Storia do Mogor : or, Mogul India, 1653-1708 / by Niccolao Manucci, Venetian ; tr., with introduction and notes, by William Irvine.

Storia do Mogor, or, Mogul India, 1653-1708 / by Niccolao Manucci, Venetian ; tr., with introduction and notes, by William Irvine.

  • Manucci, Niccolò, 1639-approximately 1717.
Date:
1907-08
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Storia do Mogor, or, Mogul India, 1653-1708 / by Niccolao Manucci, Venetian ; tr., with introduction and notes, by William Irvine. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    465/512 (page 343)
    it ; for I was intimate for a time with the said Fath-numa and other principal men who were present, and the above facts are notorious throughout the Mogul realm. Daler IQian, to whom was made over the right attack, sig- nalled to Darà to have the trenches vacated for his passage with his division of twelve thousand horsemen, all Pathans, in order that he might join Dàrà’s army in conformity with the letter he had written. Darà, ignorant of the intended treachery, ordered him to be allowed a passage through the entrenchments without any opposition. In spite of this, a great many of Dàrà’s men declined to let him through, but Daler Khan made his way past them. At that time Dàrà’s army was busy in repulsing the enemy. Daler Khàn and his men began at once to fall upon those in advance, putting them to the edge of the sword, and continued to do all the harm they could. Dàrà’s army fell into the greatest confusion, and without making any stand or resistance the whole of them took to flight. Thus within less than three hours, the time for which the fighting on both sides lasted, the defeat of Dàrà was accomplished. If Dàrà had foreseen the treachery of Daler Khàn, and had not allowed himself to be deceived by his pretences, there cannot be the slightest doubt that he would have [243] given a great deal of trouble to Aurangzeb. For, although his numbers were fewer, he had a great advantage from the position he had selected. Thus, during the short time that the contest lasted, the army of Aurangzeb had suffered considerable loss ; and, judging from the happy beginning of his defence, Dàrà could promise himself the victory. In that case he would have had renewed hope of Jaswant Singh’s adherence and that of the other rajahs. But just as Fortune inclined benignantly towards Aurangzeb, she equally withdrew from the unlucky Dàrà. Finding his army defeated and hurriedly taking to flight, he himself also devoid of further hope, he resolved to flee, and retire upon the city of Ahmadàbàd, whence he had come. This he did with such precipitation that it was impossible to save his baggage, for Daler Khàn and his men were already going about the camp destroying everything, and the fallen