04-28-2006, 01:08 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Re-Imposition of the Jizya.
With the object of curbing the infidels, and of distinguishÂing the land of the faithful from an infidel land, the jizya, or poll-tax, was imposed upon the Hindús throughout all the provinces.* Upon the publication of this order, the Hindús all round Dehlà assembled in vast numbers under the jharokha of the Emperor on the river front of the palace, to represent their inability to pay, and to pray for the recall of the edict. But the Emperor would not listen to their complaints. One day, when he went to public prayer in the great mosque on the Sabbath, a vast multitude of Hindús thronged the road from the palace to the mosque, with the object of seeking relief. Money-changers and drapers, all kinds of shopkeepers from the Urdú bázár, mechanics, and workmen of all kinds, left off work and business, and pressed into the way. Notwithstanding orders were given to force a way through, it was impossible for the Emperor to reach the mosque. Every moment the crowd inÂcreased, and the Emperor's equipage was brought to a stand-still. At length an order was given to bring out the elephants and direct them against the mob. Many fell trodden to death under the feet of the elephants and horses. For some days the Hindús continued to assemble in great numbers and complain, but at length they submitted to pay the jizya.
http://persian.packhum.org/persian/pf?fi...1017&ct=81<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Death of Rája Jasnant Singh.
[Text, vol. ii. p. 259.] * Intelligence now arrived of the death of Rája Jaswant Singh, who had gone to Kábul with reinforceÂments. After the death of the Rája, his foolish servants took away the Rája's two sons, named AjÃt Singh and Dalathaman,* who were of tender years, and the RánÃs also. Without waiting for permission from Aurangzeb, and without even obtaining a pass from the Súbadár of the province, they set off towards the capital. When they reached the ferry of Atak, they were unable to produce any pass, so the commander of the boats refused to let them proceed. They then attacked him, killed and wounded some of his men, and by force made good their way over the river and went onwards towards DehlÃ.
There was an old standing grievance in the Emperor's heart reÂspecting Rája Jaswant's tribute, which was aggravated by these presumptuous proceedings of the Rájpúts. He ordered the kotwál to take his own men, with an additional force obtained from the mansabdárs, as well as some artillery, and to surround the camp of the Rájpúts, and keep guard over them. After some days, a party of Rájpúts sought permission to go home. Their request was made known to Aurangzeb, and, as it seemed right and proper, it was granted.
Meanwhile the Rájpúts had obtained two boys of the same age as the Rája's children. They dressed some of the female attendants in the garments of the ránÃs, and taking every preÂcaution that their stratagem should not be discovered, they left these women and the boys under guard in their camp. The (real) ránÃs, disguised as men, went off at night in charge of two trusty servants and a party of devoted Rájpúts, and made their way with all speed to their own country. The brave and active chiefs, who might have stopped or overtaken them, were keeping guard over the tents in which the pretended children of the Rája were. After two or three watches, when a report of the fact was made, some officials were sent to make inquiries, and it was repeatedly stated that the ránÃs and the children were still there. Orders were then given for taking all the Rája's followers into the fortress. The Rájpúts and the disguised women, who were ready to fight like men for the honour of their Rája, made a determined resistance. Many were killed, but a party escaped.
The flight of the ránÃs was not clearly proved. Some men, who wished to show their zeal, and to cover their negligence in the matter, asserted that the boys had escaped, and that the wazÃr had sent out a force to secure them. The royal forces went in pursuit twenty kos from DehlÃ, but they could not overtake the Rájpúts, and returned unsuccessful. The two (substituted) boys were given into the charge of the women of the royal harem, and were there brought up. The two boys which the Rájpúts carried off were for a long time rejected by Aurang-zeb, who refused to acknowledge that they were the sons of Jaswant, until all doubt was removed by the Ráná of Chitor, who married AjÃt Singh to a girl of his family.
The Ráná and other Rájpúts. Defection of Prince Akbar.
