Book II. Tnwt'ls in India. 109 



(ions he lay by his Fathers Bed-lide, upon a Tapeftry fpread upon the ground. 



During the falfe report of the death of Cba-jehan, his three other Sons im- 

 mediately rebell'd, every one laying claim to their Fathers Crown. Mor.it- 

 Bafohe the youngeft, who had the Government of Gtiz^erat, fent away Forces 

 immediately to befiege Surat, the molt confiderablc Port, and mo ft frequented 

 of anv other all over India. The City made no refiftance, for the Walls are 

 very weak, and broken down in feveral places. But they defended the Citta- 

 def where the Treafiire was, very itoutly ; though the young Ambitious Prince 

 did' all he could to make himfelf Mailer of it. Cbabas-Kan, one of his Eu- 

 nuchs, who was General of his Army, an induftrious and active perfon, and who 

 earn d on the Siege with all the experience of an old Captain 5 when he law 

 Jie could not carry the Caftle by main force, caus'dittobe underm'm'd in two 

 places, by the aihitance of an European Engineer, which took effect 3 (b that 

 upon the twenty-ninth of December, 16^9, Be threw down a good part of the 

 vfalfe, and filPd up the Moat 5 which very much terrift'd the befieg'd. Bur 

 they preiently recover'd their courage, and though they were but a imall num- 

 ber,' they defended themfelves for above forty days, to the great dammageand 

 {laughter of Morat-Bakchfs Army. Chabas-Kan, provok'd at fuch a vigorous 

 refiftance, fought for all the Wives and Children, Parents and Kindred of the 

 Canoneers that were within the Caftle, to place them at the head of his men, 

 when they made their approaches. He alio lent one of the Brothers of the 

 Governor of the place, to offer him advantageous conditions. But the Gover- 

 nor being a very loyal perfon, and uncertain of the Kings death, rejected all 

 his offers, t he Eunuch perceiving the Resolution of the Governour, threatened 

 the befieged to kill all their Wives and Children, Parents and Kindred, if they 

 did not furrender the place the next day. But neither did any of thole confl- 

 agrations prevail, till at length the breach being made wider, and the number 

 of defendants decreafmg, the Governor furrender'd upon honourable conditions; 

 which were punctually perform'd by Cbabas-Kan, who fetid upon all the Trea- 

 sure, and carried it to Amadabat ; where Morat-Bakche was bulily employ'd 

 in Squeezing the people to get Money. 



The news of the taking Surat being brought to this Prince, he preiently 

 provided himfelf a Throne, and fitting upon it on the day which was appointed 

 for the Ceremony, he caus'd himfelf to be declared King, not only of G/tsze- 

 m\ but of all the Dominions of Cba-jeban his Father; At the fame time he 

 alfb coin'd Money, and lent new Governors into all the Cities. But his tottering 

 Throne, not being well fix'd, fell foon to the Ground j and the youngeft of ail 

 the Brothers, for' having ufurpM a Scepter that no ways appertain'd . to him, 

 was confin'd to a fevere imprifonment. Prince Dara-Cba fain would have re- 

 liev'd Swat 1 but it was impofliblc. For befides that he was bulled in the affiftance 

 Of his Father the King, his fecond Brother Sultan-Sujab, more powerful than 

 Merat-B-akche, found him fir more work to do. He was already advancd into 

 the Kingdom of Labor., having abfolutely redue'd the Kingdom of Bengal* All 

 that Dara-Cba could do, was to fend Soliman Checom his eldeft Son, with an 

 Army againft Sultan Sttjah. The young Prince having defeated his Uncie, and 

 driven him back into Bengala, the Frontiers whereof he lecur'd with good Gar- 

 rifons, return' d to Dara-Cba his Father. In the mean time Morat-Bakcbc, ac- 

 knowledge for King in the Kingdom of Gftzjrat, bends all his Force and Coun- 

 fels to make himfelf Emperor of the Indies, to deftroy his Brothers, and to 

 fix his Throne either in Agra or fehanakat. . 



Whiles theft things pafsd, Aureng-TLeb as ambitious, but more crafty than 

 his Brothers, lets them alone to kindle the firl't Fires ; and conceals his own 

 deflgns, which afterwards appear'd io much to the damage of the reft. At 

 fitft tie feign'd to lay no claim to the Empire, but liv'd a private life, like a 

 Dervtcb, or Religious Hermit. And the better to acT his part, he clcdardto 

 his younger Brother Mofat-Bakche , whom he faw to be lo ambitious, how 

 willing he fhould be to aflift him in his deligns ; telling him, that becaufe he 

 merited the Empire by his Valour, he would aid him with his Money and his 

 Forces to overthrow Dara-Cba, who only ftood in his way.. The young Prince, 

 blinded with the hopes of his good Fortune, eafily bcliev'd Ameng&f* And 



