The Moghul

by Thomas Hoover

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  Hawksworth heard the exultant cheer of the Rajputs ridingbehind him and snapped awake. It was midmorning of the third day and hehad been dozing fitfully in the saddle since dawn, fatigue deep in hisbones. Through the trees ahead the camp of Prince Jadar lay spreadbefore them, blanketing half the valley.

  "I told you we'd make the camp in three days' ride." Vasant Rao smiledwearily at Hawksworth and spurred his lathered mount forward. "Everyman with us is eager to be with the prince."

  They had covered, it seemed to Hawksworth, well over a hundred milessince departing the environs of Fatehpur. Between five and six hundredRajputs rode behind them, all heavily armed with an array of swords,pikes, clubs, saddle-axes. Each man's body armor, a woven network ofsteel and the quilted garment worn beneath it, was secured behind hissaddle, ready to be donned for combat. Hanging at the side of eachrider was a round leather shield and a large quiver containing his hornbow and arrows. None carried muskets.

  Hawksworth glanced back at Shirin, who rode a few paces behind, andthey shared a tired smile. She had ridden the distance like a Rajput,but now her eyes were glazed with weariness. He had suddenly realized,the morning after they all galloped out of the camp at Fatehpur, thathe had never before seen a woman in India ride. Where had she learned?He had pondered the question for an hour, riding behind her to watchher easy posture in the saddle, and then he had pulled alongside andasked her point-blank. She said nothing, merely smiled and tossed theloose strands of hair back from her face. He understood her well enoughto know this meant she had never ridden before . . . and didn't wishVasant Rao to know.

  "This is the moment I've waited for so long." She reined her mountalongside Hawksworth's, reached out and touched his hand. "You musthelp the prince now too."

  "I'm not so sure I'm eager to die for Prince Jadar."

  "You can always go back to Agra. And wait to be murdered by Janahara'sguards. The prince has saved your life, and mine, once already. Whatmakes you think he'll bother with you again?"

  "To tell the truth, he also saved my life several months ago, the nightwe made landfall at Surat and were ambushed on the Tapti River by thePortugals."

  "I know." She spurred her horse ahead. "I received the pigeon fromPrince Jadar ordering it. I passed the message to the Shahbandar, MirzaNuruddin, who sent his personal Rajputs to protect you."

  Hawksworth urged his horse back alongside. "So I was right. You wereone of Jadar's agents in Surat. What did Nadir Sharif once call them .. . _swanih-nigars_?"

  "I gathered information for the prince." She smiled in consent. "I kepthis accounts and coded his ciphers at the old observatory. Then youcame along and started combing through it. You made my work that muchmore difficult. I never knew when you'd decide to go out there. Or whatyou'd find."

  "Why didn't you just tell me? What did I care?"

  "Too much was at risk. The prince once said never to trust a_topiwallah_."

  Hawksworth laughed. "But surely Mukarrab Khan knew what you weredoing?"

  "I think he probably guessed. But what could he do? He was only thegovernor, not Allah. He finally forbade me to go into the palacegrounds alone. When I refused to obey, he thought of sending you to theobservatory, just to annoy me." She smoothed the mane of her horse. "SoI think he knew I was doing something there. But he was too entangledby his own intrigues for Janahara to really care."

  "Mukarrab Khan worked for the queen? How?"

  "Two ways. Naturally he gathered intelligence for her, mainly about thePortuguese. But he also collected her Portuguese revenues at the portsof Surat and Cambay."

  "Her revenues? I thought all duties went to the Moghul's Imperialtreasury."

  Shirin stifled a smile. "That's what Arangbar thinks too. And at Suratit's mostly true. She collects very little. Mirza Nuruddin despises herand always finds devious ways to muddle her accounts, probably keepingsome of her money for himself. But the Shahbandar at the port ofCambay, where Mukarrab Khan used to go every two weeks, would acceptbribes from the Portuguese to undervalue their goods, and then splitthe money with Mukarrab Khan and Janahara." She paused to watch abright-winged bird dart past. "Arangbar could never understand why hisrevenue from Cambay was so low. I heard he's thinking about closing theport." She laughed. "If only he knew it's going mostly to Janahara."

