Storia do Mogor 66.2
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 66.2
- Language
- English
66.2.1
Prince Bang remained for some time a prisoner, but afterwards he regained his liberty. Owing, however, to his attempting once more some treachery, the Magh ordered his head to be cut off with a hatchet. The women and daughters of Shah Shuja' were carried off to the palace of the king. But owing to the distrust aroused there among the other women of the king, he was obliged to expel them, and they moved as castaways from house to house until their miserable lives came to an end.
66.2.2
Rumours of the misfortune and disgrace of these princes reached the Mogul country through the Dutch factors. By this much-desired intelligence Aurangzeb was made very happy, but there being no certain news nor incontestable evidence of the said prince's death, and aware that the populace in Hindustan incredulous, he did all he could think of to ascertain the truth. For he suspected that under cover of this news there was some plot for a renewed rising in Bengal. On this account he ordered all the factors then in the city of Agrah to be sent for—namely, the English and the Dutch—also several others, private merchants and the priests. All were examined in much detail as to the case [274], and the circumstances of Prince Shah Shuja'. They all replied that Shah Shuja' and his son were dead. For the Dutch factor, called Jantac (Jan Tak) produced a letter from the Dutch factor in Arakan, wherein were minutely set forth the acts, disasters, and attempts of Prince Shah Shuja' up to his lamentable death. This letter was translated into the Persian tongue, for the greater assurance of King Aurangzeb. When he had finished its perusal, he raised his hands to heaven and recited this verse: 'Tacabar chunanas que aker care pexemanas Tavasey chisis que derars azisis' (Takabbur chunan ast, kih akhirkare pashiman ast;
66.2.3
Tawazu' chiz,ist, kih dar 'arsh 'aziz,Ist) — that is to say, 'Pride is in the end chastised, Humility is prized even in heaven.' He then ordered grand funeral obsequies, and gave alms, principally to those learned in the faith, praying them to supplicate God for that prince dying in the realm of Arakan, within a heathen and idolatrous land. Similar obsequies were ordered to be performed in all the principal cities of the empire. The cunning fellow made these demonstrations of piety, not for his love to the deceased prince, but to make known to all the people that Shah Shuja' was dead. Thus they would, he hoped, accept him (Aurangzeb) as absolute lord of the Mogul Empire. In spite of all these precautions, there subsisted for a long time in the Mogul kingdom grave doubts about the said prince's death, some affirming that he survived and had reached Persia in mendicant's disguise; others asserting they had seen him in the Mogul territory itself; and they named this, that, and the other detail, making the matter so certain that over a great part of the kingdom he was held to be alive, and they looked for his yet becoming king. Nor was there wanting a scribe who disguised himself as the prince Shah Shuja', and went off to the Pathans, where he gained over many people, as I shall relate (II. 148). But these uncertainties and expectations came to an end in time through the evidence of many persons coming from Arakan, who had been present at the unhappy prince's death.
66.2.4
The death of two brothers and of so many other people was not enough to assuage Aurangzeb's thirst for the blood of his relations. Learning that Sulaiman Shukoh, son of Dara, was in safety within the lands, and under the protection of the Rajah of Srinagar, he set to work to have him seized in some way or other. But being quite sure that the Rajah would pay no heed either to his promises and presents or to his threats, he planned with Rajah Jai Singh that he should be the intermediary for getting the Rajah of Srinagar to abandon Sulaiman Shukoh. With this purpose in view, Rajah Jai Singh wrote the Srinagar rajah a letter, saying how advisable it was for him to make over Sulaiman Shukoh to Aurangzeb. Thereby he would secure a friend in Aurangzeb, whom he would find of use sooner or later. From Sulaiman Shukoh nothing was to be hoped, a poor prince, whose father had already lost his head, one who had no means of ever prevailing. On the contrary, Aurangzeb was an absolute monarch, victorious and powerful, who was able to confer favours. If he declined to hear the words of a friend, let him not forget that Aurangzeb had generals, soldiers, and treasure wherewith to attain his just demands. He who protected his enemies was also against him. He (Jai Singh) wrote thus with no other object or desire than to secure peace in the rajah's territory, owing to his love for him and his family, they both being of the same religion.
