Travels in India (Tavernier) 24.3.5

24.3.5

But he did not receive a favourable reply from Sultān Shujā, who let him know that he did not trust the word of a man who, being capable of betraying his King, might readily betray a strange Prince whom he had attracted to his interests in order to accomplish his own revenge, and consequently he need not expect him. On receipt of this refusal of Sultān Shujā, Mīr Jumlā wrote to Aurangzeb, who was then in his government of BurhAnpur, who, not being so scrupulous as his brother, accepted the offer which was made to him. Whilst Mir Jumla advanced his troops towards BhAgnagar, Aurangzeb marched with his by long stages towards the Deccan, and the two armies being conjoined, they reached the gates of BhAgnagar before the King had had time to put his affairs in order. He only had time to take refuge in the fortress of Golconda, where Aurangzeb, after he had pillaged the town of BhAgnagar and removed all that was of much value from the palace, came at once to lay siege. The King, seeing himself so hard pressed, believed that he would soon have to yield; and in order to seek to turn this hurricane, which threatened his complete ruin, sent to Mir Jumla both his wife and children with every honour. There is both virtue and generosity in India as in Europe; and I shall give a noteworthy example of it in the person of the King of Golconda.