  Hawksworth rode silently for a moment, thinking. "You know, NadirSharif once proposed the same arrangement for English goods, if I wouldtrade with him personally through the port of Cambay. I ignored him. Isuspected he planned to find some way to confiscate the goods later on,claiming nonpayment of duty."

  "No, on that I think Nadir Sharif would have been very fair. He alwayshonors his agreements, with friend or foe." She looked ahead, her wearyeyes brightening as they approached the first jumble of tents androaming livestock that formed the edge of the camp. Servants in soiled_dhotis _were leading camels bearing huge baskets of fodder along themakeshift streets between the tents. "But their swindle will befinished when Prince Jadar becomes Moghul. He despises the Portuguesetraders and their Christian priests."

  The perimeter of the compound reserved for Jadar and his _zenana _wasclearly visible now, towering above the center of the camp. It wasbordered by a ten-foot-high wall of billowing red chintz, decoratedwith a white hem at the top and held up with gilded poles spaced nomore than two feet apart. Spreading out around it were clusters ofsmaller tents--red and white striped cloth for noblemen, and onesidedlean-to shelters ranging from brocade to ragged blankets for theirtroops.

  "The prince asked that we all ride directly to the _gulal bar_, hispersonal compound," Vasant Rao shouted back over his shoulder atHawksworth. "I think he'll particularly want to see you, Captain."

  Cheers erupted as they entered the camp. Tents emptied and infantrymenlined the sides of the wide avenue leading to Jadar's compound, beatingtheir swords against their leather shields. As Hawksworth studied theforest of flying standards spreading out on either side, he suddenlyrealized that each _mansabdar _nobleman was flying his own insigniaabove his cluster of tents.

  Ahead, rising upward from the center of Jadar's compound, was a polesome fifty feet high with a huge vessel of burning oil secured on itstip. Hawksworth examined the flame with astonishment, then drew hishorse alongside Vasant Rao's.

  "Why's there a light in the middle of the camp? It can be seen formiles?"

  "That's called the _akas-diya_, Captain, the Light of Heaven. It's theGreat Camp Light and it's used by everyone to keep their bearings atnight. How else could a man find his tent? There are probably fiftythousand men here, with their women and servants. In the evenings,after all the cow-dung fires are lighted for cooking, it's so smokyhere you can't see your own tent till you're practically in it."

  "This camp's a town almost the size of London. How do the people live?"

  "The camp bazaar travels with us, Captain. But you're right. It is acity; merely one that moves." He gestured around them. "The prince ofcourse has his own personal supplies, but everyone else must shift forhimself. See those small tents on the street over there, between thosetwo high poles bearing standards. That's one of the bazaars for the_banyas_, Hindu merchants who follow the army and sell grain, oil,_ghee_, rice, _dal_, everything you'd find in any town. They feed themen. The horses are fed by sending servants out to gather fodder. Theycut grass and bring it back on camels, or baggage ponies, or even ontheir own head. On a long campaign many of the men bring their women,to cook and carry water. The women have to bring water from any wellsor streams nearby." He laughed. "Incidentally, I should warn you theprices these _banyas _ask are as inflated as the market will bear."

  "For once I can't fault the merchants. They may well be out of buyerssoon."

  Vasant Rao snorted and whipped his horse ahead. They were approachingthe entry to Jadar's compound, a wide silk awning with the prince'sbanners flying from atop its posts. On either side stood rows of ornatered tents with yellow fringe along the eaves. As Hawksworth rode by, henoticed
a high open tent on the left holding caged hunting leopards.Next to it stood a massive canopy, surrounded by guards, shelteringlight artillery. He squinted against the sun to look inside and caughta glimpse of several dozen small-bore cannon mounted on carriages. Healso noticed swivel guns fitted with a harness on their base, obviouslyintended to be mounted atop elephants or camels. In the center wereseveral stacks of long-barreled Indian muskets wrapped in cloth. Thelast tent on the left, adjacent to the gate, sheltered several gildedpalanquins and a row of immaculate bullock carts for Jadar's _zenana_women.

