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.

    497/512 (page 375)
    with the called-for secrecy, and through the delay they made there was time for the King of Arakan to hear of the plot. He planned the assassination of Shah Shuja‘ and all his adherents, and to this intent called to him his four principal captains, each of whom had three thousand armed men. On these four men he placed great reliance. Each captain with his three thousand men guarded the king for eight consecutive days, and when each had fulfilled his task, it came round to the first one again. To these he issued orders that one morning at daybreak [273] they should all with one accord shout : ‘ Long live the King of Arakan ! Death to Shah Shuja' and all traitors!’ Under cover of this they were to kill everyone. The captains carried out the order of their king, killing everybody they encountered. Upon this news reaching the unfortunate prince Shah Shuja‘, he tried to save his life by getting on his elephant, hoping that he might thereby impose some respect for his person. But it was grievous to see the fury with which the Maghs came on, throwing everything into disorder, with blows and shouts and cries, some saying, ‘ Death to Prince Shah Shuja‘ 1’ others, ‘ Death to his son. Prince Bang 1’ others, ' Slay those traitorous Moguls who fled here from Bengal 1’ Prince Bang was taken prisoner, while Shah Shuja‘ with a few men fled into the jungle. He made liberal use of his bags of jewels and pearls, which he scattered among these savages, attempting by use of these valuables to mitigate the rage of the soldiers and gain a free passage for his flight. But the Maghs paid no heed to his proffered wealth ; they pursued the poor prince like famishing wolves, cutting his body into pieces, stripping it bare, and plun- dering all his valuables. Such was the lamentable end befall- ing Prince Shah Shujab the first who rose against his father, Shahjahan, the first cause of these wars in the Mogul Empire, the occasioner of so many ills, the raiser-up of so many miis- fortunes. Enamoured of his own opinion and a slave of his own ideas, we see him end thus miserably, his field of battle the swamps of Arakan, and his only sepulchre the bellies of wolves and tigers. Prince Bang remained for some time a prisoner, but after- wards he regained his liberty. Owing, however, to his attempting