Travels in India (Tavernier) 54.5

54.5

and whilst this lodging served him as a prison until he was transferred to the fortress of Gwalior, let us see what was done to Sultan Suliman Sheko, eldest son of the unfortunate Dara Shah, whose head Aurangzeb had cut off. Sultan Suliman Sheko, after having been betrayed by Raja Rup, as I have above related, remained in the country of Srinagar, under the protection of Nakti Rani, its ruler. This Prince, who was courageous as well as unfortunate, was compelled to pass a wild life in the mountains in order not to fall into the hands of Aurangzeb, who with all his forces was unable to harm him there. On the other hand, Nacti Rani assured him by an oath, accompanied by all the ceremonies which could render it solemn and inviolable, that he would lose his Kingdom rather than allow Aurangzeb to do him the least violence to the prejudice of that protection which he afforded him. He went for this purpose to a river which runs through his country, to bathe his body as testimony of the purity of his soul; and being thus purified in the water, he made his promise to Suliman Sheko never to abandon him, took his gods as witnesses to the purity of his intentions, and gave the young Prince no ground for doubting his promises. Suliman Sheko, after that, thought only of amusing himself and his followers with the chase, and they, on their part, sought to amuse him to the utmost of their power, while he devoted himself entirely to pleasure.