  On the opposite side of the avenue was a row of stables for elephants,camels, and horses. Turbaned grooms were busy brushing the animals andfitting harness. Next to the stables were quarters for the animals'superintendents.

  "Does all this belong to Jadar?"

  "These are for the prince, his women, and guards. Each nobleman alsohas his own stables and light artillery. The top command is split threeways: with separate field commanders for the Rajputs, for the Muslims,for the men of Moghul descent." Vasant Rao smiled reflectively. "It'salways wisest not to mix. For one thing, each needs its own bazaar; noRajput would eat food handled by an untouchable Muslim."

  Their horses drew into the shade of the awning above the entrance tothe gulal bar. Vasant Rao and the other Rajputs reined in their mountsand began to dismount.

  "This is the _naqqara-khana_, Captain Hawksworth, the entry to HisHighness' private compound." Vasant Rao waved toward the red awning."Come. You'll be welcomed warmly by the prince, I promise you. I knowhe'd hoped you'd join him."

  Hawksworth swung down from his dark mare and stroked her one last time,wiping away the lather around the saddle. Then he turned to help Shirinalight. She leaned over and dropped into his arms, the sweat ofexhaustion mingled with her perfume.

  Grooms from Jadar's stables were already waiting. As they took thehorses, the leader of the Rajput riders shouted staccato orders to themin Urdu, the lingua franca of the camp, then turned and dismissed hismen, who immediately swaggered into the gathering crowd to embrace oldacquaintances.

  "His Highness is expecting you." Vasant Rao smiled and bowed lightly tothe Rajput commander, who was tan and beardless save for a smallmoustache, with a white skirt, a small turban of braided gold cloth,and a velvet-sheathed katar in a red waist sash. The Rajput nodded,then adjusted his turban and retrieved a tightly wrapped brocade bundlefrom behind his saddle. As he led the way through the _naqqara-khana_,Vasant Rao turned and motioned for Hawksworth and Shirin to follow.

  Jadar's guards directed them along a pathway of carpets leading throughthe outer barbican. Ahead was another gate, decorated with stripedchintz and sealed with a hanging tapestry. As they approached it, theguards swept the tapestry aside and ushered them through.

  The second compound was floored entirely with carpets and in its centerstood an open, satin canopy held aloft by four gilded poles. The canopyshaded a rich Persian carpet and a throne fashioned from velvetbolsters. Several men with shoulder-high kettledrums and long brasstrumpets were waiting nearby.

  As Hawksworth watched, two eunuchs emerged through a curtain at the fargate and lifted it high. While a fanfare of drums and trumpets filledthe air, Prince Jadar strolled jauntily through the entryway, alone.

  He was dressed formally, with an elaborate silk cloak in pastel blueand a jeweled turban that reminded Hawksworth of the one worn by theMoghul himself. The brocade sash at his waist held a heavy katar with aruby on each side of the handle. His beard was close-trimmed, accentinghis dark eyes. Nothing about him suggested the appearance of a manfacing impending defeat.

  "Nimaste, Mahdu, my old friend." Jadar walked directly to the Rajputcommander, grasped the man's turban and pressed it to his own breast."How long since we sat together and ate your Udaipur _lapsi _from thesame dish?"

  "The New Year's festival of _diwali _two years past, Highness. In mybrother's palace. And I wore the gold cloak you gave me in honor of thetreaty between your armies and his, five years before."

  "And tonight we will dine together again." He smiled. "If my cooks canfind enough cane-juice _gur _in all the bazaars to sweeten your_lapsi_."

  "Seeing you again, Highness, sweetens my tongue already." He bowed andproduced the brocade bundle. "My brother, the _maharana_, sends thisunworthy token, together with his prayers for your victory."

  A eunuch stepped forward and brought it to Jadar. When the princeopened the wrapping, a scabbard holding a jewel-handled sword glistenedin the mid morning light.

  "He does me honor. A Rajput blade knows its friends and its foes."Jadar smiled as he brushed the sword handle. Next he drew out the bladeand tested its edge with his finger. The Rajput watched as Jadarsheathed the sword, then lifted the ruby-studded katar from his ownbelt. "To honor him, I grant his brother my own katar. May its bladesoon be crimson with the blood of his foes."

