Storia do Mogor 65.34
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 65.34
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65.34.1
Across this swift and treacherous river, on the farther side, there are the lofty mountains of the Pathans, thirty leagues off, with a walled city at their foot, named Pexor (Peshawar). People from India who pass the river (Indus) lose the rights and privileges which they imagine they enjoy in their own land. This river is at a distance of one hundred and fifty leagues from the river Biat (Behat), and eight leagues from the seventh, called Nilab, whose waters are blue in colour. Close to the fortress of Bhakkar these seven rivers join to form the wide and famous river Sindi (Sind, or Indus), and thence it flows with great force until it falls into the sea, on the shore of the Sind province, thus called from the river running through it. After he had sent us away, Dara set out for the port of Sindi by land, ordering all the boats to assemble at that place for his departure. Having reached the vicinity of that port, he used all the boats found there to cross the river to the town of Sindi. When he had got over, he ordered all the boats that could be found to be collected, so that by this means he might hinder the passage of the enemy then in his pursuit. Next he and his army began to march for the city of Tata (Tattah), twelve leagues off, as I related in my journey from Persia. Entering that city, he rested a few days, and enlisted as many more men as he could find, offering very high pay.
65.34.2
During the time of his stay in this city, he inquired if there were any Farangi European priest to be found. There happened to be there a barefooted Carmelite monk, Frei Petro de Santa Terza (Teresa) by name, Flemish by race, whom I had met in the city of Espao (Isfahan). He was a man of much virtue and learning, well acquainted with the Arabic, Persian, and Indian languages. Hearing about this man, Dara sent for him, and had divers conversations with him on the Gospel and the articles of our faith. After listening to his arguments, he became for a time thoughtful, then, raising his hands to heaven, he said: 'If there is any true faith in the world, I believe it to be that of the Catholics, for many a time I have talked about it to different Roman padres from different countries, and it always came out the same without the slightest difference. This is not so with other religions, such as those of the Hebrews, Hindus, and Mahomedans, in which I have found many variations.' Turning towards the friar, he said to him: 'Father, I pray Jesus, who is the Messiah, to make me king, and I give you my word, I will issue orders for the erection in Agrah city of a temple (church) to Her Majesty (Hazrat) Bibi Mariam'—that is to say, the Holy Lady Mary—'and, furthermore, I will permit the fathers to build churches and preach the Gospel freely throughout my empire.'
65.34.3
After a few days had elapsed Dara resumed his route, followed by some six thousand horsemen, carrying with him sufficient gold and silver and his family. He passed through the country of the Rajah of Cachanagara with great energy on his way to the province of Guzurate (Gujarat). When Aurangzeb was told of this, and found that Dara, leaving the road to Persia, had come into the Gujarat province to raise a new army, he tried to mislead him by the following stratagem: He sent a letter to his second son Sultan Mu'azzam, nowadays known as Xaalam (Shah 'Alam), then living at the city of Aurangabad. He ordered him to feign rebellion, enlist new troops, and announce that he meant to protect and deliver his grandfather, Shahjahan. To this intent he should write to Dara, inviting him to rally to his side against Aurangzeb. When Dara should appear, he (Mu'azzam) must make every effort to seize him, dead or alive. But Dara, who after all was not devoid of sense and judgment, being now guided by experience, detected the plots and wiles of Aurangzeb, and made a joke of the offer from Sultan Mu'azzam.
65.34.4
He (Dara) entered the province of Gujarat, and took possession of the chief city, called Amadabad (Ahmadabad), which had been wrested from its king, Sultan Bahader (Sultan Bahadur), by King Akbar, as I have already stated (I. 75). The governor of the city at this time was Xanevascan (Shah Nawaz Khan), father-in-law of Aurangzeb. Without making the least resistance against the small force led by Dara, he handed over the town to his opponent, not from want of courage, but because it was not correct that he, a vassal, while his king was still alive, should oppose a royal prince, heir to the empire. Shah Nawaz Khan was a descendant of the ancient princes of Maxad (Mashhad) in Persia, and was satisfied with passing his life in feasting and pleasure. He issued from the fortress to meet and receive Dara with all possible honours, promising to serve him faithfully. As I shall recount farther on, he did, as a fact, lose his life for love of Dara in the province of Asmir (Ajmer), although some author says he was an enemy of that prince.
65.34.5
While Dara was renewing his strength in the province of Gujarat, the enemy began a most rigorous investment of Bhakkar fort, where we were shut up along with the loyal and valiant eunuch Primavera, No one could get out, no one could enter. This fortress is in the middle of the mighty river Sind (Indus), founded upon the live rock, stones from which could be used as flints for muskets. The fortress was nine hundred and seventy-five paces long and five hundred and fifty-three broad. In the middle was a 'cavalier' (tower) overlooking both banks of the river. On the east was a large town called Xaquer (Sakkar), and on the west another called Ron; at a short distance from the fort towards the north was a little island known as Coia Quitan (Khwajah Khidr), where is a tomb held in great veneration by the Moors (i.e., Mahomedans). We were very well fortified, provided with plenty of artillery and munitions of war, and had a considerable store of gold and silver, precious stones, and a great deal of baggage. In addition to this, Dara left some ladies who had accompanied him, one wife of Sulaiman Shukoh, and two young sons much cherished by Dara as being his grandsons. His plan was that if he did not succeed in the province of Gujarat and suffered defeat, this fortress of Bhakkar would serve as a base to help him again.
65.34.6
After a few days of investment, the enemy [226] prepared two batteries mounted with large cannon, left behind by Dara in the foundry at Lahor, he not being able to move them owing to the hurry with which we started, and the enemy leaving us no chance of putting them on the boats. With these they did us a good deal of damage. Be it known to the reader that those seven rivers of whose junction I spoke did not touch the sides of the fortress for more than a pistol-shot on the west and two musket-shots on the east, because they flowed between rocks and hills. Thus the enemy gave us trouble enough; nor did we desist from doing our duty with our guns, dismounting his artillery, damaging the towns, and killing a number of men. Several times we made sallies under cover of our artillery, swarming into their trenches, killing and destroying all we found there. Once we captured four field-pieces and a quantity of baggage lying close by them. Thus the traitor Khalilullah Khan, at whose cost the investment was conducted, was forced to send more men against us. Regardless of these reinforcements, the commandant, Primavera, sent off before daybreak some boats with musketeers, who delivered attacks at various points and alarmed the enemy. They went on increasing the investing force until the place was evacuated, as further on I shall relate.
65.34.7
When Aurangzeb received the news that Dara was busy raising a new army in the province of Gujarat, he did not turn aside to attack him. It was more urgent to hinder Shah Shuja' from reaching Agrah. But he was much concerned on learning that Sulaiman Shukoh, by favour of the Rajah of Srinagar, was making ready to descend from the mountains; and aided by the said Rajah, at the head of a considerable force, hoped to avenge himself for what had happened to his father (Dara) and himself. Aurangzeb, therefore, wrote a letter, giving many promises to the said Rajah, and also caused others to be written by different rajahs, chief among them being Rajah Jai Singh [227], asking the Srinagar rajah to dissemble, and suggesting that by the use of certain arguments he should force the poor prince to remain quiet in those mountains.