History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v2.c24.39

v2.c24.39

We now leave the hunters and take up the history of the object of their chase. After Dara's flight from Lahore, the Imperial Vanguard followed him only twelve marches behind. Every day men deserted the hapless heir to the throne; even his own Paymaster, Khwajah Sadiq, went over to the winning side. On 5th September he reached Multan, but he was in no position to make a firm stand anywhere. Taking from the local Treasury its cash balance of 22 lakhs, he loaded all his wealth in large boats and sent them down the Indus to Bhakkar in charge of the trusty general Firuz Miwati and the eunuch Basant, while he himself started (13th September) by land towards Uch. At Multan most of his officers and men left him. Uch was reached on the 23rd, but there was rest for him nowhere. His pursuers had made up the distance by incessant and long marches: at Lahore their Van was 12 days behind him, at Multan only 8 days, and at Uch the interval had been reduced to four days' march.