  The Rajput bowed as he received the knife. Jadar admired his new sworda moment longer, then continued. "How many of our friends rode westwith you?"

  "Half a thousand, Highness. More would have joined us now, but Ithought it unwise. Your Highness will understand why. But those who didcome I picked carefully. Twenty officers of superior class, and therest first and second class."

  "The eunuchs watched your banners enter the camp. I've already heardsome of the names." The prince's voice rose. "I think you've gutted theRajput field command in the Imperial army."

  "Not entirely, Highness."

  "Ah, but I know you did." Jadar smiled and leaned forward, dropping hisvoice again and switching from Turki to Rajasthani. "The tent poleshere can repeat my words." He drew himself erect again and signaled fora tray of pan leaves from the eunuchs. "A tent has been prepared foryou. Tonight we will dine again from the same dish and you can tell mehow many white-necked cranes you bagged on Pichola Lake last winter."

  The Rajput clasped his hands together and bowed lightly before taking apan leaf. "Tonight, Highness."

  As Mahdu marched regally back through the entryway, Jadar turned andstudied Shirin thoughtfully for a moment. Then he motioned her forwardand smiled toward Vasant Rao. "And who else did you bring? Yet anotherold friend?"

  Shirin salaamed lightly. "I thank Your Highness for still rememberingme."

  "I remember you very well. But the last I'd heard, Janahara had orderedyou imprisoned. I'm astonished to see you still alive."

  "I was released by Arangbar, Highness, after Samad was executed." Shetried unsuccessfully to diguise the fatigue in her voice. "I still donot know why."

  "Perhaps it was his weakness for beauty." Jadar smiled. "But just now Ithink you need rest. Mumtaz has asked me to invite you to stay with herin the _zenana_."

  "Shirin stays with me." Hawksworth heard his own voice, abruptly risingabove his exhaustion.

  Jadar turned and studied him for a moment, then laughed out loud."Suddenly I understand many, many things. Mumtaz was right after all.Why is it women always seem to see these things so clearly?" His gazeswept Hawksworth's tattered jerkin. "Well? How are you, CaptainHawksworth? Still alive, I see, just as I foretold. And still thefashionable English ambassador."

  "There is no other. Unfortunately, however, my mission was not acomplete success."

  "First, India must have a just rule. Then trade can be conducted withan even hand." Jadar leaned back on his bolster. "Tell me, Captain,have you seen enough of Agra and court intrigue to rethink the matterwe once discussed?"

  "I've probably seen all of Agra I'll ever see." Hawksworth fixed Jadarsquarely. "But then I'll have much company."

  Jadar sobered and regarded Hawksworth a moment in silence.

  "I see time still has not mellowed you. Or taught you very much. Do youunderstand anything at all of land tactics, Sea Captain Hawksworth?"

  "I've never claimed to. But I can count infantry."

  Jadar laughed again. "You still amuse me, Captain. I'll never know why.It saddens me there'll be so few occasions for us to pass the timetogether during the next few days. But at
least let me show you aroundmy compound. You'll see the next Moghul of India does not campaignentirely like a destitute Arab."

  "Why don't we start with your fortifications?"

  Jadar roared as he lifted nimbly from his bolster throne and walkedinto the sunshine. Then he paused and turned to Shirin. "Join us if youwish. And by the way, where've you decided to stay?"

  Shirin looked at Hawksworth for a moment, and their eyes locked. Thenhe saw a smile flicker across her face. "I'll stay with the Englishambassador, Highness."

  "As you wish." Jadar's tone was wistful. "I no longer try to reasonwith the mind of a woman. But just let me caution you. If you stayamong the Muslims here, their women will spit on you unless you put ona veil. They've never heard of Persia."

  "Then we'll stay with the Rajputs." Shirin tossed her head and followedalong as Jadar led them through a side exit in the interior chintz walland into the outer perimeter of the compound. The kettledrums thunderedJadar's exit.

