Storia do Mogor 65.29
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 65.29
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65.29.1
Murad Bakhsh was left with no one but his eunuch, Shahbaz, who all the time he was dining stood at his back fully armed. Then they began to eat and drink. All Aurangzeb's officers stood serving and pouring out wine for Murad Bakhsh, while Aurangzeb offered him different dishes and acted as his table servant. All this was done with much dissimulation and great efforts to please. The meal lasted for two hours. At the end of it Aurangzeb said to his brother that he must take a rest, while he (Aurangzeb) made ready the throne, and ascertained from the mathematicians (astrologers) the exact moment for taking his seat thereon, when he would come in person to awake him.
65.29.2
The hapless prince retired to another room to take some repose, and found there a beautiful woman, with whom he wanted to toy; but the eunuch, Shahbaz, forbade him, and turned the woman out. Sleep soon fell upon him, for he was heavy with wine, and Shahbaz, seating himself, kneaded his master's feet, and kept an eye fixed on the door. In a short time he saw Aurangzeb come out alone from another door opposite, in white shirt and drawers and a plain cap. With head bent and smiling, he advanced very deliberately, pulling at his beard, just as if he wanted to ask Shahbaz something. When at a little distance from the door, he halted, and raising his head, made a sign with his hand to the eunuch for him to approach, as if he wanted to get his opinion on some point. Poor Shahbaz hastened to obey, but hardly had he put his head outside the door, when four men seized him by the shoulders and lifted him off his feet, so that he could neither shout nor use his weapons. Then forthwith strangling him, they buried him without a sound.
65.29.3
Oppressed by wine, Murad Bakhsh went on sleeping. But Aurangzeb was wide awake. His brother having been deprived of his faithful eunuch, he felt sure of his plan succeeding. Still, to make assurance doubly sure, he sent for his son, Sultan A'zam, then six or seven years of age, and living in the harem. When the boy appeared, he showed him quietly a lovely ornament, and told him if he would carry off his sleeping uncle's sword without rousing him, he should receive the jewel. This was done so that if Murad Bakhsh should wake, he would see that he who had roused him was an innocent child, and would suspect no evil. The boy, to gain the reward, went cautiously into his uncle's room and silently drew away the sword from his side, and made it over to his father. Again he showed the boy another jewel, and said he should get it if he went once more and took away the dagger also. Highly delighted, the child went in as he had done before, and carried off the dagger also. Poor Murad Bakhsh was now unarmed, and without a defender. Pleased at finding himself master of the arms, of the army, and of the person of Murad Bakhsh, Aurangzeb drew a deep breath of joy and relief at the finish of his labours, cunning plots, and anxieties.
65.29.4
Then he called in the men hidden for the purpose, and ordered them to bring in the fetters already lying ready for use. Some, on the other hand, want to make out that these fetters were of silver, intended by Aurangzeb to terrify his son Sultan Muhammad if he were disobedient. Six men went into the room where Murad Bakhsh was, and, laying hold of his feet forcibly and disrespectfully, began to place on them the fetters. This was very different from what the eunuch Shahbaz used to do: he used to waken him by gentle pressure on the feet. Turning his body hastily, and not seeing his eunuch, but unknown men with fetters in their hands and angry faces, Murad Bakhsh reached out hastily to the place where his weapons had been. But, finding himself deprived of all resource, he lost heart, and, becoming aware from that moment of his treacherous betrayal, he allowed his feet to be held, and made no movement while they put on the fetters. Then with bent head he muttered: 'This is the word and oath sworn to me on the Quran.' Some men have asserted to me that, if Aurangzeb had failed in this plan, he had resolved and determined to take his brother's life by violence that very day.
