Book II. Travels in India. 



fions, he lay by his Fathers Bed- fide, upon a Tapeftry fpread upon the ground. 



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

 mediately rebell'd, everyone laying claim -to their Fathers Grown. Morat- 

 Bakche the youngeft, who had the Government of Gu&erat, fent away Forces 

 immediately to befiege Surat, the raoft confiderable Port, and mod frequented 

 of any 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- 

 del, where the Treafure was 3 very ftoutly ; though the young Ambitious Prince 

 did all he could to make himfelf Mafter of it. Chabas-Kan, one of his Eu- 

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

 carri'd on the Siege with all the experience of an old Captain ; when he faw 

 he could not carry the Caftle by main force, caus'd it to be undermin'd in two 

 places, by the affiftance of an European Engineer, which took effect ; fo that 

 upon the twenty-ninth of December, 1659, he threw down a good part of the 

 Walls, and filPd up the Moat ; which very much terriffd the befieg'd. But 

 they prefently recover'd their courage, and though they were but a fmall num- 

 ber, they defended themfelves for above forty days, to the great dammage and 

 ilaughter of Morat-Bakche' 's Army. Cbabas-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 alfb fent 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. The Eunuch perceiving the Refolution of the Governouf, threaten'd 

 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 thofe confi- 

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

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

 which were punctually perform'd by Chabas-Kan 3 who feiz'd upon all the Trea- 

 fure, and carried it to Amadabat ; where Morat-Bakchz was bufily employ'd 

 in fqueezing the people to get Money. 



The news of the taking Sur at being brought to this Prince, he prefently 

 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 Guz.e- 

 rat, but of all the Dominions of Cha-jehan his Father. At the lame time he 

 alfo coind Money, and fent new Governors into all the Cities. But his tottering 

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

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

 was confin d to a fevere imprifbnment. Prince Dara-Cha fain would have re- 

 liev'd Sur at ; but it was impofTible. For befides that he was bufied in the affiftance 

 of his Father the King, his fécond Brother Sultan-Sujab, more powerful than 

 Morat-Bakche, found him far more work to do. He was already advane'd into 

 the Kingdom of Labor \ having abfblutely redue'd the Kingdom of Bengala, All 

 that Dara-Cha could do, was to lend Soliman Cbecour his eldeft Son, with an 

 Army againft Sultan Sujab. The young Prince having defeated his Uncle, and 

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

 rifbns, return'd to Dara-Cha his Father, In the mean time Morat-Bakche, ac- 

 knowledge for King in the Kingdom of Gu&erat, 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 fehanabat. 



Whiles, thefe things pafsd, Aureng-z~eb as ambitious, but more crafty than 

 his Brothers, lets them alone to kindle the firft Fires j and conceals his own 

 defigns, which afterwards appear'd fo much to the damage of the reft. At 

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

 Dervicb, or Religious Hermit. And the better to act his part, he declar'd to 

 his younger Brother Morat-Bakche , whom he faw to be fo ambitious, how 

 willing he fhould be to affift him in his defigns ; telling him, that becaufe he 

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

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

 blinded with the hopes of his good Fortune, eafily believ'd Anreng-z.eb, And 



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