After he had sent us away Dara set out for the port of Sindi by land, ordering all the boats to assemble at that place for his departure. Having reached the vicinity of that port, he used all the boats found there to cross the river to the town of Sindi. When he got over, he ordered all the boats that could be found to be collected, so that by this means he might hinder the passage of the enemy then in his pursuit. 7
[Dara finally reached Gujarat, and took possession of the chief city, Ahmadabad.]
While Dara was renewing his strength in the province of Gujarat, the enemy began a most vigorous investment of Bhakkar fort, where we were shut up along with the loyal and valiant eunuch Primavera. No one could get out, no one could enter. This fortress is in the middle of the mighty river Sindi (Indus), founded upon the live rock, stones from which could be used as flints for muskets. The fortress was nine hundred and seventy-five paces long, and five hundred and fifty-three broad. In the middle was a " cavalier" (tower) overlooking both banks of the river. On the east was a large town called Xaquer (Sakkar), and on the west another called Rori; at a short distance from the fort, towards the north, was a little island known as Coia Quitan (Khwajah Khidr), where is a tomb held in great veneration by the Moors (i.e. Mahomedans).
We were very well fortified, provided with plenty of artillery and munitions of war, and had a considerable store of gold and silver, precious stones, and a great deal of baggage. In addition to this, Dara left some ladies who had accompanied him, one wife of Sulaiman Shukoh, and two young sons much cherished by Dara as being his grandsons. His plan was that if he did not succeed in the province of Gujarat and suffered defeat, this fortress of Bhakkar would serve as a base to help him again.
After a few days of investment the enemy prepared two batteries mounted with cannon, left behind by Dara in the foundry at Lahor, he not being able to move them owing to the hurry with which we started, and the enemy leaving us no chance of putting them on the boats. With these they did us a good deal of damage. Be it known to the reader, that those seven rivers of whose junction I spoke did not touch the sides of the fortress for more than a pistol-shot on the west and two musket-shots on the east, because they
flowed between rocks and hills. Thus the enemy gave us trouble enough ; nor did we desist from doing our duty with our guns, dismounting his artillery, damaging the towns, and killing a number of men. Several times we made sallies under cover of our artillery, swarming into their trenches, killing and destroying all we found there. Once we captured four field pieces and a quantity of baggage lying close by them. Thus the traitor Khaltlullah Khan, at whose cost the investment was conducted, was forced to send more men against us. Regardless of these reinforcements, the commandant, Primavera, sent off before daybreak some boats with musketeers, who delivered attacks at various points and alarmed the enemy. They went on increasing the investing force until the place was evacuated, as farther on I shall relate.
When Aurangzeb received the news that Dara was busy raising a new army in the province of Gujarat, he did not turn aside to attack him. It was more urgent to hinder Shah Shuja* from reaching Agrah. But he was much concerned on learning that Sulaiman Shukoh, by favour of the Rajah of Srinagar, was making ready to descend from the mountains ; and aided by the said Rajah, at the head of a considerable force, hoped to avenge himself for what had happened to his father (Dara) and himself. Aurangzeb, therefore, wrote a letter, giving many promises to the said Rajah, and also caused others to be written by different rajahs, chief among them being Rajah Jai Singh, asking the Srinagar rajah to dissemble, and suggesting that by the use of certain arguments he should force the poor prince to remain quiet in those mountains.
In that fortress (i.e. Bhakkar) we remained, under continual assaults, defending ourselves boldly. In spite of all their efforts, the enemy were unable by force of arms to overcome us. Therefore they planned a means of getting the European artillerymen to withdraw from the fortress, and to this end they shot arrows to which letters were attached. These invited
88 PRIMAVERA AND KHALILULLAH KHAN
us to abandon the service of Dara and evacuate the place. One of these arrows hit me on the shoulder when I was sitting in my bastion at eight o'clock at night. Withdrawing the arrow, I went with it at once, wounded as I was, to the eunuch. He gave me a robe (sarapa) and some bottles of rose-water in recognition of my fidelity.
Since Aurangzeb had strongly enjoined on Khalt-lullah Khan that he must reduce the place in one way or another, and as he saw that he could not do so by force of arms, he had recourse to many letters containing promises to our eunuch Primavera (Basant) that if he gave over the fortress his demands would be gratified. Enraged at length at the receipt of so many letters, the eunuch wrote to Khalllullah Khan that if he would come in person he would enter into the desired agreement; he meant to surrender the place, as he perceived that Dara's affairs were in a very bad way. Khalilullah Khan received this letter with great delight, fancying he was about to accomplish great things for Aurangzeb, who was so keen on acquiring the place. He started from Lahor with the remainder of his army to bring to a conclusion the anxiously desired surrender. On his arrival a truce was made between the two sides. Khalilullah Khan wrote to the eunuch a letter full of civilities, displaying the great results to be gained by making over the stronghold, whereby he would be taken into favour by Aurangzeb ; in fact, in so delivering it, he would find the only way to fortune.
