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.

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    A BLOODY PRESENT When Aurangzeb learnt that the head of Darà had arrived, he ordered it to be brought to him in the garden on a dish, with the face cleaned of the blood on the surface and a turban on the head [259]. He called for lights to be brought so that he might see the mark borne by the prince on his forehead, and might make sure that it was the head of Darà, and not that of another person. After he had satisfied himself, he told them to put it on the ground, and gave it three thrusts in the face with the sword he carried by way of staff, saying, ‘ Behold the face of a would-be king and emperor of all the Mogul realms. Take him out of my sight. He gave secret orders to place it in a box, to be sent by runners to the eunuch Atbar can (Ttibàr Khàn), who had charge of Shàhjahàn’s prison, with orders to deliver it to him (Shàhjahàn) when seated at table. It was to be offered in his name as a plat. This was planned by Aurangzeb with great glee, to avenge himself for the love lavished on Dàrà and the little account made of himself. It was as if he said: ‘ Now has your love come to an end ; he that was despised is lord of the empire, and the favourite gone down into death.’ After the head had been sent off, Aurangzeb ordered the interment of Prince Dàrà’s body in the sepulchre of the Emperor Humayun. On that night Roshan Ara Begam gave a great feast. On receipt of Aurangzeb’s orders, Ptibar Khan, to comply with them, waited until the hour when Shàhjahàn had sat down to dinner. When he had begun to eat, Ptibar Khan entered with the box and laid it before the unhappy father, saying : ‘ King Aurangzeb, your son, sends this plat to your majesty, to let him see that he does not forget him.’ The old emperor said : ‘ Blessed be God that my son still remembers me.’ The box having been placed upon the table, he ordered it with great eagerness to be opened. Suddenly, on withdrawing the lid, he discovered the face of Prince Dàrà. Horrified, he uttered one cry and fell on his hands and face upon the table, and, striking against the golden vessels, broke some of his teeth and lay there 1 In Sloane MS., No. 8ii, fol. 14a, it is said that, on Dàrà’s head being brought to him, Aurangzeb stamped on the face, when ‘ the head laft a long ha, ha, ha! in the hearing of all, I, J. Cambell, present,’