Travels in India (Tavernier) 54.10

54.10

Aurangzeb was surprised and much moved by the noble courage of his nephew, but ambition closed his eyes and stifled in him all the sentiments of justice which a proper remorse of conscience might arouse ; and in order to secure his throne he directed that Sultan Muhammad, his son, and Suliman Sheko, his nephew, should be conducted to the fortress of Gwalior, to keep company with their uncle, Murad Baksh and some other Princes who were in prison. This was done on the 30th of January 1661. Sultan Shuja, who still lived, although in a miserable condition, was the last thorn which remained in the foot of Aurangzeb, and he who extracted it, and relieved him of this unfortunate Prince whom he had still to fear, was the King of Arakan, with whom he had been compelled to take refuge. As Shuja saw that there was now no more hope of aid for him, he resolved to make a pilgrimage to Mecca, and from thence to pass into Persia to seek an asylum with the King. Having this intention he believed he would obtain a ship from the King of Arakan or from the King of Pegu to take him to Mocha, but he was unaware that neither of these Kings had other than long and narrow much decorated demi-galleys, which they use on their rivers, and that they had no vessels capable of traversing the great ocean.