We did not intend at first to meddle with the strange events of Shah-aalem’s reign, who is now the reigning Emperor of Hindostan; but as we have been drawn insensibly into such a narrative by the very tenor of our history, we have thought it expedient to close our discourse by some account of the singular character and very extraordinary actions of his venerable grandfather, Aoreng-zib the Conqueror, who may be considered as the founder and author of the reigning branch that now sits on the throne of Hindostan; not that there is the least resemblance between them, or that Aaly-goher can pretend to the good character of his father, or to the high character of his grandfather; or that there is the least equality betwixt the real pearl and its shell, or betwixt real coin and a quantity of couries*; but, as the bezoar is found with the snake, and the thorns grow with the rose, we, in compliance with the celestial oracle, Every thing returns to its original element, have thought proper to join together the history of Aoreng-zib with that of Shah-aalem, both being very strange characters, although in a different style. They are both extraordinary and surprising mortals, but of a strangeness relative to the time in which each of them did live. Aoreng-zib, who with a warlike turn of mind and much personal valor, was always shrewd, and, in general, moderate and prudent in his conduct, is nevertheless found to have committed such strange unaccountable actions, that Shah-aalem himself, with all his proficiency in such strangeness of conduct, seems to be but an undermatch to him, and one quite unequal to the honour of being counted amongst his disciples. In the cause and singularity of their actions, there is some difference, likewise, as their circumstances and power are so very desperate; but in the bizarery of their conduct they are upon a par; and of this the reader shall easily judge by himself, when he comes to peruse what we have to say of Aoreng-zib, and we shall have mentioned the expedition to Häider-abad and the conquest of that kingdom, as they have been handed down with a deal of liberty by Naamet-aali-qhan-qháfi. The reader will then draw conclusions for himself, by judging of a whole by some samples, and of a heap by our handful.
And first it will be proper to keep present in one’s mind, that whoever has received his dismission from the borrowed hospice of this fragile world, has no resource, but must comply with the order, and prepare himself for his last voyage, by packing up what he is to carry with him, and of course by throwing away and abandoning all that he had been amassing and hoarding up in his life-time. Now his actions and works are the only things that can stick to him, and the only ones he must carry to the other world. If then his actions prove to have been good, he will now reap the benefit of them, and his name will remain behind to be for ever remembered with gratitude by mankind; otherwise, it will be an object of detestation; and in this predicament the vanquished, no less than the victor, stands upon a par, and upon a par stands the distressed poor man, as well as the renowned Prince. There have been in past times persons of both descriptions, of which due mention has been made in these sheets. But gone are they and past; nor can we find any trace left of the good ones, nor any certain footsteps of the bad ones, save the names. The names only of these two species of beings remain behind, and are mentioned by the living as they seem to have deserved. Every one of them receives now a full retribution for what he may have done; and being remembered with pleasure or with imprecation, he serves as an example to excite, or as a warning to deter, living men, by the remembrance of the departed ones; and as these last are daily mentioned by the living ones, these likewise will one day furnish a matter of talk to their descendants, and will be judged by their actions and works. It is for such a reason, and with such a view, that I have brought together about the end of these sheets, some parts of Aoreng-zib’s life, a Prince who under the veil of piety and of an austere virtue, knew how to conceal all the vices of a boundless covetousness, and an insatiable ambition. Nor are these particulars unauthenticated*. They have been made up out of what has been transmitted to posterity by the Kings, Generals, Grandees, and other eminent persons, who lived with him on a friendly footing, or were in distinguished stations in his service. The sayings, as well as the memoirs of those illustrious well-informed personages constitute what may be called Aoreng-zib’s history; and they are recorded in that valuable book, written by Mohammed-hashem-qhan, whose father had been a long time in the service of M8rad-baqsh, brother to that Emperor, and who, after that Prince’s defeat and total ruin, was taken into the service by Aoreng-zib himself, and in a little time became an object of the highest favour with that discerning Prince; so that whatever he records is in the greatest part from his own personal knowledge. Nor does his work furnish any handle for suspicion; nor does it appear susceptible of imposition or calumny. It looks to all intents and purposes like an entertainment spread for the ears of the attentive and curious, by the hands of a plain honest steward, who makes it a point to omit no virtue and no laudable action that may serve for an example, nor to conceal any vice, or blamable behaviour that may serve for a warning to these numerous caravans of travellers that are perpetually pouring in and hurrying out of the borrowed hospice of this world.
Aoreng-zib’s charater. Aoreng-zib, after his victory over his brother, Dara-shecoh,
seized on his own father, Shah-djehan, that second Lord of the
conjuction*,
and sent him into a grievous confinement,
where the unfortunate Monarch remained full eight years; nor
was he released but by the Angel of death, which at the same
time released his soul from the prison of his body. In vain did
his beloved daughter*
implore at his death bed, his forgiveness
for her brother, Aoreng-zib; the incensed parent constantly
refused it, and he departed with sentiments of indignation and
resentment. Nor did he use his elder brother, Dara-shecoh,
with more tenderness; and as to his younger brother, Moradbaqhsh,
who had been so instrumental in that victory, the only
return he made him, was endeavouring by every means in his
power to circumvent that unsuspecting youth. The unfortunate
Prince, upon his invitation, had set out from Gudjerat, his
Government, at the head of his troops, and had rendered him
His hardness
of heart to
his father and
brothers.