[Text, vol. ii. p. 261.] At the beginning of ZÃ-l hijja of the twenty-second year of the reign, Aurangzeb started from AjmÃr, with the intention of bringing the refractory Rájpúts to punishÂment. * * A strict farmán was sent to the Ráná of Chitor, calling upon him to assent to the payment of the jizya, and directing him to bring from the territories of Jodhpúr the two alleged sons of Rája Jaswant Singh. After a short stay at AjmÃr, the army marched with the intention of ravaging Jodhpúr, and other Rájpút districts. The Ráná, feeling himself incapable of resistance, sent his vakÃls with tribute and a letter declaring his obedience in the matter of the jizya, but offering to give over two or three parganas (districts) in commutation. He declared that he was not supporting the sons of Jaswant, and finally begged forgiveness for his offences. Aurangzeb left Khán-Jahán Bahádur to complete the arrangements in this quarter, and reÂturned to DehlÃ. His journey to AjmÃr and back occupied seven months and twenty days.
When the Ráná heard of these preparations, he laid ÃdÃpúr, his capital, waste, and with the treasure and family and followers of himself and Jaswant Singh, he fled to the mountains and difficult passes. The Prince was ordered to follow him into the hills with a strong force of brave men suited for mountain warfare. Another force was sent to ravage the country of the Ráná, and destroy the crops. When Prince Muhammad Mu'azzam arrived at Ujjain, he was directed to march against the lake of Aná-ságar, which belonged to the Ráná, and was about eighty kos from AjmÃr. His orders were to station his army about that neighbourhood, and to trample every scrap of cultivation under the hoofs of his horses.
It was now announced that Prince Muhammad A'zam had shown such alacrity in the execution of the orders issued to him, that he had compressed four months' march into less than one, and came up with his army. He was ordered to march through the mountains and central fastnesses of the Ráná, into the territories of the Ráhtors, and there to kill, ravage and make prisoners among the Rájpúts. He was also ordered to employ a force in preventing the transport of supplies to the Ráná, and in stopping cultivaÂtion. Nearly twenty-five thousand horse, Ráhtors, belonging to the territories of Jaswant, and other Rájpúts, assembled to support the Ráná, and had the boldness to attack the royal forces, and to fall upon their supplies. They allured several thousand of the royal forces into the heart of the Ráná's fastnesses. There they attacked them, and killed many, both horse and foot; but the royal forces at length prevailed and beat them. NotwithstandÂing that the Rájpúts held all the roads through the hills, and came down occasionally from the hills, and attacked the Prince's forces by surprise, the Prince's army fought bravely, and Tahawwur Khán and others rendered distinguished service in chastising the enemy. They employed themselves in laying waste the country, destroying temples and buildings, cutting down fruit-trees, and making prisoners of the women and children of the infidels who had taken refuge in holes and ruined places.
Orders were also issued to Muhammad AmÃn Khán, Súbadár of Ahmadábád, directing him to take up a position with his forces between Ahmadábád and the territories of the Rájpúts, and to march against them wherever he heard of them. Khán-Jahán Bahádur Kokaltásh was re-appointed Súbadár of the Dakhin, and sent to lay siege to the fort of SálÃr,* which had fallen into the possession of the enemy.
When the Ráná was hard pressed, and his allies were crippled, when not a scrap of grain was left, and not a trace of cultivation was to be found, the Ráná and the Ráhtor Rájpúts had recourse again to lies and stratagems. They first addressed themselves to Prince Muhammad Mu'azzam, and sought to make him an intercessor for their forgiveness, or to persuade him to rebel and join them. The Prince paid no heed to their allurements, and Nawáb BáÃ, the mother of the Prince, being informed of what was passing, gave good counsel to the Prince, and strongly dissuaded him from yielding an assent; and from giving any aid, assistance, or interÂcession on behalf of the Rájpúts. She even persuaded him not to allow the vakils of the Ráná to approach him. When they despaired of success in this quarter, the Rájpúts betook themÂselves to Prince Muhammad Akbar, taking advantage of his youth, and the favour of some of his friends. Durgá Dás was their spokesman. He was noted among them for his plausibility, and he used all his arts and wiles to persuade the Prince that they would supply him with forty thousand Rájpút horse, and with abundance of treasure. This so dazzled the Prince that he was deluded, and several of his evil companions artfully used their persuasions. So the inexperienced Prince was led astray from the path of rectitude, and through his youth and covetousness he fell into the snares of the Rájpúts.
