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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    nobles had friendship and affection for him, and wanted him for king, owing to his renown as good soldier and liberal master. Therefore [278] every month he (Aurangzeb) caused the prince’s portrait to be taken, to see if the opium-juice produced any change in his natural complexion, and his face gave any sign of approaching death. But finding Murad Bakhsh’s natural robust- ness overcame the poisonous juice, he made a plan to take his life under the forms of justice. By his death the nobles would be deprived of any idea of, or hope for, another king, and he then made sure of his own permanent dominance. I have already told you (I. 165) how, when Murad Bakhsh was governor of Gujarat province, he took the life of his secretary by a stratagem. Aurangzeb thought this homicide gave a good opening for launching his plot without anyone being able to convict him of injustice or cruelty to a prince so valiant in war, so faithful to his word and oath, so ready in counsel. Privily he sent for the relations of the said secretary, inducing them through a third person to require the life of the prisoner in return for that of their dead relation. They were told that without fail justice would be done, and they would be recompensed in money. Their answer was that since the prince was already ruined they had no desire to stir in past matters. This answer did not please Aurangzeb, for it was one not accordant with his designs, but frustrated his intent. Hitting upon another road, he found out that a cousin of the secretary was still alive, a man ambitious but poor. This man was sent for and the same proposal made, coupled with many promises. This miserable creature accepted the scheme, and went off to lodge a complaint for the death of the secretary, his cousin, at the highest tribunal. The qCizl had already been instructed by Aurangzeb. The petitioner asked for open justice in the sight of all the people, and required the head of Prince Murad Bakhsh in compensation for the death of his cousin. The deceased was a descendant of Muhammad, a Sayyid by birth, against whom Murad Bakhsh’s princely privilege could not be pleaded. The qaz% passed sentence according to the instructions re- ceived, and to execute it the king sent a company of soldiers from his guard with some of his slaves. When they had arrived