considerable services in the battle against Maha-radja Djesvent-Rat-hor,
and then in that which ruined Dara-shecoh in the plains
of Udjëin, in both which he fought like a common trooper, and
received several wounds that had set his military character in
the strongest light. But all these merits did not avail. The artful
Aoreng-zib kept this simple young man in good humour, by
ordering his officers to present him with their nuzurs for his
victory, and by making him believe that their master’s whole
ambition being to spend his days in the two Holy Cities*,
he
would of course leave the Empire to his disposal. The young
Prince, who had a deal of frankness in his temper, and no less
simplicity in his turn of mind, yielded so much belief to his protestations,
that he used to frequent his artful brother without the
least suspicion. To no purpose did several of his faithful servants
advise him to be more cautious, and to beware of his
brother; for all answer they received a reprimand; nor could he
be brought to believe that so many promises and so many protestations,
with such an appearance of humility and abstinence,
would end in artifice and perfidy. He soon had, however, a full
opportunity of being thoroughly convinced at last; and whilst he
was in pursuit of Dara shecoh, Aoreng-zib got him seized and
confined in the Fortress of G8aliar; where on hearing that he
had found friends in the place, and had attempted to effect his
escape, he, without the least scruple, resolved to put him to
death. For this purpose he made choice of one of his dependants,
whom he engaged to revenge thereby the death of his own
father, who had been put to death by M8rad-baqsh, on suspicion
that he intended to join Dara-shecoh, against whom he was
then marching from Gudjrat; he even proposed that murder to
him as a religious duty, to which he was obliged by the Tallion
law. Such was the usage he offered to one who was his confederate
and his brother. As to Dara-shecoh, his other brother,
who had been overtaken in his flight, he was first carried in
chains throughout the whole city of Shah-djehan-abad; and the
next day, under pretence of his being an heretic of the sect of
the Mystics, he was put to death, and his body being thrown
upon an elephant, underwent a second voyage throughout the
same circuit of old Delhi and Shah-djehan-abad, as if to feed
with this hideous spectacle the eyes of those that had seen him
Affecting
narrative of
Prince Dara-shecoh’s
flight and
adventures.
alive two days before. This unfortunate Prince, after losing
that great battle at Adjmir by the perfidy and management of
Radja Djesvent-rathor, conceived that although fortune had
been unfavourable to him, she had not yet turned her back; and
with this hope he fled towards Gudjrat. He had with him his
consort and little daughter, with a small retinue of friends and
attendants. The voyage proved tedious and full of dangers; and
it is incredible how many hardships and dangers this illustrious
and unfortunate troop was obliged to undergo, before it could
reach the environs of Ahmed-abad*.
Sëyd-ahmed, the Viceroy
of the Province, wanted to go out, and to meet his Lord, a
Prince to whom he owed his fortune and his present station;
but his intention was opposed by the garrison and by all
the Crown-officers, who dreading Aoreng-zib’s resentment, seized
on their Governor, put him in confinement, and shut up
their gates. The fugitive Prince in despair went to Candj8r
(a certain Chieftain of C8lies, a clan whose professed business
is to rob and plunder on the highway and in villages), and
implored his assistance. The man not content with having
entertained and assisted the Prince with every thing which
his means could afford, and with having personally served and
attended him with the humble deportment of a servant, gave
him a strong escort of his banditties, who had orders to see
him safe in the territory of Ketch, a Port that looks towards the
frontiers of Iran. Here he seemed to have seen a ray of hope.
The Prince was hardly arrived in that territory, when he was
unexpectedly joined by a body of fifty horse and two hundred
foot, which were brought by a faithful servant of his, one G8l-mahmed,
an Officer of rank, who abandoning his Government
of S8ret-bunder, took with him as much money as he could
muster; and sacrificing his own safety, as well as his fortune and
employment, to his attachment for this Prince, he came with
that timely succour, and effected his junction with his old master,
at a moment when every one was turning his back upon him.
For the Prince, on the other hand, had been totally disappointed
in the great hopes he had conceived from the Zemindar of
Ketch, a powerful Lord, who in his days of prosperity, had sought
his favour by betrothing his daughter to Sepehr-shecoh*,
son to the fugitive Prince; the man was intirely altered
now, and gave him a flat refusal on that subject. The Prince,
obliged to quit his territory, was obliged to advance by Bacar, a
country on the bank of the Send*.
There the Chandies, another
clan of semi-barbarians who inhabit those parts and live under
tents, assembled together with intention to seize on him, and to
plunder his baggage; nor was it without all the pains imaginable
that G8l-mahmed with his small force found means to
rescue him from their hands, and to carry him safe to the frontiers
of the Mecsies, another semi-barbarous people, living also
in tents. But here he was received with the greatest respect
by Mirza-mecsi, who was the Chief of that clan. This Chieftain
came upon the road, assisted him with money and other necessaries,
shewed him every demonstration of respect, and took
such a concern in his welfare, that he proposed his taking refuge
in Iran or Persia, in which case he offered to serve as guide to
the Prince and to escort him as far as Candahar; he was even
very urgent on the necessity of taking such a party. But the
Prince, under the actual influence of his adverse fortune, did not
listen to his advice. He seemed to be the man pointed out by
the Poet in these verses:—
| “When fortune turns her back on a brave man, |
| He never fails to do precisely what he ought not to have done.” |