Prince Muhammad Mu'azzam, when he heard of these doings, wrote a few words of friendly counsel to the Prince, to whom he was much attached. He also wrote a letter to Aurangzeb, informing him that the false and deceitful infidels were using all their wiles to mislead the Prince, and that he must watch against being taken unawares. Aurangzeb entertained no suspicions of Muhammad Akbar; but report had cast an evil aspersion on the name of Prince Muhammad Mu'azzam at the time when Aurangzeb was at Hasan Abdál. The infidels had addressed themselves to Prince Muhammad Mu'azzam in the first instance, and Aurang-zeb had received information about it, so he now thought that Mu'azzam's letter about his brother Akbar was sheer calumny. Accordingly he wrote to him, and accused him of making a false charge, and praying that the Almighty would keep him in the right course, and preserve him from listening to the evil suggesÂtions of designing people.
Soon afterwards the secret became public. Thirty thousand Rájpúts under Durgá Dás joined the Prince. The news spread from tent to tent, and was the talk of young and old. It was reported that he had ascended the throne, and that coins had been struck in his name; that Tahawwur Khán had been made a haft-hazárÃ, and had received the title of AmÃru-l umará; that Mujáhid Khán, and other great servants of the State, who were with the Prince, had received distinguished honours, which some of them had felt themselves constrained to accept. The Prince was doing his best to win the affections of all, and was said to be marching against Aurangzeb.
On the forces being sent off, under the command of Prince Akbar, against the infidels, only Asad Khán and a limited number of officers and men were left in attendance upon the Emperor. All his retinue, counting the eunuchs and writers, did not exceed seven or eight hundred horsemen. A great panic fell upon the royal camp, and wild confusion followed. A letter under the royal signature was sent off in haste to Prince Muhammad Mu'azzam, urging him to come with all his army, and with the greatest haste, to Aurangzeb. When the Prince received it, he marched without a moment's delay to join his father. Leaving his ladies and attendants behind under protection, he set off with all speed, and, pressing nine or ten days' journey into the space of two or three, he joined his father, bringing with him Prince Mu'izzu-d dÃn and Muhammad 'AzÃm.
When Muhammad Mu'azzam arrived with his nine or ten thousand horse, and they heard the reports about the mighty force of seventy thousand horse with which Prince Muhammad Akbar was approaching to the attack, no man of the army had any hope of escape. The expressions of some of Prince MuÂhammad Mu'azzam's thoughtless companions roused Aurangzeb's caution and prudence. Suspicion arose in his heart, and he thought it advisable to order that his guns should be pointed against the Prince's army, and he sent a message desiring the Prince to leave his army, and to come to him in all speed with his two sons. The Prince obeyed the summons, and hastened to wait upon his father.
The precautions taken by the Rájpúts prevented intelliÂgence being obtained of the movements of Prince Muhammad Akbar. Shahábu-d dÃn, son of Kalich Khán, a brave and intelligent man, was sent out with a force to reconnoitre. On coming in sight of the Prince's army, Shahábu-d dÃn's brother, Mujáhid Khán, who was with the Prince, and had found it necessary to temporize, but watched for an opportunity to escape, went to the Prince, and said that if he were allowed he would go to his brother, and bring him over to the Prince's side. Permission being given, Mujáhid Khán took all the money and valuables he could carry, and joined his brother. The two brothers then went together to the Emperor.
