Travels in India (Tavernier) 51: BOOK II

51

and returning likewise in one of the small painted and ornamented frigates which are on the Jumna at the palace of Jahānābād. For Aurangzeb was unwilling to permit him to travel by land on his elephant, as he feared lest his father’s showing himself to the people might immediately raise a party in his favour, and that placing himself at their head, as people are inconstant, he might find means to remount the throne. Shāh Jahān, perceiving the severity of his son, who wished to hurt him in this way, thought no more of the journey, and the great displeasure he felt at such cruel treatment precipitated his death. As soon as Aurangzeb had news of it he came to Agra and seized all the jewels of the late King, his father, which he had not touched during his life. Begum Sāhib also had a quantity of precious stones, which he had not taken from her when he placed her in the fortress, being at that time satisfied with securing the gold and silver with which her chests were full. These jewels afforded certain evidence to Aurangzeb’s sense of propriety, as for other reasons the Princess, his sister, had already been suspected of having had improper relations with Shāh Jahān, and he found means to obtain them in a manner which appeared honest and far from criminal, by treating the Begum Sāhib with much honour and attention ; but he removed her to Jahānābād, and I saw the elephant pass upon which she was mounted when she left Agra with the court, as I was entering it on my return from Bengal. In a short time after news was spread of the death of this Princess, and all the world believed that it had been hastened by poison. Let us now see what has become of Dara Shah, and what has been the result of the war between the sons of the unfortunate Shah Jahan.