Primavera the eunuch was quite rejoiced at the arrival of Khalilullah Khan, and decided on giving him a reply. With this idea he sent for me, and ordered me to load with horns and old shoes the cannon nearest to the garden where Khalilullah Khan had encamped. It was charged thus up to the very muzzle. The answer was after this wise : " I hold few words with you, for I am greatly amazed at you, and I hope to supply your want, having been all your life a pimp
DEPARTURE OF KHALILULLAH KHAN 89
and used to shoe beatings from women. Herewith what you deserve, I offer you a present proportioned to your merits." The letter went on with more abuse, which I will not insert. Closing it he ordered it to be handed to Khalilullah Khan. The eunuch watched for the arrival of the boat at the garden, which was not far from the fortress ; and when it seemed that Khalilullah Khan must be perusing the letter, he ordered us to fire off the cannon, and we covered Khalilullah Khan's tent with the charge it contained.
The traitor was thereby much shamed and discomfited, not knowing how to hide the affront. The following night, when we were off our guard, he suddenly ordered a discharge of all his artillery and musketry, which was a complete surprise to us, and the shot fell all over the fortress. I assert without exaggeration that a pole on which we had a small flag was pierced by three balls. But our eunuch would not pass over such-like bravado, and the next night he suddenly ordered us to fire all our guns and musketry, and discharge a number of iron bombs to show that we had ample munitions of war. This took place at eight o'clock. To prove to him still better that we were not afraid, he ordered a number of vessels of artificial fire to be set alight, so that it was as clear as day. Thereupon Khalilullah Khan, finding that he could not succeed, turned his face, discomfited, towards Lahor, and left us invested as before.
Forty days after the departure of Khalilullah Khan, we saw one morning a numerous force pass over the river from west to east at some distance from the fortress. Our artillery began to pound them as hard as it could. At this moment a horseman appeared on the river bank with a small white flag displayed. At once the eunuch gave an order for a small boat to fetch the horseman. On his entering the fortress he delivered a letter to the eunuch, and proclaimed loudly thus : " I demand on behalf of Aurangzeb that you surrender this stronghold, since we are carrying with us in this 7*
90 DARA ORDERS PRIMAVERA TO SURRENDER
army the Prince Dara, whom we have a prisoner." Hearing this sad and unexpected news, we were all cast down, and dropped our arms. The eunuch told the horseman he could not make over the place without the ord
er of his prince, the Lord Dara, from whom he had received charge. The messenger went away with this answer.
Before he had reached the farther bank, we saw coming seven boats full of armed men carrying a number of flags. Their officer was called Chegatcan (? Chaghatae Khan), an Dzbak by race : he was nighty elated, as if entering in triumph into his own house. I gave an order to my men to get their guns read} r , and some pieces with grape (varrer, literally, "to sweep with a broom "). When they had already got near, we gave them a round from the artillery, which did a good deal of damage, both to the boats and to the men. After that the} 7 retreated, while our artillery went on firing.
Seeing how resolute we were, Bahadur Khan repaired to Prince Dara, and requested him to order the eunuch to surrender the stronghold, since, the garrison being firm in their resistance, in all probability the whole of them would come to a miserable end within the fortress. On hearing this, Dara had compassion upon his eunuch and upon us, and wrote a note with his own hand, stating: " Unfortunate in the one for whom you fought, I now request and require you to deliver up the place."
When the eunuch Primavera (Basant) saw the letter, he recognised the writing and began to weep bitterly. He wrote to Bahadur Khan that we demanded to come out with our baggage, and if he did not consent, we would fling the cannon and treasure into the river, and fight to the death with all desperation. Bahadur Khan sent back an assurance that we could leave with our baggage, but must make over the treasure, the princes, and all the materiel appertaining to the fortress. One condition was imposed: we
' EVACUATION OF BHAKKAR 91
must cross over to the west of the river, then eight days after he had marched we could take the road to Dihli. He made this condition because he feared we might enter his camp, and do our utmost to rescue Dara. After three days we issued from the fort in which we had endured so much. For, two days before the evacuation, I bought two calves for six hundred rupees, and paid one rupee for every ounce of butter. Without exaggerating, I bought one chicken for thirteen rupees.
The army of Bahadur Khan passed out of sight of Bhakkar with their princely prisoner.
Now I deal with our departure from Bhakkar. After surrendering the fortress we made over the treasure and the unhappy princes, the little sons of Sulaiman Shukoh, of whom nothing more was ever heard, and it seems as if, by order of Aurangzeb, they were got rid of within the fortress. After fifteen days the eunuch and all the people in the fort embarked in some boats, and we voyaged "by the river to Multan against the stream, but with a favourable wind. In four-and-twenty days we reached the said city, then governed by Lascar Can (Lashkar Khan). He sent an invitation to our eunuch to honour him by dining at his house. But the eunuch replied that he would have liked it much, but the haste he was in did not allow of his accepting. He suspected some treachery, and it seems as if his heart gave him a presage of what was to befall him, as 1 shall relate.
