Storia do Mogor 73: Of the Class of Elephant-Drivers.
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 73
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Of the Class of Elephant-Drivers.
73.1
But from the first days of his reign there was no attempt to disguise his intention of correcting the insolence of the elephant-drivers. These men bring daily some highly-decorated elephants to court for parade, and others to fight together, as is the custom in the Mogul country. Sometimes they cause the elephants to be enraged, when they rush through the city killing people and destroying shops and bazars. First and foremost they attack the shops of those to whom they are ill-affected, and cause the destruction of all their contents. Aurangzeb made inquiries from the elephant-drivers whether perchance the elephants became savage of themselves, or whether they were made mad. Thinking they would please the king, and he would raise their pay, the drivers replied that they made the elephants mad themselves, giving them certain drugs for the purpose. The king then ordained that a writing should be demanded from each driver, in which he bound himself to pay with his own life any deaths caused by his elephant, and from his pay reimburse any damage done in the city. In this way he hindered the great damage they used to cause; and although in his reign there were always parades, the harm done was very small. I say there were few disasters, for it is almost impossible to prevent any injury being done by elephants, since sometimes they turn mad all of a sudden, through reasons hardly to be imagined, as I shall state in Part III. when talking of elephants (III. 19-21, 144-149).
73.2
But here it is fitting to relate how one day Aurangzeb ordered to be brought before him all the elephants of Shahjahan, more than three thousand in number, of which the principal ones were decked out with gold and silver, and bore housings of brocade. On the first day they wished to produce the captain of all the elephants, an animal of wonderful size, 12 cubits in height, and highly esteemed by Shahjahan; its name was Calecdad (Khaliq-dad)—that is to say, 'Given by the Creator.' But, for all the drivers could do, they could not succeed in making him enter the fortress. Thus they were forced to leave him behind and take the others to the royal presence. On arriving there, according to signs from the drivers, the elephants either raised their trunks as a mark of respect, or went down on their knees. Aurangzeb was told that the elephant Khaliq-dad would not enter the fortress. He informed the drivers that he would not hear of any objection and they must bring the said elephant to his presence, unless they wanted to be turned out of the service and beaten. Frightened at such a threat, the drivers left the elephant three days without food or drink, expecting to force him through hunger and thirst to do the king's pleasure. After three days they decorated the streets with green branches and sugar-cane, brought out the elephant, and got it into the fortress.
73.3
Pleased at this, Aurangzeb then hastened to see this bold animal standing in the space called Amcas ('Am-Khass), where public audiences were given. When the driver on the elephant was aware of the royal presence, he gave the usual signal to the animal, and he made his obeisance. Then, recollecting that he had been brought to the place by deceptions and against his will, the elephant began suddenly to trumpet, and flinging himself on the female elephants who accompanied him, he pushed them aside with his trunk, and, turning round, ran off with great fury. He knocked down everything in his way, and threatened everyone who appeared before him. In this manner the whole court was thrown into confusion. In trying to make his way out of the fortress, he came across a fine elephant made in masonry, which stood at the gate. Thinking it was a real elephant coming [7] to bar his exit, he fell upon it and destroyed it before he left the fort. Aurangzeb, as a follower of the Quran, ordered the other elephant opposite this one to be also knocked down. Upon them were two figures of Jamal (Jai Mall) and Fata (Fath), who bravely defended the fortress of Chitor against Akbar, as I have said before (I. 77-82).
73.4
The elephant (Khaliq-dad) ran out into the great square. There it was a curious spectacle (though one to be enjoyed at a distance) to see the way in which he broke the palanquins, ran at other elephants, killed horses, and pursued men, who fled with cries and clamour, some without turban, some without shield, some without sword, some without bow. It was an astonishing thing to see. Relying on my horse, I put him at full gallop, turning my head from time to time. I felt sorry for the sufferers, but could not help laughing to see so many fleeing in all directions, their feet bare and in the greatest hurry. Learning what the elephant had done, Aurangzeb became distrustful of him, and ordered the unlucky animal to be sent to Agrah to be placed at the tomb of Taj Mahal within sight of his master's palace. The king's orders were carried out : the elephant was taken to the place assigned, where he remained nine years ; and on the day that Shahjahan died the elephant also expired, some other events also happening, as I shall relate (II. 94, 96).