66.2.5
The Rajah of Srinagar replied to Rajah Jai Singh that on no account could he do this harm to his reputation by making over to his enemy anyone who had sought his protection. He thankful for Jai Singh's friendship; as for Aurangzeb, he heeded neither his promises nor his menaces. He might inform the Mogul that he had no respect for either his power or his victories. He felt no need for his amity. Let him call to mind the occasion when his father, Shahjahan, sent the small army of thirty thousand horse and one hundred thousand foot into the country of Srinagar! Most of these issued from the said mountains without noses, the rest losing their lives. Further, let him know that he who could cut off noses could equally cut off heads. In this matter Aurangzeb might come to any decision he liked, but he would neither make over, nor permit the making over, to him of the fugitive prince. On being informed of the rajah's decision, Aurangzeb resolved to make use of the rajahs adjoining Srinagar to create a war against it, seeing he was not capable himself of doing it any harm. With this in view, he sent an order to Rajah Jai Singh [276] that by gorgeous presents and large promises, added to persuasive words, he should act on the minds of the said rajahs, so that they might wage war on the Rajah of Srinagar. He (Aurangzeb) said he would give him (Jai Singh) more territory if only he could compel the Rajah of Srinagar to surrender Prince Sulaiman Shukoh.
66.2.6
The Rajah of Srinagar was an old man with a youthful son. The latter, looking forward to a speedy succession, hoped for favours from Aurangzeb, and opened negotiations for the delivery of Sulaiman Shukoh, in opposition to the wish and opinion of his father. His plan was to make his delivery secretly into the hands of Aurangzeb's men, then actually present at the foot of the hills. Prince Sulaiman Shukoh heard of this plot of the rajah's son, and resolved to absent himself from Srinagar. He seized an occasion of going out shooting, as he ordinarily did, with the intention of making off into Tibet, a large province belonging to Great China. He went away with this intention. When his departure was reported to the rajah's son, he started after him with a sufficient number of men, giving no information of this project to the rajah his father. Overtaking Sulaiman Shukoh, he seized him, put irons on his feet and handcuffs on his wrists, then transferred his captive to the men of Aurangzeb. He sent by them a message that he had done this act of friendship to the Emperor of the Moguls against the wish of his father. If some day he had need himself of aid and favour, he hoped assistance would not be refused. The poor fugitive was removed a prisoner to Delhi, where they arrived with him at night. Upon receipt of the report, Aurangzeb ordered him to be locked up in the fortress of Salimgarh.
66.2.7
The next day he ordered the fetters to be taken off his legs, and had him brought into his presence, leaving the brass manacles on his wrists, which many imagined to be of gold. His object was to make sure that it was the real son of Dara, also because he had been told that this prince was endowed in every part with the good gifts of Nature. The tyrant gloated over the sight, this being the last thorn that could prick him ; all the rest were either already dead or languishing in prison. The unfortunate Sulaiman Shukoh began to weep, beseeching that his life might be spared. Let the king not forget that he was of his blood. But the heart of Aurangzeb was not so compassionate as to be moved by tears. He inquired from the nobles if of a truth this was Sulaiman Shukoh, and all replied that there was not the least doubt. Then he ordered him to be removed to the fortress of Gwaliyar, there to be given opium-water to drink, as had been done to Murad Bakhsh and Sultan Muhammad. One month after his arrival an order was sent to kill him by poison, and he was buried within the said fortress. This poor prince was the eldest son of Prince Dara [277], and endowed with all the gifts of Nature. He was the person who obtained the first victory over Prince Shah Shuja'. But adverse Fate, joined to the plottings and devices of Aurangzeb, forced him to retire into the hills.
66.2.8
There he suffered much in wandering amongst those rough, stony, and impassable mountains, travelling on foot or sometimes upon goats (cabras), as is the custom there. Many a time he had to traverse dangerous ravines from one hill to another at the risk of his life, in baskets pulled across by ropes. For several days he had to support himself on wild roots and fruits in default of other food. Then when he believed he was in surety, he was uselessly given over to the teeth of that insatiable beast of prey, for such Aurangzeb may be called, which spared neither great nor small.