  "This side is for food, Captain." Jadar gestured toward a

  row of ornate tents that lined the inside of the chintz walls. "Thefirst is for fruit and melons. No man can campaign without them,particularly if he has a hungry _zenana_. The tent over there is formaking _sharbat_, and that one is for keeping betel leaves to make_pan_." Jadar smiled. "Try denying a woman her betel and you'll havenothing but squabbles." He led them on, pointing, as he walked. "Thelarge tent there is the kitchen, the one beyond it the bakery, and theone past that for grinding spices."

  Hawksworth found himself astonished. Who could lead an army amid suchextravagance? The tents were all red satin, with gilded poles aroundthe outside, giving them the appearance of luxurious pavilions. Some,like the one for fruits and melons, were raised on a platform above theground, while others were two-story, with an interior stair. As hewatched the servants scurry from tent to tent bearing silver trays, hefound it difficult to remember a war was looming.

  "You'll soon discover traveling with women is always burdensome,Captain. For example, on the other side of the _gulal bar _I've had toerect a special tent just for their perfumes, another for theirtailors, another to hold their wardrobes. Then there's a tent formattresses, one for basins, and one for lamps and oil. These women rulemy life. The things I really need--workshops, guardhouses, my arsenal--I've had to situate back behind the _zenana_, near where theservingwomen stay." Jadar paused, his eyes gleaming mischievously."Well, what do you think?"

  "I think an army camp should have fewer women and more men."

  Jadar laughed and looked pointedly at Shirin. "But what is life withoutwomen, Captain?"

  "Wives don't travel with an army in Europe."

  "Then Europe could learn something from India."

  "About fighting or about women?"

  "Before you're through you may learn a few thing about both." Jadarturned and started back down the row of tents. "War here is verydifferent from wars on the seas, Captain. You should see my men fightbefore you judge them. But my question now is whether you know how tofight well enough to be of any help. Tell me, can you handle a bow?"

  "Armies don't use bows in England any more. I've certainly never usedone. I think the last time bows were issued for battle was back aroundthe time of the Spanish Armada, about thirty years ago. Some of thelocal forces in Devonshire equipped eight hundred men with longbows."

  Jadar paused uncertainly. "What do you mean by 'longbow'?"

  "It's a bow about five feet in length. The best ones are made of yew,but they're also made from ash and elm."

  "You mean your bows are made entirely from wood?" Jadar's voicebetrayed his skepticism. "What weight did they pull?"

  "I don't know exactly, but they were powerful enough. You can draw alongbow all the way back to your ear. During the time of King Harry itwas forbidden to practice with a longbow using a range less than a fullfurlong. The English longbow drove the crossbow right out of Europe.I've heard it said a longbow can pierce a four-inch-thick oak door."

  "But you don't use them now?"

  "We prefer muskets."

  He seemed to ponder the answer as he led them back into his carpetedreception area. He took his place beneath the canopy, then turned toHawksworth.

  "We use muskets too. But frankly they're often more trouble thanthey're worth. They're cumbersome and inaccurate, and while you'rereloading and priming your matchlock a Rajput archer will put half adozen arrows through you. Infantry here normally is one-third matchlockmen and two-thirds archers. If you're going to be any help to us,Captain, you'll need to learn to use a bow."

  Jadar stopped and turned to look at Shirin. Her eyes were flutteringwith fatigue. "But I forget my manners. You must have some rest whilewe teach the _feringhi _how to fight. Perhaps the best thing would beto clear a tent for you at the rear of the _gulal bar_, near theworkshops. And the English captain can stay there too," Jadar laughed."So I can watch him practice his bow." He glanced back at Hawksworthand his eyes froze on the pearl earring. "I see you're a _khan_ now, aswell as an ambassador. Congratulations. If Arangbar can make you a_khan_, I can surely make you an archer."

  Jadar motioned to the eunuchs, who came forward and escorted Shirinthrough the rear doorway of the compound. Hawksworth was watching herleave, praying for sleep himself, when Jadar's voice brought him back.

