Book H. 



Travels in India. 



him with Men and Money. But not daring to truft himlelf by Sea -, as he pafè'd 

 through the Countrey of the Tatanes, in the way to Candahar, he was unworthily 

 betraidby one of the Lord»of the Countrey, call'd G ion-Kan; who had been an 

 Officer under the King his Father, and who having been condemn d for his crimes 

 by the mouth of his Father, and ready to be thrown under the Elephant's-feet, 

 had been pardon'd at the interceflion of Dara-cha. For an addition to his affliction, 

 before he came to don-Kan's Houfe, he receiv'd the news of the death of that 

 particular Wife which he lov'd molt entirely, and which had always accompani'd 

 him in his misfortunes. He underftood that me dy'd through heat and drowth, 

 not being able to get a drop of water in the Countrey to refrefh her thirft. 

 The Prince was fo mov'd at the news, that he fell down, like one that had been 

 ftruck quite dead j and when he came to himfelf, he tore his clothes in the ex- 

 cels of his grief : an ancient cuftom ftill continu 'd in the Eaft. He had always 

 fhew'd himièlf infenfible upon all other occafions of misfortune, but this fatal 

 ftroke fo deeply pierc'd him., that he would receive no confolatipn from his friends. 

 After this, he clad himfelf according to his misfortune -, and inftead of a Turbant, 

 he only put about his head a piece of coarfe Calicut. In this miferable equipage he 

 enter'd into the Houfe of theTraytor Gion-Kan ) where being laid down to reft 

 himfelf upon a Field-bed, a new fub/ecl of forrow awak'd him. For Gion-Kan 

 having a defign to fèize S.pper-Shekpur, Dara-cha's fécond Son, the young Prince, 

 though buta Youth, made a bold refiftance, and with his Bow and Arrows laid 

 three men upon the ground ; butfiot-being able to refift a multitude, he was at 

 length taken. Dara-cha. waken'd with the noife, fàw before his eyes his Son, 

 whom they were leading toward him, with his hands ty'd behind him. Then the 

 miferable Father of the young Prince, no longer misdoubting the horrid trealbn 

 of Gion-Kan, could not refrain from letting fall in his pafTion thefe expreflions. 

 Finijh, (aid he, ingrateful and infamous Villain as thou art, finijh the work^ thou baft 

 begun; we are become Viilims to bad Fortune, and Aureng-zeb'j unjuft Ambition. 

 But remember that I only deferve death for having [av'd thy life : for never Prince 

 cf 'the Kcyal Blood had his hands ty'd behind him before. Gion-Kan in fome mea- 

 fiire mov'd at thele words, caus'd the little Prince- to be unbound, and only let 

 guards upon Dara-cha and his Son. At the fame time he alfo fent exprefies to 

 Raja fejfomfeing, and to Abdulla-Kan, to give them advice that he had leiz'd up- 

 on Dara-cha and his Train. Thereupon they made haft to fhare in the fpoils 

 of that poor Prince. But they could not be fo fwifr, but that Gion-Kan 

 had feiz'd upon all that Dara-cha had of moft precious in the World ; ufing 

 as inhumanly both his Wives and his Children. The Raja and Abdulli being ar- 

 riv'd, provided Elephants for the Prince, his Son, and his Wives, and earn d them 

 away immediately to fehanabat ; the people crowded to behold them, every one 

 being defirous to fee the Prince whom they fo earneftly defir'd to have had for their 

 King. Aureng-^eb caufed them to be fhewn in all the Streets and Market-places 

 of fehanabat, that no man might queftion hereafter their being taken ; and as if 

 he had glori'd in his treachery toward his Brother, he prefently condemn'd and 

 fent him away to the Caftle of AJfer. But of all that crowded to behold, not, 

 one- would ftir to affift or fuccour their lawful Prince. Only fome few generous 

 Souldiers who had ferv'd him, and had receiv'd fome kindneffes from him, feeing 

 themfelves not able to deliver their Prince, yet defirous to fhew him fome proofs 

 of their acknowledgment, fell with all their fury upon the Traitor Gion-Kan, who 

 though he were relcu'd from them at that time, yet foon after met with the re- 

 ward due to his crime ; for he was kill "d as he was crofting a Wood in his return 

 home. 



In the mean time Aureng-neb, like a good Polititian, and an extraordinary Dif- 

 I iembler, gave it out, that it was by no order of his that Dara-cha was feiz d -, on- 

 ly he defir'd him to retire out of the Kingdom, which he refufing to do, Gion-Kan, 

 unknown to him, had unworthily feiz'd his perfon; and without refpeftto the 

 Royal-Blood, had flhamefully ty'd the hands of the young Sepper-Shekour behind 

 him : which being a crime and an indignity done to his Majefty, had been punifh'd, 

 by the death of Gion-Kan and his accomplices. But this was only publiftYd to 

 abufe the people ; for had it been true, Aureng-z*eb would never have given order 

 to have his Brother's head cut off. 



* Gl£ for 



