Storia do Mogor 65.32.4

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.