m H I N D. o 
thofe faithlefs generals had the bafenefs to fend a body of 
troops.to way-lay and plunder the baggage o'f this unfor¬ 
tunate prince. The robbers brought back arr elephant 
loaded with gold rupees, by which he was driven to the 
greateft diftrefs in his long and toillbme retreat. 
In the mean time the confederated brothers, on the 
fourth day after the battle, commenced their march for 
Agra. The capital was in no condition to fuftain a fiege, 
and the gates were thrown open ; but thofe of the citadel, 
which was a place of great ftrength, were kept fhut. Au¬ 
rungzebe, affecting filial refpedl for Shah Jehan, declined 
enteriitg the city; and, with his brother Morad, encamped 
in a garden without the walls. In a few days, however, 
Auritngzebe dilpatched a confidential meffenger to make 
his refpectful fubmilfion to the aged Shah Jehan; he was 
defired to touch the ground, in his name, with his fore¬ 
head ; and in the ftrongeft terms poflible to allure him 
both of his affefticn as a fon, and his duty as a fubjecl. 
He was ordered to exprefs his extreme forrow for the 
blood that had been fpilt, which was folely imputable to 
the ambition of Dara, whole violent and imperious tem¬ 
per had forced both Morad and himfelf into thofe extre¬ 
mities ; fiivally, that he rejoiced exceedingly on hearing 
ot his recovery, and refpeftfully waited without the city 
the commands of his father and his fovereign. To this 
embafly Shah Jehan replied by his favourite daughter, Je- 
hanara Begum, whom he fent on purpofe to give weight 
to his anfiver, “ That as to Aurungzebe, he was fully 
convinced of his zeal and loyalty as a fon and a fubjeft ; 
that he fuppofed him to have been milled by defigning 
perfons, and, as he doubted not the contrition he had ex- 
preffed was fincere, he freely pardoned him. But he could 
not think thus favourably of Morad, who was an obftinate 
rebel, and had actually proclaimed himfelf emperor in 
Guzerat; but that, if Aurungzebe would defert Morad, 
he fhould not only be received with open arms, but what¬ 
ever he could defire in the empire, next to the throne of 
his father, fhould be at his command.” The artful Au¬ 
rungzebe affeCted to be won over by thefe kind words: 
“For himfelf, he faid, he had no ambition but to live as 
a derveifh, retired from man, and devoted to God ; that, 
in taking Morad’s part againft Dara, he afted from prin¬ 
ciple ; that the generous and open nature of the former, 
who was alfo a good Muffulman, rendered him better cal¬ 
culated for governing a kingdom, than the licentious and 
arbitrary difpofition of the latter; but that, if the empe¬ 
ror was determined not to revoke his decifionin favour of 
Dara, no body had a right to control him; and lie folemn- 
ly promifed within two days to wait upon him in perfon, 
in order to difcufs that important queftion.” 
Jehanara, deceived by her brother’s prcteftations, haft- 
ened to the emperor with the joyful intelligence, that his 
grey hairs were not to defcend in forrow to the grave ; 
that Aurungzebe would come in two days and make his 
fubmiffion ; and that Dara might yet enjoy the throne, 
as being the elder brother. But the cautious emperor too 
well knew the ambition and lubtlety of Aurungzebe to 
be himfelf deceived. Never indeed was a deeper game of 
duplicity played oft’; for, while Aurungzebe was deter¬ 
mined that neither Dara nor Morad fhould fway the impe¬ 
rial fceptre, Shah jehan was as fully refolved that Aurung¬ 
zebe, if he once entered the gates of the palace, fhould not 
again efcape out of them. But Aurungzebe had no in¬ 
tention of vifiting his father. He had conftantly an ac¬ 
tive fpy at his elbow, Roxanara Begum, who was as de¬ 
voted to his interefts as Jehanara was to thofe of Dara ; 
and the had forewarned him to beware of treachery, for 
that, if he entered the palace, he would be inftantly feized. 
