History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c68.s2.2

v4.c68.s2.2

∗ Siege of Golkonda: M.A. 288—300 (most authentic and complete.) Niamat Khan Ali in his Waqai treats only eight select episodes of the siege (16th May—22nd June) in an intolerably rhetorical and rather obscure style. He, however, gives us several details and graphic touches not to be found elsewhere. But his narrative stops full three months before the fall of the fort. The lithographed edition of Niamat published by the Newal Kishore Press is here referred to, but it abounds in gross mistakes, especially of date, which I have corrected from a MS. in my possession. K. K. (ii. 329—368) gives a simple and useful summary of Niamat Khan, with many additional details, esp. of the last stage of the siege, evidently gathered from survivors. His evidence, esp. about the diplomatic rupture, is extremely valuable. Dil. 206—208 is very short and supplies no new information; the author was not an eye-witness of the siege. Ishwardas is useful for the surrender only. Storia, ii. 305—308 (of little value and partly doubtful.) Chahar Gulshan, 92a—93a (secondary source.) My papers in the Journal of the Haidarabad Archæological Society.