Defeat of Prince Shujá'.

[vol. ii. p. 50.] The armies of Aurangzeb and Shujá'* were within half a kos of each other, and both sides prepared for battle. * * The guns of Shujá' were so placed as to have an advantage over those of his opponents; so Mu'azzam Khán, who was a good tactician, removed forty guns during the night to another position. He took no rest, but busied himself in ordering his army and encouraging the men. The Emperor Aurangzeb was engaged in his tent performing his devotions, and praying to God for victory. Suddenly, about the fourth watch, a great tumult arose. Rája Jaswant Singh,* the treacherous wretch,* who marched with the army, had, through one of his confidants, opened communications with Shujá' in the early part of the night, undertaking to make a sudden assault upon the army just before daybreak, and to desert, doing as much mischief as he could. “When I do this,” said he, “the King (Aurangzeb) will come in pursuit of me; you must then charge sharply upon his forces.”

About two hours of the night remained, when Jaswant Singh, in league with other Rájpút leaders, set their numerous followers in motion, and began to move off, destroying and plundering as they went, and cutting down all who opposed them. The forces under Prince Muhammad Sultán suffered especially from their attacks. No tent, small or great, escaped their ravages. All his treasure and effects were plundered. * * Then they made towards the royal quarters, ransacking every­thing, and not a tent near the royal pavilion remained safe from them. For some time the cause of all this disorder was unknown. All kinds of erroneous surmises were made, and a panic was spread­ing through the whole army. Many men were so disheartened that they joined the plunderers, thinking that the best way of escaping from the disaster. One party fled to the open country; another approached the enemy's army, and set about ravaging. * * But for all this confusion in the army, nothing shook the resolution of Aurangzeb. It was now reported to him that the traitor had moved off towards his home. Then Aurangzeb descended from his elephant, and took his seat in a litter that all the panic-stricken men who beheld him might see that he was resolute, and had no intention of retreating. He sent orderlies round to the commanders, directing them to forbid all riders of elephants or horses to stir from their places.* * * Without exaggeration, half the army had gone away to plunder or escape, and many had joined the enemy. Intelligence was brought of Jaswant Singh having marched away towards Ágra.

Aurangzeb's devoted servants now gathered round him from far and near. He then again mounted his elephant, and without a cloud upon his brow rode forth to arrange his order of battle. * * Mu'azzam Khán received authority to make such alterations in the disposition of the forces as he deemed necessary. * * The battle began about the fourth or fifth gharí of the day with a cannonade which made the earth to tremble, and filled the hearts of both armies with awe and trembling. * * A cannon-ball from the Emperor's army reached the elephant on which Sultán Zainu-l 'ábidín* was riding, and although it did not strike the Sultán,* it carried off one leg of the elephant-driver, and one leg also of the personal attendant who was seated behind the howda. This circumstance greatly discouraged many of Shujá's army. * * Saiyid 'Álam Bárha, with three elephants, made an attack upon the left of the royal army, and the vigour of his assault spread confusion in the ranks of his opponents, and many of them took to flight. The retreat of the left wing made the centre waver, and the Emperor was left with only 2000 horse­men to protect him. Greatly encouraged by the sight, the enemy made a bold and fierce attack upon the centre. The Emperor mounted upon an elephant, moved about inspiriting his men and shooting arrows against his enemies. Murtazá Kúlí Khán, of the left wing, with * * several others, made a bold charge upon the enemy, and the Emperor, seeing how matters stood, joined in the charge. * * This gave a severe check to the enemy, who lost many men killed and wounded.

