Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/325

 k

Chap. IV.] REIGN OF AURUNGZEBE. 291

the Rajah of Joodpoor. In the hitter he lioped to find an important coadjutor, ad. ics'j. but wa.s di.sappointed, as the rajah, alter Lalancing interests, was satisfied lie would gain more by giving his adhesion to Aurungzebe. Dara, now at the OarasdiB-

./ o o o Hstere aiid

head of an army of 20,000 men, advanced into Ajmeer, and took uj) a com- tnigkai manding position. He had not occupied it long before Aurungzebe made his appearance. After a cannonade of three days a general assault took ])lace, and Dara saw himself once more defeated and compelled to become a fugitive. A week of incessant toil and hardship brought him to the neighbourhood of Ahmedabad ; but it was to meet a bitter disap[)ointment, for the gates were shut against him. His only resource was a new flight to Cutch, where he arrived with a mere handful of adherents. His altered circiunstances produced a corresponding change in the ruler, who received him so coldly that he resolved to pursue his march to Kandahar. The route brought him to the small terri- tory of Jun, on the east frontiers of Scinde. The chief, who was under great obligations to Dara, received him with much ap])arent kindness, but imme- diately meditated an act of gross treachery, and accomplished it by delivering him up to his enemies. Aurungzebe was so delighted with the news that he celebrated it by ])ublic rejoicings. Both Dara and a son Sepehr, who might have proved etpially dangerous, were his prisoners. The son was foi'thwith confined in the strong castle of Gwalior ; the father was reserved for more barbarous treatment. The form of a trial was given him ; but the charge was not for any offence against the state, but for apostasy from Mahomet{ ism. Absurd and monstrous as the charge was, no difficulty was found in constituting a court which held it proven, and pronounced sentence of death. After a liypocritical show of reluctance, Am'ungzebe confirmed the iniquitous sentence, and Dara was executed.

During these transactions the war with Shuja was vigorouslv prosecuted by si'"j'>8

iT«» " ineftectual

iVlir Jumla, who drove lum from the different strong positions in which he had stmggie. posted himself, and com]ielled him, after a series of struggles, to seek an asylum in Aiacan. The particulars of his subsequent history are not well known. One account is that the ruler of the country, doubtless at the instigation of Aurungzebe, was preparing to detain him as a prisoner, and that Shuja, made aware of his danger, endeavoured to avert it by heading an insuiTCction. I this account is true, he probably ])erishe(l in the attempt to overthrow the Aracan government; but the only thing certain i.s, that neither Shuja nor any member of his family was afterwards heard of The only immediate descendants of Shah Jehan who could now give Aurungzebe any alarm were Murad and liis son, and Soliman Slieko and Sepehr Sheko, the two sons of Dara. They were already within his power, being all prisoners in the fort of Gwalior. Murad was ]>ut to death for a murder alleged to have been committed b^- him when Viceroy of Gujerat. The others quickly disappeared by deaths which Aurungzebe tleclared to be natural, but which were universally believed to have been violent.