Storia do Mogor 65.9
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 65.9
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65.9.1
The purpose that Shahjahan had of fighting with the Rana was diverted to a campaign against the Hindu prince of Scrinaguer (Srinagar), which is in the midst of lofty mountains in the north, covered all the year with snow. But it did not happen to him as he had hoped. To effect his purpose he despatched a general at the head of thirty thousand horsemen besides infantry. The prince allowed his enemy to penetrate into the mountains, retiring as they advanced. When the soldiers of Shahjahan had got a certain distance he closed the roads, so that they could neither advance any farther nor retreat, and there was no way of deliverance for them. Finding himself in this danger, the general sent proposals for peace negotiations, but the Hindu prince returned the answer that his resolve to treat was too late. Already the commander had a deficiency of supplies, and all his camp was in great confusion. He therefore requested from the prince permission to withdraw, and although the rajah could have destroyed them every one, he did not wish to do so. He sent to say that he would grant them their lives, but his soldiers required all their noses as a memorial of having given them a gift of their lives. Shahjahan's soldiers finding themselves in such dreadful straits, rather than lose their lives were content to lose their noses. They abandoned their arms, throwing them down where they stood, and issued one by one, leaving their noses behind them on the spot.
65.9.2
From this Shahjahan out of shame never again attempted to make war against the rajah, and he gave an order that ever afterwards this prince should be spoken of as the Nactirany (Nak-kati-rani) — that is to say, ' Cut-nose ' — and until this day he is known by this name. The general, who could not endure coming back with his nose cut off, took poison, and put an end to his life before [148] he got back to the plains. Of this rajah I shall have to say something in the reign of Aurangzeb (I. 274). It is now time to speak of the sons of Shahjahan ; but first of all it is requisite to state that Shahjahan only preserved four sons and four daughters, and whenever it seemed likely that the number would be exceeded, he did not allow his wives to come to delivery, but directed medicine to be administered to cause abortion. He left behind him this evil practice, of which Aurangzeb made use, and also his sons.
65.9.3
The first daughter whom he had was Begom Saeb (Begam Sahib), the eldest of all, whom her father loved to an extraordinary degree, as most lovely; discreet, loving, generous, open-minded, and charitable. She was loved by all, and lived in state and magnificence. This princess had an annual income of three millions of rupees, in addition to the revenues of the port of Surat, assigned for her expenditure on betel. She had in addition many precious stones and jewels that had been given to her by her father. She favoured the interests of her brother Dara, securing thus that the nobles at the court adopted the same side, and did not join that of his adversaries. She exerted herself a great deal to secure the crown to her brother Dara ; this was due to her eagerness to marry, Dara having promised to give his consent as soon as he was crowned. With this end in view, she employed all her cleverness and energy to satisfy her father ; she served him with the greatest love and diligence in order that Shahjahan should accede to her petitions. It was from this cause that the common people hinted that she had intercourse with her father, and this has given occasion to Monsieur Bernier to write many things about this princess, founded entirely on the talk of low people. Therefore it is incumbent on me, begging his pardon, to say that what he writes is untrue.
65.9.4
He says that Shahjahan, learning that this princess had a lover in her palace, forthwith went to seize him. The princess had hidden the man in a stove, and the king caused it to be lighted, and thus secured his death. I leave the reader to judge if a father, who loved so much this princess, would do such an infamous act to his daughter at such a great court, where there were so many ambassadors. Although he might know that his daughter had her hidden diversions, he always dissembled, holding the princess equal to her mother, of whom it might be said she governed the kingdom. One day, owing to his love for her, he had complained to her, saying [149] that his vassals no longer obeyed him with the accustomed promptitude, this being a sign that he was getting near the end of his reign. The daughter, imagining that she would be able to remedy this by lengthening the days of the old man, gave largely in alms and liberated many slaves, male and female. First of all the latter were made to circumambulate her father three times, and then sent out of the harem, as if they carried away with them the royal infirmity outside. She also distributed many elephants and horses. This custom is very common in Hindustan, and this superstition being very widespread, everyone distributes, according to his ability, alms of food and other things.
65.9.5
Dara wished, and petitioned his father accordingly, that the princess should be married to the chief general at the court, whose name was Nezabet Can (Najabat Khan), a man descended from the royal family of Balq (Balkh). He was brave and well-proportioned; but Shaistah Khan, brother-in-law of Shahjahan, becoming aware of this proposal, said to him (Shahjahan) that it was not advisable to make such a marriage, because when married to the said princess the husband would necessarily have to be placed in the same rank as any other prince. Najabat Khan was related to the King of Balkh, against whom his majesty must sometime make war. Furthermore, he ought to bear in remembrance the regulation of Akbar that daughters should not be given husbands. This was the reason why Shahjahan did not give his daughter in marriage, although from his fondness for her he would have liked to find her a husband. All the same, this princess did not desist from waiting on her father with great affection, contenting herself with the pleasure she had with her lovers. The principal one was a vigorous youth of goodly presence, the son of the chief dancer in her employ, who was her mistress of music. This person was brought to the harem when he was quite small, and he sang with such charm before the princess that she gave him the epithet of 'Born in the House.' Under cover of this title these princesses and many great ladies gratify their desires.
65.9.6
When he began to get a little bigger, she gave him the name of Dulera — that is to say, 'Always a Bridegroom' — and he received rank like any other commander, with a number of cavalry and infantry and gorgeous standards, and his name was great in the city. One day it happened that this man was going to the court of the princess, her mansion being outside the fortress. On the way he encountered Mahabat Khan, who was proceeding to the royal audience-hall. When passing each other in the street, their respective retinues had a slight dispute. As Mahabat Khan recognised the standards as those of Dulera, he ordered his own to be furled, and went on to court without them. Information of this was given to Shahjahan, and he asked him for what reason he had come to court without his usual insignia. Mahabat Khan responded most humbly [150] that his time had passed by now that musicians had begun to carry standards. The king investigated the matter, and sent orders for the flags of Dulera the musician to be destroyed. Mahabat Khan did this on purpose, not being on good terms with Prince Dara, and hoped by what he had done to vex the princess, knowing that he would at the same time annoy Dara.
65.9.7
This princess treated herself to many entertainments, such as music, dancing, and other pastimes. It happened one night while engaged in such-like dances that the thin raiment steeped in perfumed oils of the princess's favourite dancing-woman caught fire, and from the great love she bore to her, the princess came to her aid, and thus was burnt herself on the chest. From this arose great disturbance in the court, but what caused the greatest sorrow to the princess was that the dancing-woman died. In addition to these amusements the princess was also fond of drinking wine, which was imported for her from Persia, Kabul, and Kashmir. But the best liquor she drank was distilled in her own house. It was a most delicious spirit, made from wine and rose-water, flavoured with many costly spices and aromatic drugs. Many a time she did me the favour of ordering some bottles of it to be sent to my house, in sign of her gratitude for my curing people in her harem. This liquor profited me greatly. The lady's drinking was at night, when various delightful pranks, music, dancing, and acting were going on around her. Things arrived at such a pass that sometimes she was unable to stand, and they had to carry her to bed.