After the two days had elapled, mefiage after meffage 
reached Aurungzebe, foliciting the promifed interview, 
and ftating “ that his aged fire wifhed only to embrace 
his repentant fon, and reftore him to favour and diftinc- 
tion.” That aged fire, however, had dilpatched letters 
to Dara of a very different ftamp, which were intercepted 
and brought to Aurungzebe. Thofe letters determined 
OSTA R 
the fteps now to be taken by the confederated brothers. Al 
length a day of meeting was appointed by Aurungzebe, 
.who fent his eldeft fon Mohammed to announce his ap¬ 
proach; but confeffed, as reports hoftile to his fafety were 
in circulation, that unlefs a fmall guard were allowed for 
the protection of his perfon, he could not enter the pa¬ 
lace. A guard, therefore, confining of a limited number 
of men, and commanded by his fon in perfon, was per¬ 
mitted previoufly to enter the gates. The young prince, 
on entering, examined all the avenues; and, finding -in 
one of the courts a body of men concealed, he com¬ 
plained to the emperor of an intention to feize his father’s 
perfon, and declared, that, unlefs thofe men were fent 
away, he would difpatch a meffenger to prevent his father 
from entering the citadel. Shah Jehan, depending upon 
his numerous guards, confented to difmils them. Au¬ 
rungzebe, on his near approach to the citadel, was an¬ 
nounced ; when on a fudden, as if feized with a fit of 
devotion, he ordered the cavalcade to change their courfe, 
and move towards the tomb of Akbar, where he profefled 
his intention of offering up his prayers to heaven. This 
ftrain of hypocrify was the fignal for aftion. The prince’s 
party was compofed of picked men, whom nothing dis¬ 
mayed. They rufhed on the imperial troops that guarded 
the gates, and, loon made themfelves mailers of the pa¬ 
lace. The emperor, finding himfelf fallen into the very 
fnare which he had fet For his fon, began to vent his rage 
againft Aurungzebe, and his perfidious grandfon ; to which 
the young prince replied not, but, making his obeifance, 
refpedfully retired. 
Aurungzebe, whcfe infatiable ambition had rendered hint 
callous to the ties of nature, having thus accomplifhed his 
purpofe, fmiled at the earneft meffages now lent by his: 
aged fire, to folicit an interview ; and conftantly returned 
an excufe, accompanied with hints relative to the recent 
duplicity which had marked his father’s conduct; adding, 
“ that, when he had annihilated the power of Dara,. he would 
himfelf come and open to him the gates of his prifon.” 
He appointed Etbar Khan governor of the fortrefs; who. 
fliut up the wretched fiiltan, with Begum Saheb, and all 
bis women, caufing feveral gates, through which there 
was a poffibiuty of efcape, to be walled up. Day and 
night a vigilant guard was kept, that the emperor might 
neither write, nor fpeak, nor quit his apartment, but in. 
the prefence of his guard. 
The confederate brothers, having appointed their uncle 
Shah Heft Khan, governor of Agra, and taken out of the 
royal treafury what fums they wanted, proceeded to Delhi 
for the deftruClion of Dara. But, on their arrival at Mut¬ 
tra, a grand entertainment was provided by Aurungzebe^ 
at which Morad, who was voiuptuoufly inclined, drank 
too freely of the Shiraz wine, while the rigid Aurungzebe 
refufed to pollute his lips with the forbidden beverage. 
On pretence of bufinefs Aurungzebe quitted the apart¬ 
ment, and Morad funk into a profound fleep. In this 
fituation his fabre and poniard were taken from him 
Every previous precaution had been ufed for the fuccefs 
of the enterprife. Confidential guards had been appoint¬ 
ed, and a band of ruffians waited without. At this mo¬ 
ment re-entered Aurungzebe, and,fpurning with his foot 
the inebriated prince, exclaimed, “ Is this a conduft be¬ 
coming a great emperor ? What will the nation think of 
him, who, having dethroned one prince for intemperance, 
fullers his intellects to be thus overpowered by wine > 
Morad, thy throne is for ever forfeited. Take this fot 
away; bind him, and throw him into that room, there to 
fleep out his wine.” The prince fearehed in vain for his 
fword and poniai'd; five or fix guards rallied in, and, in 
Ipite of all his oppofition, fettered his hands and feet. 
A11 efeorfand an elephant were ready at hand, which, on 
the 6th of July 1658, conveyed him to Gwalior, the ftate- 
prifon of the houfe of Timour. 
Aurungzebe now commenced his march for Delhi; but 
hearing that Dara had proceeded to Lahore, and refblving 
not to leave a rival in the field, he continued his purfuit 
•with 
