Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/622

608 her brother, one Chan Chanan, who imputed the death of his son to Mohabat, accused him of high treason; and the accusation getting to the emperor's ears, who was naturally suspicious, he enquired into it, and finding some things which gave colour to the report, forgot the services of that general, and ordered him to court. He went, but with five thousand men to protect him. He was ordered to account, before he presented himself to the emperor, for some part of his conduct; and enraged at the affront, sent his son-in-law to complain of it. But the emperor sent the young man back with great indignity. Determined to secure himself, and to be revenged, Mohabat surprised Jehangire in his tent, took him prisoner; and, though with a show of respect, made him obey his wishes implicitly.

The sultana had made her escape in the mean time; but, Mohabat, who considered her as partly the source of his disgrace, determined to get her in his power. She was the messenger of the disaster to her brother, and consulted with him on the properest means of rescuing the emperor, whose attendants she vehemently accused of negligence and cowardice. The emperor sent them word to desist; but, as he was under the influence of Mohabat, who still held him prisoner, they did not think themselves obliged to obey. They had to fight the enemy, at a great disadvantage. The sultana was not a tame spectator of the battle. Mounted on an elephant, she plunged into the stream with her daughter by hex side. The young lady was wounded in the arm; but her mother pressed forward. Three of her elephant drivers were successively killed; and the elephant received three wounds in the trunk. She, in the mean time, emptied four quivers of arrows on the enemy, whose soldiers pressed into the stream to seize her;