Aurangzeb had been greatly depressed by the adverse news which reached him; but on hearing of the approach of the two brothers, he recovered his spirits. He directed that Shahábu-d dÃn should be addressed with the title of Khán, and he also conferred great favours on Mujáhid Khán. From the latter he learnt the state of the Prince's army, and about those who were acting with him from choice or from necessity. Some other men of note now came over, and it was ascertained that after the departure of Mujáhid Khán, dissensions had arisen in the Prince's army.
Khwája Makárim, a confidential adherent of Prince MuÂhammad Mu'azzam, led an advanced force towards the army of Prince Muhammad Akbar. A skirmish took place. The Khwája was wounded, and so were two or three men on the other side; but he ascertained that Tahawwur Khán had advanced from the Prince's army with a small escort, intendÂing to desert the Prince and join Aurangzeb. On this being reported to the Emperor, he ordered that Tahawwur Khán should take off his arms before being admitted to the presence. The Khán demurred to putting off his arms, so Prince MuÂhammad Mu'azzam made a sign to kill the unhappy man. It was now stated to the Emperor that Tahawwur Khán had come, under the orders of Prince Muhammad Akbar, to make known his pretensions and demands. On hearing this, Aurangzeb's anger blazed forth, and he placed his hand upon his sword, and ordered that the Khán should be allowed to enter with his arms. But one of the attendants, in an insulting way, placed his hand upon the Khán's breast to stop him. The Khán struck him a blow on the face and retreated, but his foot caught in a rope, and he fell down. Cries of âStrike! slay!â arose on all sides. Numbers fell upon him, and he was soon killed, and his head was cut off. After he was dead, it was found that he had armour under his clothes, but there were various opinions as to what his real intentions were.
The author of this work heard from Khwája Makárim, afterwards Ján-nisár Khán, and from several of his contemÂporaries, in their old age, that Tahawwur Khán returned in good faith, in consequence of a letter he had received from 'Ináyat Khán, his father-in-law, who was a private secretary of Aurangzeb, but that he felt the order to put off his arms was an insult to his position, his services, and his character. However it may be, his murder caused great divisions in the Prince's army, and among his Rájpúts, and they were much dispirited.
It was commonly reported that Aurangzeb craftily wrote a letter to Prince Muhammad Akbar, and contrived that it should fall into the hands of the Rájpúts. In it he praised the Prince for having won over the Rájpúts as he had been instructed, and that now he should crown his service by bringing them into a position where they would be under the fire of both armies. This letter was the cause of great divisions among them. Such is the story I have heard, but not from any trustworthy person. For all the mighty force which Prince Akbar brought against his father, the sword was not drawn, and no battle was fought, but his army was completely broken. The Prince was soon informed that the Rájpúts had abandoned him. There remained with him only Durgá Dás, two or three confidential officers of the Ráná, and a small force of two or three thousand horse. Of all his old servants and men, these alone remained. He lost all courage, self-reliance, and hope, and being utterly cast down, he took to flight. * * Prince Muhammad Mu'azzam was ordered to pursue him.
It was soon after reported that the mean-spirited Ráná had again broken his engagements, and showed rebellious designs, so that Khán-Jahán could bring him to no final settlement. This kindled the flames of the Emperor's wrath, and towards the end of the same year, he set off again to AjmÃr, with the intention of punishing the Ráná and the other evil-disposed Rájpúts. He wrote to Prince Mu'azzam, directing him to come from the Dakhin to Ujjain, and Prince Muhammad A'zam was ordered to march with all speed from Bengal. When the King's tents were pitched near AjmÃr, Prince Muhammad Akbar was sent with a large force to attack and chastise the Ráná. Sháh Kulà Khán, who was promoted and received the title of Tahawwur Khán, was placed in command of his advanced guard.
