History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v2.c24.47

v2.c24.47

Here the Imperialists learnt that their prey had again given them the slip. Dara had left much of his property, many ladies of his harem, some treasure, all his heavy gold and silver plate, and some of his big guns, in the fort of Bhakkar, and entrusted its defence to his eunuch Basant and Syed Abdur Razzaq, with plenty of munition, a body of musketeers, bowmen and barqandazes, together with many European gunners under Manucci. The rest of his property was conveyed down the river in boats, while he moved south (18th October) with his troops by the right bank of the Indus, cutting a way through the jungle. Only 3000 men accompanied him. The 14,000 troopers who had left Lahore with him, had been reduced by desertion to one-half when he abandoned Multan. And now when he refused