[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) › 65.30 # Storia do Mogor 65.30 Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 65.30 - **Language:** English ### [65.30.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.30.1) At this juncture Aurangzeb disclosed his motive for asserting himself to be and pretending to be a poor mendicant; it was only to secure an easier access to the emperor's seat, and mislead everyone. For, hardly had Murad Bakhsh fallen into his hands, Dara and Sulaiman Shukoh been defeated, and his father imprisoned, than he proclaimed himself emperor. He conferred many distinctions and gifts on the men of Shahjahan, Dara, Murad Bakhsh, and Sulaiman Shukoh who came over to his side, thereby the more easily to gain their adherence and attach them more strongly to his interests. Thus he became at once master of a great army. ### [65.30.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.30.2) Beholding all this, and hearing that Dara had decided to raise a fresh army in the province of Lahor, I started as a humble mendicant for the city of Dihli. There I remained some fifteen days, awaiting the assembling of more travellers. For the villagers and thieves were plundering on the highways, and created a good deal of tribulation to travellers, robbing and slaying them. They were forced to do their stages with arms ready in their hands, while pursuing their way. Each night we took shelter in the saraes, where we were able to take rest in some security. Every day we halted at noon to feed and rest the animals; and at two in the afternoon we resumed our march, until we reached another sarae somewhere before sunset. Once on this journey we were resting at midday near a town called Panipat (Panipat), distant from Dihli four days' journey. When the time came to start again, my cart-man could not be found, and the convoy set out. I knew not what to do, for after a good deal of effort I was unable to get hold of my cart-driver. By this trouble I was much put out, for I found the oxen would not obey me; nor could I travel on foot, for fear of being attacked. The men of the place surrounded me and wanted to rob me, which they did not do, only because I had nothing. I was much perplexed. They advised me to continue my route, for during the night (as they assumed) someone would be able to kill me. ### [65.30.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.30.3) Meanwhile my cart-driver turned up; he came running in great haste from the halting-place. As soon as he got near me I fell upon him in a great rage and gave him a sound beating. I knew not the favour that had been accorded me by Divine Providence, which 'in sui dispositione non falitur,' and even does us the most benefit when it seems the most against us. I started on my road, and the cart-man wanted to hurry, fancying that he could catch up the rest of the party, who were two hours ahead of us, and thereby enter into my good graces again. But I assured him we could never overtake them, anyhow, could not reach the sarae. He had better drive on at a moderate pace. Still displeased with the cart-man, I inquired why he had been so heedless, knowing the perils existing on the road. He replied that, overcome by his necessities, he had gone some distance from the town, and then there had come on him heavy sleep, so that he had been unable to wake sooner ; this was the cause of his delay. ### [65.30.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.30.4) During this conversation we had entered into a wood, through which we had to pass. When within it, I beheld with terror the greater number of our party heaped together, either decapitated or wounded, and all plundered and ruined ; the few who survived were stripped naked. The cart-man, frightened to death at the spectacle, wanted to drive off with his cart across the jungle without attending the dead and wounded lying on the road. I told him to go slowly, that there was nothing to be afraid of, for the danger had passed (although I was a good deal frightened myself). I found one poor creature lying in the middle of the road with a spear thrust through him, who, raising his hands to heaven, prayed me to help him. Taking compassion on him, I stretched forth my hand to lift him into my cart, whereupon the driver pricked up his bullocks, and did not give me the chance of doing this deed of charity. ### [65.30.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.30.5) We went on our way, and coming forth from the wood, I noticed that the inhabitants of the village where we were to put up appeared before us. Aware of the great mishap that had occurred, when, in spite of all that, they saw a cart appear quietly from such a perilous spot, they were in the greatest amazement, and questioned me as to how I had saved my life. Then I replied that God knew how to deliver poor men from the hands of scoundrels. I continued my journey, always in fear of thieves, until I reached the river called Bear (Biyas or Biah), where I found an officer, Dautcan (Da,ud Khan), who, quitting Sulaiman Shukoh, had come to join Dara through jungle and desert by a very difficult route, where he had been in fear of his life. This he did for the love he bore him (Dara). The latter had entrusted him with sufficient artillery, cavalry, and infantry to bar the passage of the river to Aurangzeb. ### [65.30.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.30.6) I presented myself to him (Da,ud Khan), and as he recognised me, he treated me with much honour and granted me a passport for my onward journey. Without such no one could go on to the city of Lahor. There I arrived at four o'clock in the afternoon, when Prince Dara was actually seated giving audience. Quitting the cart, I threw my small wallet across my shoulder, and taking in my hands my bow and seven arrows, I entered the palace. When my commander Barcandas Can (Barqandaz Khan) saw me, he advanced to greet me, and after embracing me with great affection, he led me joyfully to the presence of the prince, just as I was. There I performed the usual obeisances, and he (Dara) with exceeding gladness exclaimed in a loud voice : 'Xabas! xabas !' (Shabash! shabash!) — that is to say, 'Bravo! bravo !' His eyes brimming over with tears, he turned to his officers and said in a troubled tone : ' See, you others, the fidelity of this European Farangi lad, who, although neither of my religion nor of my race, nor for long an eater of my salt, having only entered my service when these wars began, came after me with such loyalty through the midst of such dangers ; while those maintained by me for so long, and getting immense payments, with base ingratitude and utter disloyalty abandoned me when I had need of them, just as you others have seen.' ### [65.30.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.30.7) After this speech Dara asked if other European Farangis accompanied me. To this I answered that the hardships of the road hindered many from coming, but as they found a chance they would come. Dara ordered a horse to be given to me, which was at once brought. Not liking the look of it, he directed them to give me another and better one. He increased my pay, making it in place of eighty rupees one hundred and fifty rupees every month. An order issued for a present to me of five hundred rupees with a ' serpao ' (sardpd). I put up at a house where several of my European friends were staying ; they had got away from Agrah before it was invested, and with them I dwelt. Prince Dara wasted no time, but with extreme energy enlisted fresh men to form a good army and resist Aurangzeb, whose acts he knew of. He had already some thirty thousand horsemen of various races, Mogolis (Mughals), Saheides (Sayyids), and Patanis (Pathans). While these preparations were going on there came Raia Sarupsing (Rajah Sarup Singh)—that is to say, 'Beauty of the Lion'—who had been sent for by Dara. He brought four thousand horse and ten thousand infantry. The territory of this rajah adjoins the mountains in the kingdom of Kashmir, and he has an army of fifteen thousand cavalry and three hundred thousand infantry, all of them Rajputs. Dara with great entreaty had begged him to be so good as to do him the favour of coming at this time to join him with all his men. ### [65.30.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.30.8) He would never forget it, when the time came to reward and recompense him. To gain him more securely to his side, he (Dara) allowed his wife to send for the rajah to her harem, where with soft words the princess once more begged for his aid and gave him many presents, the chief being a string of pearls of great value that she threw over his neck. She addressed him as her son, and said she looked on him as in the place of her son Sulaiman Shukoh. Then she did a thing never done before in the Mogul's empire—that is say, she offered him water to drink with which she had washed her breasts, not having milk in them, as a confirmation of her words. He drank with the greatest acceptance and swore he would be ever true, and never fail in the duties of a son. But he needed some money for expenses, so as to enlist all the men he could, in addition to those he had already brought. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.30](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.30) · Pramāṇa