http://persian.packhum.org/persian/pf?fi...1017&ct=81<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
With the object of curbing the infidels, and of distinguishÂing the land of the faithful from an infidel land, the jizya, or poll-tax, was imposed upon the Hindús throughout all the provinces.* Upon the publication of this order, the Hindús all round Dehlà assembled in vast numbers under the jharokha of the Emperor on the river front of the palace, to represent their inability to pay, and to pray for the recall of the edict. But the Emperor would not listen to their complaints. One day, when he went to public prayer in the great mosque on the Sabbath, a vast multitude of Hindús thronged the road from the palace to the mosque, with the object of seeking relief. Money-changers and drapers, all kinds of shopkeepers from the Urdú bázár, mechanics, and workmen of all kinds, left off work and business, and pressed into the way. Notwithstanding orders were given to force a way through, it was impossible for the Emperor to reach the mosque. Every moment the crowd inÂcreased, and the Emperor's equipage was brought to a stand-still. At length an order was given to bring out the elephants and direct them against the mob. Many fell trodden to death under the feet of the elephants and horses. For some days the Hindús continued to assemble in great numbers and complain, but at length they submitted to pay the jizya.
http://persian.packhum.org/persian/pf?fi...1017&ct=81<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Death of Rája Jasnant Singh.
[Text, vol. ii. p. 259.] * Intelligence now arrived of the death of Rája Jaswant Singh, who had gone to Kábul with reinforceÂments. After the death of the Rája, his foolish servants took away the Rája's two sons, named AjÃt Singh and Dalathaman,* who were of tender years, and the RánÃs also. Without waiting for permission from Aurangzeb, and without even obtaining a pass from the Súbadár of the province, they set off towards the capital. When they reached the ferry of Atak, they were unable to produce any pass, so the commander of the boats refused to let them proceed. They then attacked him, killed and wounded some of his men, and by force made good their way over the river and went onwards towards DehlÃ.
There was an old standing grievance in the Emperor's heart reÂspecting Rája Jaswant's tribute, which was aggravated by these presumptuous proceedings of the Rájpúts. He ordered the kotwál to take his own men, with an additional force obtained from the mansabdárs, as well as some artillery, and to surround the camp of the Rájpúts, and keep guard over them. After some days, a party of Rájpúts sought permission to go home. Their request was made known to Aurangzeb, and, as it seemed right and proper, it was granted.
Meanwhile the Rájpúts had obtained two boys of the same age as the Rája's children. They dressed some of the female attendants in the garments of the ránÃs, and taking every preÂcaution that their stratagem should not be discovered, they left these women and the boys under guard in their camp. The (real) ránÃs, disguised as men, went off at night in charge of two trusty servants and a party of devoted Rájpúts, and made their way with all speed to their own country. The brave and active chiefs, who might have stopped or overtaken them, were keeping guard over the tents in which the pretended children of the Rája were. After two or three watches, when a report of the fact was made, some officials were sent to make inquiries, and it was repeatedly stated that the ránÃs and the children were still there. Orders were then given for taking all the Rája's followers into the fortress. The Rájpúts and the disguised women, who were ready to fight like men for the honour of their Rája, made a determined resistance. Many were killed, but a party escaped.
The flight of the ránÃs was not clearly proved. Some men, who wished to show their zeal, and to cover their negligence in the matter, asserted that the boys had escaped, and that the wazÃr had sent out a force to secure them. The royal forces went in pursuit twenty kos from DehlÃ, but they could not overtake the Rájpúts, and returned unsuccessful. The two (substituted) boys were given into the charge of the women of the royal harem, and were there brought up. The two boys which the Rájpúts carried off were for a long time rejected by Aurang-zeb, who refused to acknowledge that they were the sons of Jaswant, until all doubt was removed by the Ráná of Chitor, who married AjÃt Singh to a girl of his family.
The Ráná and other Rájpúts. Defection of Prince Akbar.
