, Dara. He took compassion on my youth and innocence, and said to me that if I followed his advice, I should return home, for if I proceeded farther I ran great risk of losing my life. This captain was so generous that, to protect me, he escorted me safely to my house.
65.26.3
If he had not done this, there can be little doubt I should have been plundered by others posted on the road, or even by his own soldiers, who betrayed every desire to plunder me had he not prevented them. Seeing me into my house unharmed, he advised me not to leave it again. The government had already changed hands, and Aurangzeb was victor. For that time I had escaped, and I looked out for a safer opportunity to start in search of Dara, for whom I had a great affection. If Aurangzeb had not barred the way, all Dara's people would have gone on to rejoin him. But they could not then do it, as I have told you, for they came in tired out by their flight, and their horses quite exhausted.
65.26.4
I remained in the city of Agrah, and observed the way in which Aurangzeb forwarded his designs. For on the eighth of the month of June, one thousand six hundred and fifty-six (correctly, 1658), four days after the battle, Aurangzeb and Murad Bakhsh arrived at Agrah. They posted their army close to a garden called Zafarabad (Ja'farabad or Zafarabad) near the city, at a distance of two miles. Thence Aurangzeb sent his eunuch, called Fahim, an able, astute, and loyal person, to visit his father, carrying a thousand beautiful protestations of love and submission. He professed to be much affected by what had passed, his excuse being that the ambitions and evil thoughts of Dara had forced him into resorting to all these extremities. As for the rest, he was highly elated at the good news of his (Shahjahan's) better health. He was now at the capital, ready to receive and obey his orders.
65.26.5
The eunuch Fahim made no stint, either of obeisances or of soft and humble speeches. He dwelt on the goodwill and excellent intentions of Aurangzeb. Nor, on the other hand, was Shahjahan wanting in a plentiful display of loving satisfaction. Desirous of keeping on the throne, he resorted to wiles, for he knew the character and hidden malice of Aurangzeb. He never forgot the words said to him by the faqir, that he must not put trust in Aurangzeb, nor in his soft words. Therefore he devoted himself to searching for a plan to remedy his present evil case. He thought first of coming out and passing through the city, to find out whether his generals meant to succour him. But he saw perfectly that it was already too late : all of them had gone over to Aurangzeb. Even if the city residents were willing to join him, he saw clearly that nothing could be effected through them. If the citizens were like those of Europe, there can be not the least doubt that they could have at that time given Aurangzeb plenty of occupation.
65.26.6
Finally, Shahjahan came to the determination to play a game of finesse with Aurangzeb, a supreme master in that line. To this end he sent a eunuch called Almes (Almas) with a statement that he knew well enough the evil condition and small capacity of Dara. He was delighted at the arrival of his son Aurangzeb, and out of the special love he bore to him, he had granted him the vast territories of the Dakhin. He had a great longing to converse with him in person, and communicate to him several plans that must be carried out to repress the disorders in the empire [199] , and he was awaiting his appearance, having the greatest longing to embrace him. All this was said to draw Aurangzeb into the fortress ; and without a shadow of doubt he meant to murder him if he went there. He had previously made all preparations in secret. There were many strong-limbed Tartara (Tatar), Calmaca (Qalmaq), and Osbeca (Uzbak) women in his guard, all skilled in the use of arms. These would have slain Aurangzeb with their matchlocks, arrows, and swords. But the wily Aurangzeb, the very quintessence of deceit, quite foresaw that he ought not to trust in the words of Shahjahan, and knew thoroughly that Begam Sahib, very fond of Dara, and always present with her father, would never cease exerting herself in every possible way for his (Dara's) cause as against him (Aurangzeb). He had no need of listening to words ; what he had to do was to obtain mastery over the realm without delay.
65.26.7
Thus he declined to risk himself, All the same, he never ceased to spread the rumour, one day after another, that he was going to see Shahjahan. When the appointed day arrived, there arose some excuse to put it off to another date. In this way he went on from day to day postponing the date of the visit. Meanwhile, he continued in secret to seduce by soft words the greater nobles at the court. In the end, having everything thoroughly ready in secret, he was in a position to carry out what he had planned. When everybody was looking for the visit to be paid, Aurangzeb ordered his son Sultan Muhammad to assume command in his (Aurangzeb's) name at the office of the cotual (kotwal), who is the chief magistrate ruling over the whole city. Under cover of this movement, he was to rush on and encircle the fortress, and allow no one to enter.
65.26.8
Shahjahan was thrown into dismay at finding himself all of a sudden invested — above all, when he found that Aurangzeb and all his men were posted opposite the fortress, near the tomb of Taia-mahal (Taj Mahal or Mumtaz Mahal), the wife of Shahjahan, of which place I have already spoken (I. 121). When Aurangzeb had arrived here, Shaistah Khan and Muhammad Amin Khan, son of Mir Jumlah, with many others then in the city, went forth to receive him. They offered him costly presents, and congratulated him on his great success, all of them in high spirits at seeing what they had so keenly desired. I do not know that among the men of any standing there were more than two not included in the ranks of the traitors. These were Danijbad can (Danishmand Khan), the greatest scholar in the empire, and Mecoromcan (Mukarram Khan), physician of Shahjahan, natives of Persia, who both stopped at home and declared their neutrality.
65.26.9
Poor Shahjahan found himself in the fort with no one except Assetcan (Asad Khan), of whom I will say more presently (I. 201). He came forth from his palace and went the rounds in the fort, and gave orders to equip such fighting men as there were, and get ready his artillery. On noticing that Aurangzeb's men were closing in, he ordered them to be fired on; he had by this time given up all hope of the interview for which he had been waiting. But Aurangzeb paid no heed to these shots, and went on with his advance, taking possession of the whole city. He posted his forces beneath the walls of the fort, under cover of the rows of houses that surrounded it.