The vigour of the Saiyids of Bárha had abated, but their three elephants, each of them dashing about with his trunk a chain of two or three mans weight, overthrew and crushed every one who came in their way. One of them at length charged towards the elephant of the Emperor. Without moving from his place or changing countenance, the Emperor made signs for his guards to shoot the animal's driver. One of the guards brought the man to the ground, and then one of the royal elephant-drivers got upon the elephant's neck and led him off. The other two ele­phants then charged the right wing of the royal army, and other forces of the enemy coming up, this wing fell into confusion. * * The Emperor was urged to move to its support, but he was hotly engaged himself. * * He sent messages to the officers of the right wing, urging them to stand fast until he could come to their assistance. Several of the enemy's leading men now fell, and the efforts of the forces opposed to the Emperor relaxed, so that he was able to proceed to the succour of his right. This encouraged the men. Cries of “Kill! kill!” were raised on every side, and many of the enemy were killed. A general attack was made on the enemy's centre, and then several chiefs, who had thought it expedient to support him, came over and joined the Emperor. Victory declared in favour of the Emperor, and when the glad news of Shujá's flight was brought, shouts of congratulation and victory arose, and the drums and trumpets sounded in triumph.

The victors fell upon the camp of the enemy and thoroughly plundered it; every man took what he could lay hands on; but 114 guns, 115 elephants, and much treasure, and many jewels, came into the possession of the Emperor. After descending from his elephant, and returning thanks to God for his victory, he praised his nobles for their exertions. Then he sent his son Muhammad Sultán* in pursuit of Shujá', with directions to use every exertion to cut off his flight. * *

Flight of Dárá Shukoh.

[vol. ii. p. 60.] Intelligence was brought that Dárá Shukoh had arrived at Bhakkar in a wretched condition, with only three thousand horse. Want of porters, and the desertion of many of his adherents, compelled him to leave part of his treasure and baggage under charge of some of his servants at Bhakkar. Dense thorn-brakes, toilsome marches, and loss of porters, impeded his progress through the salt desert beside the river of Thatta; this, with the loss of baggage, which fell into the hands of his pursuers, allowed him no rest. Through want of water, the hardships of the march, and various diseases, many of his men died or fell away from him. Shaikh Mír, his pursuer, kept treading on his heels, and, after crossing the desert, he had not more than a thousand horsemen left. After arriving at Siwistán he determined to proceed to Ahmadábád.

The force of Shaikh Mír, the pursuer, also suffered greatly from want of water, and the long and rapid march. Loss of horses and porters, added to the other hardships, killed and scattered them. Most of those who remained had to march on foot. On these facts being reported, Shaikh Mír was ordered to return.

Surrender of Alláhábád.

[vol. ii. p. 61.] On the 1st Jumáda-l awwal Aurangzeb pro­ceeded towards Ágra, and at the second stage he received a despatch from Prince Muhammad Sultán, reporting a second success over Shujá'. Saiyid Kásim, commandant of the fortress of Alláhábád, left a deputy in charge of the fortress, and accom­panied Shujá' to battle. After the defeat, Kásim Khán returned to the fortress, and busied hímself in making it secure. When Shujá' arrived, he made plausible excuses for not giving up the place. He went out with alacrity to meet the Prince, made promises of fidelity, and entertained him, after which he was dis­missed to his post. When Prince Muhammad Sultáu drew near, he wrote to him a repentant letter, professing his obedience, and sending to him the keys of the fortress. On hearing of this, Aurangzeb ordered Khán-daurán to be placed in command of Alláhábád, and Kásim Khán to be sent courteously to his presence.

Rája Jaswant.

[vol. ii. p. 61.] Aurangzeb appointed Amír Khán and * * with ten thousand horse to punish the traitor Rája Jaswant. He also joined to this force Ráí Singh Ráthor, a nephew of Rája Jaswant, who had a family feud with his uncle. This chief was honoured with the title of rája and many presents. Hopes also were held out to him of a grant of Jodpúr, his native country.

Dárá Shukoh.

[vol. ii. p. 62.] Directions were sent to Amír Khán, Governor of Láhore, that upon the return of Shaikh Mír from the pursuit of Dárá, he was to remove Prince Murád Bakhsh from Salím-garh, and send him under charge of Shaikh Mír to Gwálior.