[Text, vol. ii. p. 261.] At the beginning of ZÃ-l hijja of the twenty-second year of the reign, Aurangzeb started from AjmÃr, with the intention of bringing the refractory Rájpúts to punishÂment. * * A strict farmán was sent to the Ráná of Chitor, calling upon him to assent to the payment of the jizya, and directing him to bring from the territories of Jodhpúr the two alleged sons of Rája Jaswant Singh. After a short stay at AjmÃr, the army marched with the intention of ravaging Jodhpúr, and other Rájpút districts. The Ráná, feeling himself incapable of resistance, sent his vakÃls with tribute and a letter declaring his obedience in the matter of the jizya, but offering to give over two or three parganas (districts) in commutation. He declared that he was not supporting the sons of Jaswant, and finally begged forgiveness for his offences. Aurangzeb left Khán-Jahán Bahádur to complete the arrangements in this quarter, and reÂturned to DehlÃ. His journey to AjmÃr and back occupied seven months and twenty days.
When the Ráná heard of these preparations, he laid ÃdÃpúr, his capital, waste, and with the treasure and family and followers of himself and Jaswant Singh, he fled to the mountains and difficult passes. The Prince was ordered to follow him into the hills with a strong force of brave men suited for mountain warfare. Another force was sent to ravage the country of the Ráná, and destroy the crops. When Prince Muhammad Mu'azzam arrived at Ujjain, he was directed to march against the lake of Aná-ságar, which belonged to the Ráná, and was about eighty kos from AjmÃr. His orders were to station his army about that neighbourhood, and to trample every scrap of cultivation under the hoofs of his horses.
It was now announced that Prince Muhammad A'zam had shown such alacrity in the execution of the orders issued to him, that he had compressed four months' march into less than one, and came up with his army. He was ordered to march through the mountains and central fastnesses of the Ráná, into the territories of the Ráhtors, and there to kill, ravage and make prisoners among the Rájpúts. He was also ordered to employ a force in preventing the transport of supplies to the Ráná, and in stopping cultivaÂtion. Nearly twenty-five thousand horse, Ráhtors, belonging to the territories of Jaswant, and other Rájpúts, assembled to support the Ráná, and had the boldness to attack the royal forces, and to fall upon their supplies. They allured several thousand of the royal forces into the heart of the Ráná's fastnesses. There they attacked them, and killed many, both horse and foot; but the royal forces at length prevailed and beat them. NotwithstandÂing that the Rájpúts held all the roads through the hills, and came down occasionally from the hills, and attacked the Prince's forces by surprise, the Prince's army fought bravely, and Tahawwur Khán and others rendered distinguished service in chastising the enemy. They employed themselves in laying waste the country, destroying temples and buildings, cutting down fruit-trees, and making prisoners of the women and children of the infidels who had taken refuge in holes and ruined places.
Orders were also issued to Muhammad AmÃn Khán, Súbadár of Ahmadábád, directing him to take up a position with his forces between Ahmadábád and the territories of the Rájpúts, and to march against them wherever he heard of them. Khán-Jahán Bahádur Kokaltásh was re-appointed Súbadár of the Dakhin, and sent to lay siege to the fort of SálÃr,* which had fallen into the possession of the enemy.
When the Ráná was hard pressed, and his allies were crippled, when not a scrap of grain was left, and not a trace of cultivation was to be found, the Ráná and the Ráhtor Rájpúts had recourse again to lies and stratagems. They first addressed themselves to Prince Muhammad Mu'azzam, and sought to make him an intercessor for their forgiveness, or to persuade him to rebel and join them. The Prince paid no heed to their allurements, and Nawáb BáÃ, the mother of the Prince, being informed of what was passing, gave good counsel to the Prince, and strongly dissuaded him from yielding an assent; and from giving any aid, assistance, or interÂcession on behalf of the Rájpúts. She even persuaded him not to allow the vakils of the Ráná to approach him. When they despaired of success in this quarter, the Rájpúts betook themÂselves to Prince Muhammad Akbar, taking advantage of his youth, and the favour of some of his friends. Durgá Dás was their spokesman. He was noted among them for his plausibility, and he used all his arts and wiles to persuade the Prince that they would supply him with forty thousand Rájpút horse, and with abundance of treasure. This so dazzled the Prince that he was deluded, and several of his evil companions artfully used their persuasions. So the inexperienced Prince was led astray from the path of rectitude, and through his youth and covetousness he fell into the snares of the Rájpúts.
