CHAP. VII. pavilion of wood at the foot of the fortress, for the accommodation of himself and his seraglio during the Coronation-day. Mahratta re venge. Moghul panic. monsoon. The coronation-day of the Emperor was always kept as a festival throughout the Moghul empire. When the anniversary came round in 1663, Shaista Khan gave a great feast to his officers. Every three hours there was a symphony of musical instruments. Some men unknown told the band to make a special noise at twelve o'clock at night, in order to do honour to the festival. Wine was not spared at the coronation feast. At midnight there was a deafening uproar of trumpets and kettledrums. When it was over, shrieks and screams were heard from the seraglio. A band of armed men had broken into the seraglio and made their way into the banquetting hall, followed by women and eunuchs. Shaista Khan was too drunk to comprehend what was going on. His son drew his sword and rushed upon the intruders, but received a stroke which severed his head from his shoulders. The intruders rushed upon. Shaista Khan. The women saw that his life was in danger, and put out the lights. Friends and foes. mingled in horrible disorder; random strokes fell on women and eunuchs. Shaista Khan lost a finger, but escaped from the pavilion and fled up the hill to the fortress of Poona. Meanwhile there was a panic in the Moghul camp. Sivaji and his Mahrattas were plundering the tents and cutting down the flying soldiery. Havoc and confusion reigned supreme. Next morning Jaswant Singh went to make his 25 Manouchi through Catrou. vance. apologies to Shaista Khan. The Moghul general was_CHAP. VII. not to be hoodwinked by the Rajpút. "I thought," Rajput connihe said, "that the Maharaja was in his Majesty's service when this evil befell me." Shaista Khan was assured in his own mind that Jaswant Singh was privy to the whole affair. 26 ties. Aurangzeb was enraged at the news. He recalled Mahratta atrociShaista Khan, and sent him to govern Bengal in the room of Amír Jumla. Early in 1664 there was worse news of the Mahrattas. They had poured down the mountains to the sea and plundered the Moghul port at Surat. The English at Surat saved their factory by a brave resistance. One Englishman was taken prisoner, and carried off to the tent of Sivaji outside the town. The Mahratta Raja was at home; he was ordering heads and arms to be chopped off from unfortunate wretches who were suspected of concealing their hoards.27 Such were the public acts of the illustrious founder of the Mahratta empire. 26 The narrative of the Mahratta attack on Shaista Khan and his camp is given on the authority of Manouchi through Catrou. A different story is told by Khafi Khan. Shaista Khan is said to have taken up his quarters in the town of Poona, in a house which had been built by Sivaji and occupied by Sivaji. The Mahrattas got into the town by joining a marriage procession. They made their way into the house through the cook-room. They subsequently made their escape, and were seen in the distance climbing a hill fortress by the light of torches. This story is evidently the handiwork of some Mahratta Brahman. Khafi Khan probably picked it up during his travels in the Mahratta country. It is not credible that a Moghul nobleman, with a large seraglio, accustomed to every luxury, should have taken up his quarters in a Mahratta house. Manouchi's account is far more simple and intelligible. He probably drew it up by the light of letters received from the seat of war. Manouchi, however, says nothing about the connivance of Jaswant Singh; that is given on the authority of Khafi Khan. It is easy to understand Jaswant Singh being concerned in an attack like that described in the text. It is difficult to understand how he could be concerned in a burglarious attack through a cookroom, like that described by Khafi Khan. 27 English records at Surat, quoted by Grant Duff. CHAP. VII. Aurangzeb's sickness. Ambition of Royshan Rai Begum. Seraglio intrigues. The year 1664 is a turning-point in the reign of Aurangzeb. His health broke down; he sank into a debility which rendered him unconscious of all around him. His sister, Royshan Rai Begum, took entire charge of his chamber. The Tartar women kept constant guard over the door with swords and bows. So much secrecy was observed, that many believed that the Emperor was dead; not even the ladies of the seraglio knew whether Aurangzeb was dead or alive. Royshan Rai Begum had laboured hard for Aurangzeb during the reign of Shah Jehan. It