Storia do Mogor 87: ROSHAN ARA ASKS FOR THE PALACE OF BEGAM SAHIB.

87

I stated in the First Part of my history (I. 149) that Begam Sahib had a palace outside the fortress, where she lived when Shahjahan was emperor and dwelt at Dihli. Roshan Ara Begam was anxious to get similar liberty and enjoyment. Relying upon the love and gratitude her brother Aurangzeb had to her, she made petition to him for a grant of the said palace, so that she might live outside the fortress and pass her days as she pleased. Aurangzeb knew well the meaning of the request, but intentionally concealed that fact, and replied to her : ' Roshan Ara Begam, my beloved sister ! Most gladly would I concede what you ask, but my love to you will not allow me to live deprived of your society ; and it being the custom for the king's daughters not to live outside their father's palace, my daughters resent being deprived of you. Thus it is fitting, for many reasons, that you live with them and train them in the habits of royal princesses. By any chance, is there anything deficient in the palace where you reside ? Or have you less state than was maintained by your sister, Begam Sahib ? You know well that all my state and the wealth of the Moguls are yours.'
These and other reports about the royal palace were given to me by a Portuguese woman called Thomazia Martins, who, on the fall of Hughli, spoken of in Part I. (p. 121), was carried off captive by the Mahomedans. She had charge of the royal table, and was much liked by Roshan Ara Begam. According to the practice of soldiers' wives living in the royal palace, she was allowed once a month to stay seven days in her husband's house. At those periods, through the affection she had for me, in addition to various presents that she made to me, she informed me of what passed inside the palace.
A few months afterwards the under-eunuchs reported to the head eunuch of the king how two men had entered the apartments of Roshan Ara Begam. This being an important matter, the eunuch dissembled, and, without any warning, posted faithful watchers to ascertain the truth. In a few days these guards seized in the garden two youths, whom Roshan Ara Begam had just dismissed after they had complied with her will. They were taken off to the king, who, at once understanding why they had gone there, gave an order, without any inquiry, that the prisoners must go out by the way they came in. One said he entered by the door, and by the door he was allowed to go out. The other was so incautious as to say that he had climbed over the garden wall. The head eunuch, whose [25] only anxiety was to wreak vengeance for having been convicted of carelessness, had him thrown over the garden wall, and he was killed. Aurangzeb was much disturbed at the eunuch's act, because he held it expedient to conceal a matter so greatly affecting the good name of the princess.
Therefore the eunuch was removed from office for some days, the reason given being that he was too severe to the servants working in the palace. Thus the eunuch had to take upon him the sins of Roshan Ara Begam, but the princess began to lose some of the esteem that Aurangzeb had for her, and after a little time she came to lose her life from similar causes, as I shall state in the proper place (II. 145).