History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v2.c27.31

v2.c27.31

Manucci asserts that Jai Singh deliberately carried on a slack pursuit in order to leave Dara time to escape to Persia. There is nothing improbable in the suspicion, as no old general of Shah Jahan, whether Indian Muslim or Rajput, could have willingly consented to bring about the capture of his eldest son, since all knew that if they did it the result would be his murder by his victorious rival. But I can find no semblance of slackness in the pursuit, except (i) Jai Singh’s marching from Sidhpur to Ahmadabad, instead of turning due west to Kathiawar, and (ii) the long time spent between his crossing the Rann and reaching the left bank of the Indus near Siwistan. The first is, however, explained away by the need of taking money from the Ahmadabad treasury and furnishing the army with the means of securing water and fodder in advance for the waterless march through Kathiawar and Cutch, while the second is satisfactorily accounted for by the utter exhaustion of the troops and loss of transport, so graphically described in Jai Singh’s letters to his master.