Prince Muhammad Mu'azzam, when he heard of these doings, wrote a few words of friendly counsel to the Prince, to whom he was much attached. He also wrote a letter to Aurangzeb, informing him that the false and deceitful infidels were using all their wiles to mislead the Prince, and that he must watch against being taken unawares. Aurangzeb entertained no suspicions of Muhammad Akbar; but report had cast an evil aspersion on the name of Prince Muhammad Mu'azzam at the time when Aurangzeb was at Hasan Abdál. The infidels had addressed themselves to Prince Muhammad Mu'azzam in the first instance, and Aurang-zeb had received information about it, so he now thought that Mu'azzam's letter about his brother Akbar was sheer calumny. Accordingly he wrote to him, and accused him of making a false charge, and praying that the Almighty would keep him in the right course, and preserve him from listening to the evil suggesÂtions of designing people.
Soon afterwards the secret became public. Thirty thousand Rájpúts under Durgá Dás joined the Prince. The news spread from tent to tent, and was the talk of young and old. It was reported that he had ascended the throne, and that coins had been struck in his name; that Tahawwur Khán had been made a haft-hazárÃ, and had received the title of AmÃru-l umará; that Mujáhid Khán, and other great servants of the State, who were with the Prince, had received distinguished honours, which some of them had felt themselves constrained to accept. The Prince was doing his best to win the affections of all, and was said to be marching against Aurangzeb.
On the forces being sent off, under the command of Prince Akbar, against the infidels, only Asad Khán and a limited number of officers and men were left in attendance upon the Emperor. All his retinue, counting the eunuchs and writers, did not exceed seven or eight hundred horsemen. A great panic fell upon the royal camp, and wild confusion followed. A letter under the royal signature was sent off in haste to Prince Muhammad Mu'azzam, urging him to come with all his army, and with the greatest haste, to Aurangzeb. When the Prince received it, he marched without a moment's delay to join his father. Leaving his ladies and attendants behind under protection, he set off with all speed, and, pressing nine or ten days' journey into the space of two or three, he joined his father, bringing with him Prince Mu'izzu-d dÃn and Muhammad 'AzÃm.
When Muhammad Mu'azzam arrived with his nine or ten thousand horse, and they heard the reports about the mighty force of seventy thousand horse with which Prince Muhammad Akbar was approaching to the attack, no man of the army had any hope of escape. The expressions of some of Prince MuÂhammad Mu'azzam's thoughtless companions roused Aurangzeb's caution and prudence. Suspicion arose in his heart, and he thought it advisable to order that his guns should be pointed against the Prince's army, and he sent a message desiring the Prince to leave his army, and to come to him in all speed with his two sons. The Prince obeyed the summons, and hastened to wait upon his father.
The precautions taken by the Rájpúts prevented intelliÂgence being obtained of the movements of Prince Muhammad Akbar. Shahábu-d dÃn, son of Kalich Khán, a brave and intelligent man, was sent out with a force to reconnoitre. On coming in sight of the Prince's army, Shahábu-d dÃn's brother, Mujáhid Khán, who was with the Prince, and had found it necessary to temporize, but watched for an opportunity to escape, went to the Prince, and said that if he were allowed he would go to his brother, and bring him over to the Prince's side. Permission being given, Mujáhid Khán took all the money and valuables he could carry, and joined his brother. The two brothers then went together to the Emperor.
