Storia do Mogor 65.32
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 65.32
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65.32.1
Rendered still more impertinent by my apparent quietude and patience, the officer went on with his insolence. In time he exhausted my patience, and in a rage I picked up a stone, and, hurling it with the greatest force, hit him in the mouth, cutting his lips and sending two teeth down his throat. He fell to the ground and spoke no more. I resumed the tying on of my bundle, and before I mounted I gave the fellow several kicks, owing to the rage I was in. Taking to my horse, I set out on my way, unaware that the man's servant had gone to tell his men. Having gone only a few paces, I perceived some thirty foot-soldiers, all armed, coming hastily in search of me to take vengeance for the affront done to their officer. I wanted to turn back, simply that I might rid myself of them. Then I reflected that I should only light upon others lying in wait for me. Fixing my turban more firmly, angry and resolute, sword in hand, I spurred my horse, on which I relied a good deal. I flung myself into their midst, and they, seeing my anger and resolve, were not bold enough to attack me, only having enough presence of mind to salute me and leave me a free passage. They followed me afar off, relying upon others who had been sent in my pursuit. To these it happened as to the first lot, and they all followed me up to my issuing from the city. I then got rid of them and went on my way.
65.32.2
After three days I arrived in the army of Dara, where I found the officer who had tried to carry me off by force from Lahor. I told him I had come to lay a complaint against him before Dara. He had been the cause of other Europeans not accompanying me, who subsequently had decided to remain where they were owing to the bad way he had treated me. The Turk, on hearing this, embraced me with the greatest submissiveness, and begged me to suppress my grievance for the sake of his good name. We continued our marches till the early days of November, when we arrived at Multan, an ancient city where in old days, before the Portuguese were masters of the Eastern seas, there came many cafillas (qafilah) of merchandise and spices and drugs of India. With us marched the great Da,ud Khan who, spurred by the loyalty and affection that he had to Dara, would not abandon him, offering through others to serve him faithfully, as he had done for many years. But Dara did not trust him, led astray by the forged letters that Aurangzeb continued to write.
65.32.3
To impose on the people of Multan, Dara made believe that he intended to stop in that city and enlist troops. He began to repair the houses in which formerly Aurangzeb lived when he governed that territory. He ordered them to send for the relations of a false prophet, then deceased, called Coia Bahaudim (Khwajah Baha-ud-din) — that is to say, 'Price of the Law' — one greatly venerated by the Mahomedans, who is buried in the middle of the city in a great dome covered with blue tiles, an ancient building. He earnestly entreated them to intercede for him with Muhammad that he might favour him and give him the victory over Aurangzeb. They gave him their word that without fail they would supplicate Muhammad; he might rest assured that his petitions would be considered, being as they were so just. During the following night they would so arrange that they should precede everyone and be the first to receive audience from Muhammad, and thus comply with his highness's desire.
65.32.4
The following day very early Dara took care to have them called, so as to know the result of their prayers. They appeared, as this sort of knave knows so well how to do, with downcast faces, and told him that all night long they had been in the presence of Muhammad, but were unable to speak to him, because Aurangzeb was in conversation with him. But without fail they would the following night find an opening for his petitions. In order to gratify them, and bind them still more to his interests, Dara made them a present of twenty-five thousand rupees and a covering of costly stuff to be spread on the tomb of the false prophet (i.e., of Baha-ud-din). But on their being sent for again the next morning, they came with the same answer, and it was the same on the third day. When Dara was informed that Aurangzeb had left Lahor in pursuit, he lost faith in his prophets, and held it best to withdraw from Multan. For this purpose he gave orders that all the boats, five hundred and seven in number, should be made ready for a voyage towards the fortress of Bhakkar. They were loaded with supplies of food requisite for a beleaguered citadel ; they also put on board eight cannon carrying shot of from sixty to one hundred and twenty pounds' weight, besides light artillery, ammunition, and the necessary materiel of war. Each boat carried, more or less, a hundred tons of cargo.
65.32.5
While Dara was thus preparing to resume his march, Aurangzeb was coming after him by long marches, moving on day and night without halting at the head of the finest part of his army [217]. These were enough to overcome the small force still attached to Dara. Aurangzeb had left behind the rest of his army with orders to follow. Finding that he was pursued, Dara was compelled to move. He ordered the boats to be started down the river, putting in command of them a valiant eunuch, Coia Vacent (Khwajah Basant) — that is to say, 'Springtime.' The prince left by the land route at the head of five thousand horsemen and five thousand infantry. Dara's favoured general, Barqandaz Khan, went with him; most of the others deserted, as did those that he had taken on at Multan, carrying off the large sums of pay that he had disbursed to them.
65.32.6
Much to be marvelled at was the obstinate fidelity of Da,ud Khan. Keeping at a little distance from our troops, he continued to follow. He sent a clear message to Dara that he might trust in him; he wanted to accompany him whenever the occasion arose, and with his blood would seal the testimony of his loyalty. The prince should accept his advice, and not believe in the forged letters that had fallen into his hands. But Dara, more and more suspicious, sent word to him that if he were true to him, let him cease to follow him and go his own way. By this time Da,ud Khan saw that it was of no use to try and remain with his well-beloved prince, and sent an answer that he would obey orders on the condition that his dismissal was by writing. It was not long before Dara made over to him a paper in which it was stated: 'I, Dara, discharge Da,ud Khan, and command him to withdraw from my army, and accord him liberty to serve whom he pleases.' What things may not be worked by a falsehood when accepted as true by a prince! Without reflecting on the evil that might accrue to him, the prince persisted in the unjust impression made upon him. Da,ud Khan received this writing at the city of Vehu (or Ochu, perhaps Uchh). Weeping like a child, so that it was pitiful to see him, he exclaimed: 'It seems to me as if evil fortune dogged the steps of Dara,' and therewith he departed.
65.32.7
Learning the news, Aurangzeb, when he arrived at the city of Multan, detached a force in pursuit of Dara, with orders to capture him if they could; they were to pursue him wherever he went. Then he sent off an affectionate letter to Da,ud Khan, tempting him with very high pay, an offer which was accepted on condition that he should not be ordered to take up [218] arms against Dara. This Aurangzeb accorded, and treated him with great consideration, and in that reign he held high appointments.
65.32.8
We continued our marches, suffering somewhat from failure of supplies, and several times from want of water. We passed through several rough woods, and arrived opposite the fortress of Bhakkar in the middle of the treacherous river of Sind, thus called after the union at this place, distant one hundred and thirty leagues from Multan city, of seven large rivers, which further on I will tell you about (I. 222). There we found the valiant eunuch, Primavera, occupied in the disembarkation of the big guns and the other munitions for the said fortress. At this time Dara received word that Aurangzeb's troops, commanded by Bahadur Khan, sent in pursuit of us, had already arrived quite near. He saw that he could not resist such a strong force; he therefore ordered with all possible haste two thousand selected men—Pathans, Sayyids, Mughals, Rajputs—twenty-two Europeans of different nationalities, and other servants to occupy the said fortress. The command was given to the eunuch Primavera. The remainder of the army was ordered to cross with the same haste to the other side of the river and seize all the boats to be found there, in order to hinder the enemy's crossing at that point.