A History of the Mahrattas v1.c18.155

v1.c18.155

A.D. 1707.—Aurungzebe arrived at Ahmednugur, and on pitching his camp on the same spot which it had occupied in such splendour twenty-one years before, he predicted that his end was near, by observing that he had this day finished his campaigns, and that his last earthly journey was completed. The contrast between his former and his present circumstances is remarkable; but when we also reflect on the intervening events, we have not merely a striking picture, but a curious history of the growth of predatory power, and of the means by which it was nurtured. Aurungzebe had only three surviving sons, Sultan Mauzum, or Shah Alum, governor of Cabul, Azim Shah, and Kaum Bukhsh. Azim Shah joined his father at this period, and was appointed to the government of Malwa; Kaum Bukhsh was appointed to Beejapoor, and was immediately sent to take charge of his new government.