Page:History of Aurangzib (based on original sources) Vol 1.djvu/367

CHAP. XIII.] of that region to the Arabian Sea, and I shall make no objection to it. As soon as the Idolator has been rooted out and the bramble of his tumult has been weeded out of the garden of the empire,—in which work your help and comradeship is necessary,—I shall without the least delay give you leave to go to this territory. As to the truth of this desire I take God and the Prophet as witnesses!"

Aurangzib's confidential officer, Aqil Khan Razi, tells us a few details of the terms of the alliance. "Aurangzib, deeming it politic to be united with Murad, sent him a loving letter begging him to come to him, and making this solemn promise and agreement: (i) One-third of the booty would belong to Murad Bakhsh and two-thirds to Aurangzib. {2) After the conquest of the whole empire, the Panjab, Afghanistan, Kashmir, and Sindh would belong to Murad, who would set up the standard of kingship there, issue coins, and proclaim his own name (khutba) as king."

At last Murad's period of impatient and irksome waiting ended. Early in February, 1658, Aurangzib, then starting from Aurangabad, wrote to him to march out of his province about the time when he himself might be expected to reach