was mainly by her help that he gained the throne. After his accession she had become sole mistress of the seraglio. She resolved to provide for her own aggrandisement in the event of his death. The eldest son of Aurangzeb was nineteen years of age, born of a Rajpút Sultana; he is best known by his title of Shah Alam. The second son was a pretty boy of six, born of a Muhammadan Sultana; he is best known by the name of Azam Shah. Royshan Rai Begum resolved to set aside the eldest son, and place the second son, Azam Shah, upon the throne. She hoped by these means to rule the empire through a long minority. She addressed a hundred letters in favour of Azam Shah to the different Rajas, Viceroys, and governors of the empire. She took the signet of the empire from the finger of Aurangzeb, and stamped every letter with the seal. Some suspicion of what was going on reached the ears of the ladies of the seraglio. The mother of the eldest son, Shah Alam, was a Rajpút princess, but she was first Sultana. She had married Aurangzeb when he was young, and had been allowed to burn incense before her idols in his seraglio; and she still possessed much influence over Aurangzeb. She resolved to find CHAP. VII. out whether the Emperor was still living. She bribed the Tartar women, and gained admittance to the sickroom. She saw that Aurangzeb was still alive, but unconscious of her presence. At that moment Royshan Rai Begum caught sight of the intruder, rushed on her like a fury, tore her face till it bled, and forced her out of the room.28 Crown Prince. The first Sultana was bitterly mortified. She wrote Shah Alam, the to her son an account of all that had occurred. This Prince, as already said, is best known by his title of Shah Alam, or "King of the World." He had a palace and establishment of his own. He began to take measures for defeating the designs of his aunt in favour of Azam Shah. At this time Jai Singh, Raja of Jaipur, was at Delhi. Jai Singh, At such a crisis the Rajpút might have decided the fate of the empire. Shah Alam went to him and told him that Aurangzeb was dead; that he himself claimed the empire as his birthright; that he did not mean to cement the throne by the murder of his brothers; and that he was even willing to restore Shah Jehan. Jai Singh commended his intentions, deprecated the restoration of Shah Jehan, promised his support, but would not commit himself to any line of action until he knew for certain that Aurangzeb was dead. Shah Alam prostrated himself before the Raja, and took his leave with the same salutations as were customary to the Emperor. Jai Singh was far too wary to risk the wrath of Rajput caution. Aurangzeb. He spared no pains to learn the truth. He distributed thousands of rupees amongst the 28 Manouchi through Catrou. CHAP. VII. eunuchs of the palace. At last he had positive news that Aurangzeb was very ill but still alive. He refused to meddle with the claims of Shah Alam. Grandees overawed. Aurangzeb's recovery. Public audience. It was strange that throughout this period there were no attempts at an outbreak. Wild hopes were excited at Agra that Aurangzeb might die and Shah Jehan be restored to the throne of the Moghuls. Couriers were constantly going to Delhi for news, and as constantly returning with no news whatever. Every one was in mortal fear of Aurangzeb. The grandees at Delhi and Agra looked at each other, but said nothing. Not a man dared to talk about the death of the Emperor or whisper a word about Shah Alam or Shah Jehan. He was At length Aurangzeb began to recover. restored to consciousness, took an interest in public affairs, and managed to show himself to the Raja of Jaipur and a few of the grandees. Suddenly he missed his signet ring. He accepted the excuses of his sister that it had fallen from his finger; but his suspicions were excited, and he resolved on discovering the truth at some more seasonable opportunity. After a while Aurangzeb was able to take his seat upon the throne at a public audience. He had given orders that every one should be admitted, however simple their degree; and that all should approach him in the order of their rank. All the people of Delhi flocked to the palace to make their saláms. He edified all present by his expressions of piety. His sickness had been a warning from Heaven that he was only mortal; his recovery was a blessing from the Almighty. As a mark of gratitude he relieved Muhammadans from certain imposts which were still levied from Hindús. This was the first public indi |