Page:Aurangzíb and the Decay of the Mughal Empire.djvu/42

36 fearful of civil war and unfilial ambition, had endeavoured to minimize their jealousy and power for mischief by appointing them Viceroys of provinces as distant as possible from the capital and from each other. Shujá' was away to the east, Governor of Bengal; Aurangzíb was down south in the Deccan; Murád-Bakhsh was in the west, making merry in the capacity of Viceroy of Gújarát. Dárá, the eldest, was assigned the government of Multán and of distant Kábul, but had become so necessary to his father that he deputed his functions to others, and himself remained at Delhi attached to the King's person. Each of the princes behaved more like an independent sovereign than a lieutenant of the Emperor. They had the command of large revenues, which they devoted to the formation of large armies in preparation for the struggle which they knew to be inevitable.

Dárá was apparently the favourite, and as the Emperor grow older his oldest son's influence increased. After the last desperate assault upon Kandahár, the prince had received many marks of his father's regard. He was given the title of Sháh Baland Ikbál, 'Lord of Exalted Fortune,' and invested with a robe of honour studded with diamonds and pearls, said to be worth 50,000 rupees (£5600), and a splendid ruby for his turban, besides other jewels and money to the value of a third of a million. Most significant of all, a golden couch had been placed for him below the imperial throne, and Dárá, alone of all the royal family, was allowed to be seated in the presence of the King. No clearer sign