  "Let me begin by explaining our Indian bow to you, Captain. I thinkit's probably quite different from the English bow you described."Jadar turned to Vasant Rao and motioned toward his quiver, a flatleather case hanging from a strap over one shoulder. It was coveredwith gold embossing and held both his bow and his arrows. "You know wehave a proverb: the sword is better than the katar, the spear is betterthan the sword; the arrow better than the spear. I've heard Muslimsclaim the bow and arrow were first given to Adam by the archangelGabriel." Jadar paused while Vasant Rao took out his bow and passed itover. "Now, the first thing you need to learn is how to string this.It's more difficult than you might suppose, since a bow is reflexed,curved back around the opposite way when unstrung. It's stressedagainst the strung position to give it more weight on the pull." Jadarexamined the bow for a moment. "In fact, you can tell how much use abow has had by the way it's bent when unstrung. The original curve inthis bow is almost gone, which means it's had a lot of use. Here holdit for a moment."

  Hawksworth grasped the bow in his hand. It was some four feet long,shaped in a wide curve with the ends bent back. The grip was velvet,with a gold-embossed design on the inner side.

  "You say your English bows are made of wood, but I find that difficultto believe. This one is a composite, a mango-wood core with strips ofbuffalo horn glued over the outside. And the outer curve is lined withcatgut to give it even more force. That's why this bow had to be sealedon the outside with leather. We use leather or lacquer to protect theglue from the dampness of the monsoon. The string, by the way, is asilk skein with a crisscross binding at the center."

  "How do you string it?"

  Jadar grinned as he took back the bow. "It's not easy. If you have tostring a bow while riding, you hook one end between the stirrup and theinstep of your foot and brace it backward against your knee. Butusually we bend it over our back." He took the string in his hand andslipped the bow around his waist. Then he flipped it against his backand pulled its free end over his left shoulder, inverting the curve andhooking the string in a single motion. It was done in an instant.

  "There. But I've made it look easier than it is. You should practice.And it would also be well if you could learn to string a bow and shootfrom horseback."

  "Horseback!"

  "All horsemen use a bow."

  "How can you possibly hit anything from horseback?"

  "Practice. A good Rajput archer can shoot as well from horseback asstanding. The Uzbeks shoot better." As Jadar spoke he was extracting aheavy ring from inside his cloak. One side of the ring was a greenemerald, flat and square and half an inch wide.

  "This is a _zihgir_, a bow ring, to protect your thumb when you draw.It
also increases your range."

  He pushed the emerald ring over his thumb, notched an arrow into thestring, and drew it back effortlessly, holding the thin bamboo arrow inposition with a touch of his forefinger. The whole sequence had takenless than a second. Hawksworth found himself staring in admiration.

  "By the way," Jadar turned to Vasant Rao, "show him how you shoot undera shield."

  The Rajput turned to one of Jadar's guards, whose shield was hangingloosely from a shoulder strap. He took the shield and slipped it ontohis wrist. It was circular, a quarter inch thick and about two feet indiameter, and curved like a wide bowl. The front was figured with asilver ensign and in the center were four steel nailheads, whichsecured the handgrips on the back.

  "That shield's one of the best. It's made with cured rhino

  hide and toughened with lacquer. You hold it by those two strapsattached inside, there in the center." Jadar pointed as Vasant Rao heldout the back of the shield. "Notice the straps are large and loose. Sowhen you want to shoot, you can slip your hand through and slide theshield up your wrist, like he's doing now. Then your hand extends outbeyond the rim and you can hold the grip of the bow. But rememberyou'll have no protection when shooting, so you'll learn to shoot fastor you won't live long in a battle. Here, try the shield."

  Hawksworth took the shield and gripped the leather thongs on the back."It's light. How much protection does it give?"

  "A buffalo-hide shield is really only effective against arrows, but arhino-hide shield like this one will usually deflect musket fire. We'llfind a rhino shield for you somewhere." Jadar rose to leave."Incidentally, after seeing how you handle that bow, I think I'd betterassign you to the guards stationed back with the _zenana_. That shouldkeep you well out of the battle. I don't want my first Englishambassador dead just yet." He fingered his long pearl necklace andstudied Hawksworth. "You may be interested to know my reports say theImperial army will reach us in two days. Tomorrow I plan to poison allthe tanks and water wells within twenty _kos _east of here, forcingthem to attack immediately. I hope you'll be ready."

  He turned and was gone.