At this city of Multan we provisioned ourselves for* a start by land to the city of Dihli, distant five-and-twenty days' journey. One day a Portuguese, by name Agostinho Bias, begged me to abandon the company of the eunuch, because he knew of a certainty that there existed an order of Aurangzeb for his seizure and execution. We quitted Multan, and in ten days reached the city of Lahor, then governed by Khaltlullah Khan. Our eunuch settled himself in a house of his own, which was on the river bank. His
men scattered in various directions, there not being enough room in the said house. We Europeans were at a distance of half a mile from Primavera (Basant).
On the third day after our arrival he (Basant) sent for me, but I did not go, as it was already evening. By another messenger he told me to come to him very early in the morning. At daybreak I mounted my horse, and on the road 1 met a former servant of mine called Delavar (Dilawar), who asked me where I was going. I replied that I was going to the eunuch's house. At this he fell into a fright, and said that for God's sake I must not go. For everybody said that the eunuch would most certainly be killed on that day, and I could easily notice the changes in the city, the soldiers and troopers being posted at so many places. He demanded with much insistence that I should turn back; and reflecting a little, I remembered the advice of Agostinho Bias. In spite of this the love and gratitude I felt for the eunuch impelled me to go to his house without considering the danger.
Pricking on my steed, I shortly reached the house. Going within I sat down by Khojah Basant, finding him somewhat perturbed, and a few only in his company. He said to me softly that he had something to say to me. At this moment there appeared in the distance several bodies of horse with banners displayed. All of a sudden there came a horseman to the eunuch, and, addressing him politely, said: " Khalilullah Khan sends many compliments to Your Excellency, and intimates that he has received the king's order for Your Excellency to come forthwith into the city, to a house already prepared for you where you may remain in perfect safety!"
With equal civility the eunuch replied : " I am only a passer-by; I go to the royal presence, nor have I anything to do with the city ; I return many thanks for Khalilullah Khan's kindness." The messenger started off with the reply, and the eunuch, seeing the troops that were appearing, became a little frightened.
He asked me if I could produce my men without delay. I replied that there must be some delay, and that they could not arrive in time, owing to their being so far away. At this point the soldiers present in the room, after whispering into each other's ears, rose one by one and went out. I remained seated along with ten persons, who were house servants, and, foreseeing the danger, I was anxious to leave, but the pride of a youth devoid of experience hindered me, and I wanted to see the end of it and what would happen.
Then came another message like the first, but more urgent, with this detail: that if he did not give heed to it, he ran in danger of his life. But the eunuch gave the same answer, and the infantry and cavalry continued to draw in nearer. During this time the eunuch was looking on calmly at all that was taking place outside, for the place where we were was a little elevated, with a view of the river sands. It had the shade of some great trees, and was enclosed all round with a low wall. On the bank of the river, near the wall and below our position, stood a relation of the eunuch Primavera (Basant) on horseback, lance in rest, waiting to give up his life if need arose.
When a third message came with greater urgency, begging the eunuch for God's sake to come into the fort in obedience to the king's orders, adding the intimation that it was his last warning, he answered not at all.
We saw the messenger start off at a run, and it was no joking matter, for the cavalry continued to advance, and drawing their swords shouted to the messenger, who heard not through the uproar that had already arisen. The house was encircled by a number of infantry, while on the river sands several squadrons rode from different directions, discharging arrows that fell like rain in the place where we were. The cavalier related to the eunuch, finding that the thing was serious, began to skirmish, pushing his horse at
those squadrons, with his lance at the charge, until he got stuck in a marshy place full of mire, where, unable to move, he was killed by the arrows.
The infantry tried to scale the wall, but we defended ourselves, and prevented them from climbing over. Among others we killed the kotwal's son, whereat being enraged they set upon us with greater fury, and one resolute man leapt over behind the eunuch and at once cut off his head. Primavera (Basant) had been resisting vigorously on the other side. Many more scrambled over, and began to cut down the few of us found here and there. The man that cut off the eunuch's head and some others came against me with great rage, and, seeing that our defence was overcome,
I went straight to them, and throwing my sword on the ground, stepped two paces to the front. Placing myself humbly before them, I lowered my head, and said: " Slay me, slay me," and shutting my eyes I awaited the blow. But finding it did not come, I lifted my head, and saw a soldier of the same troop of the enemy standing between us two. With hands
extended he was begging on behalf of God that they should not kill me. But the other most angrily, his raised sword dripping with blood, ordered him to get out of the way. He who was pleading for me said :
II First kill me, and spare this other." My assailant, seeing the determination of his fellow-soldier, went off to find someone else, and left me alone. He who saved me took me by the hand, and led me away, saying: " Come with me; I want to deliver you, and place you in safety." But I, knowing the instability of the Mahomedans, said to him that as he wanted to kill me he need practise no deception on me. As I was ready for my fate, there was no need to remove me from that place; but if he wanted to kill me he could do it where we were. Seeing what was in my mind, he sheathed his sword, and gave me his word not to hurt me, but at the cost of his life would prevent others doing so, and take me to a place of safety.
A Pepys of Mongul India (1653-1708) Page 10