65.29.5
The project had been kept so secret that no one had an idea of what was passing. To mislead everyone still further, Aurangzeb ordered the instruments to strike up anew, both within and without. The whole army, hearing once more those strains of gladness, supposed that the festivities had been renewed and would last all night, as is commonly the practice in Hindustan. Thus the soldiers took upon themselves to seek such diversions as they pleased, and dispersed in all directions. All this was done by Aurangzeb with the object that, having scattered and sought repose, the soldiers should be prevented from suspecting what he had on hand. He was a little afraid that Murad Bakhsh's soldiers, on hearing of the treachery, might not break out into mutiny. He also, for the same reason, strengthened the guards round his own tent.
65.29.6
When it was six o'clock in the evening, there appeared all of a sudden two elephants with covered howdahs, such as are used for harem women, with an escort of four thousand cavalry armed with sword and lance, under the command of Khan, who had lately joined. There were other four thousand horsemen, armed in the same way, under the command of Bahadur Khan, foster-brother of Aurangzeb. Entering the tent enclosures, one body from the east and the other from the west, Murad Bakhsh was fastened upon the elephant brought in on the east under the orders of Daler Khan. After a brief delay there issued from the enclosure [207] the closed howdahs, one towards Dihli and the other towards Agrah. Each was escorted by one of the squadrons already alluded to, and they travelled with celerity.
65.29.7
This invention was to leave everyone in doubt, so that they could not decide upon which elephant Murad Bakhsh was mounted, should they intend any outbreak. The whole business was carried out with the greatest secrecy. The hour of night was also chosen, in order that if anyone attempted a rising it could not easily be carried out; the time of feasting was chosen because Murad Bakhsh's officers were at the tents of others, separated from their soldiers. Therefore, if any officer well affected to Murad Bakhsh should attempt anything in defence of his master, he would be stopped by his (Aurangzeb's) adherents, to whom he had promised many and valuable presents if they allowed no one to issue from their tents.
65.29.8
On the departure of those two elephants from the camp, the soldiers suspected some treachery, and there arose a great confusion, as they knew not what mystery lay hidden under the sending-off of those two elephants escorted by the troops of cavalry. Then there came out several horsemen and some men on foot, shouting loudly: 'Long live King Aurangzeb!' adding that all those in the service of Shahjahan, of Dara, and of Murad Bakhsh who were willing to enlist under King Aurangzeb would obtain double pay. Murad Bakhsh's officers, who were feasting, were disturbed in mind and tried to get away, but Aurangzeb's officers laid hold of their hands and advised them not to expose themselves to any risk, but to accept the pay promised by Aurangzeb. They should not, they told them, go in search of death for a cause already beyond their help, for so had Murad Bakhsh decreed.
65.29.9
The officers and soldiers spent that night in great anxiety, knowing not what course to pursue. By the time morning dawned they accepted the proposals of Aurangzeb. The latter took possession of all the wealth and forces of Murad Bakhsh. All his wives, sons, and daughters, and all his dependents were sent to the fortress of Dihli. The orders given to Daler Khan, who went in charge of Murad Bakhsh, were that, on getting near to Dihli, he should uncover the howdah, and in that condition enter into the city. The prince was to be carried to the stronghold of Selimguer (Salimgarh), built long ago by King Selim Xa (Salim Shah) of the Pathan race. This place is in the middle of the river Jamnah, close to the Royal Fortress newly reconstructed by Shahjahan, and called Xaajanabad (Shahjahanabad). You cross to it (Salimgarh) by a great bridge, which stands between the one fortress and the other.
65.29.10
It was very pitiful to see poor Murad Bakhsh make this miserable entry into Dihli visible to all, his face dejected, wearing a blue turban ill put on; behind him an executioner with a naked sword in his hand, ready upon any attempt at rescue to cut off his head. Daler Khan followed at the rear of Murad Bakhsh upon another elephant, an arrow ready in his bow. Thus, too, rode the troopers of his squadrons, and it seemed as if some criminal were being borne to the scaffold. Thus was this unfortunate prince taken into the fortress aforesaid with great precautions, and it was ordered that poppy-water be given him to drink to deprive him of his senses.