Aurangzeb had been greatly depressed by the adverse news which reached him; but on hearing of the approach of the two brothers, he recovered his spirits. He directed that Shahábu-d dÃn should be addressed with the title of Khán, and he also conferred great favours on Mujáhid Khán. From the latter he learnt the state of the Prince's army, and about those who were acting with him from choice or from necessity. Some other men of note now came over, and it was ascertained that after the departure of Mujáhid Khán, dissensions had arisen in the Prince's army.
Khwája Makárim, a confidential adherent of Prince MuÂhammad Mu'azzam, led an advanced force towards the army of Prince Muhammad Akbar. A skirmish took place. The Khwája was wounded, and so were two or three men on the other side; but he ascertained that Tahawwur Khán had advanced from the Prince's army with a small escort, intendÂing to desert the Prince and join Aurangzeb. On this being reported to the Emperor, he ordered that Tahawwur Khán should take off his arms before being admitted to the presence. The Khán demurred to putting off his arms, so Prince MuÂhammad Mu'azzam made a sign to kill the unhappy man. It was now stated to the Emperor that Tahawwur Khán had come, under the orders of Prince Muhammad Akbar, to make known his pretensions and demands. On hearing this, Aurangzeb's anger blazed forth, and he placed his hand upon his sword, and ordered that the Khán should be allowed to enter with his arms. But one of the attendants, in an insulting way, placed his hand upon the Khán's breast to stop him. The Khán struck him a blow on the face and retreated, but his foot caught in a rope, and he fell down. Cries of âStrike! slay!â arose on all sides. Numbers fell upon him, and he was soon killed, and his head was cut off. After he was dead, it was found that he had armour under his clothes, but there were various opinions as to what his real intentions were.
The author of this work heard from Khwája Makárim, afterwards Ján-nisár Khán, and from several of his contemÂporaries, in their old age, that Tahawwur Khán returned in good faith, in consequence of a letter he had received from 'Ináyat Khán, his father-in-law, who was a private secretary of Aurangzeb, but that he felt the order to put off his arms was an insult to his position, his services, and his character. However it may be, his murder caused great divisions in the Prince's army, and among his Rájpúts, and they were much dispirited.
It was commonly reported that Aurangzeb craftily wrote a letter to Prince Muhammad Akbar, and contrived that it should fall into the hands of the Rájpúts. In it he praised the Prince for having won over the Rájpúts as he had been instructed, and that now he should crown his service by bringing them into a position where they would be under the fire of both armies. This letter was the cause of great divisions among them. Such is the story I have heard, but not from any trustworthy person. For all the mighty force which Prince Akbar brought against his father, the sword was not drawn, and no battle was fought, but his army was completely broken. The Prince was soon informed that the Rájpúts had abandoned him. There remained with him only Durgá Dás, two or three confidential officers of the Ráná, and a small force of two or three thousand horse. Of all his old servants and men, these alone remained. He lost all courage, self-reliance, and hope, and being utterly cast down, he took to flight. * * Prince Muhammad Mu'azzam was ordered to pursue him.
It was soon after reported that the mean-spirited Ráná had again broken his engagements, and showed rebellious designs, so that Khán-Jahán could bring him to no final settlement. This kindled the flames of the Emperor's wrath, and towards the end of the same year, he set off again to AjmÃr, with the intention of punishing the Ráná and the other evil-disposed Rájpúts. He wrote to Prince Mu'azzam, directing him to come from the Dakhin to Ujjain, and Prince Muhammad A'zam was ordered to march with all speed from Bengal. When the King's tents were pitched near AjmÃr, Prince Muhammad Akbar was sent with a large force to attack and chastise the Ráná. Sháh Kulà Khán, who was promoted and received the title of Tahawwur Khán, was placed in command of his advanced guard.
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