'Collections of travels through Turky into Persia, and the East Indies. Giving an account of the present state of those countries, as also a full relation of the five years wars, between Aureng-Zebe and his brothers in their father's life time, about the succession. And a voyage made by the Great Mogul (Aureng-Zebe) with his Army from Dehli to Lahor, from Lahor to Bember, and from thence to the Kingdom of Kachemire, by the Mogols, call'd, the Paradise of the Indies. Together with a relation of the Kingdom of Japan and Tunkin, and of their particular manners and trade. To which is added a new description of the Grand Seignior's Seraglio, and also of all the Kingdoms that encompass the Euxine and Caspian Seas, being the travels of Monsieur TavernierBernier, and other great men.' [‎31] (702/1024)

of the Empire of the M O G O L.
frills, and with an infinite number of Pike-men caufeth the Rocks to be cut, and the
Railage to be widen’d. But the Raja King laughs at all that *> neither hath he much caufe
to fear on that fide. Aureng-Zebe may cut long enough, they are Mountains inacceffible
to an Army, and ftones would be fufficient to flop the Forces of four Indoftans j fothat
hewasconftrained to turn back again.
Vara in the mean time approacheth to the Fortrefs of Tatabakar, and when he was
but two or three days journey off, he received News, that Mir-baba, who had long
held it befieged , had at length reduced it to extremity: As I afterwards learned of
our French, and other Frangnis that Were there, a pound of Rice and Meat having
coft there above a Crown, and fo of other Vidfuals in proportion: Yet the Go-
vernour held out j made Sallies, which extreamly incommoded the Enemy j and
fhew’d all poiTible prudence, courage and fidelity * deriding the endeavours of the
General, Mir-baba, and all the menaces and promifes of Aureng-Zebe.
And this alfo I learned afterwards of my Country-men, the French, and of all
thofe other Franguis that were with him i who added , that when he heard Vara
was not far off, he redoubled his liberalities, and knew fo well to gain the hearts of
all his Souldiers, and to encourage them to do bravely, that there was not one of
them, that was not refolved to Tally out upon the Enemy, and to hazard all to raife
the Siege, and to make Vara enter j and that he alfo knew fo well to caft fear and
terrour into the Camp of Mir-baba, by fending Spies about very cunningly to affure
that they had feen approach with great refolution, and very good Forces» that
if he had come, as was believed he would do every moment, the Army of the Ene*
my was for disbanding upon his appearance, and even in part to go over to him. But
he is ftill too unfortunate, to undertake any thing profperoufly. Believing there
fore, that to raife the Siege with fuch an handful of Men as he had, was impoflible j
he did deliberate to pafs the River Induf, and to endeavour to get intoPerfia'i al
though that alfo would have had mighty difficulties and inconveniencies, by reafort
of the Defarts, and the fmall quantity of good waters in thofe parts > befides, that
upon thofe Frontiers there are but mean and Patans, who acknowledge neither
the Perfian nor the Mogol. But his Wife did very much diffwade him from it, for this
weakreafon, that he muft, if he did to, exped to fee his Wife and Daughter Slaves
of the King of Perfia b that that was a thing altogether unworthy of the Grandeur of
his Family, and ’twas better to die, than to undergo this Infamy*
Vara, being in great perplexity, remembred, that there was thereabout a certain
Patan, powerful enough, called Gion-Kan, whofe Life he had formerly faved twice,
when Chah-Jehan had commanded he ftiould be caft under the feet of an Elephant,
for having rebelled divers times: He refolved to go to him, hoping that he could give
him fufficient Succours to raife the Siege of Fatabakar *, making account, that thence
he would take his Treafure, and that going from thence, and gaining Kandahar, he
could caft himfelf into the Kingdom of Caboul, having great hopes of Mokahct-Kan %
who was Governour of itj beeaufe he was both potent and valiant, well beloved of
his Country, and had obtained this Government by his (LWa’s) favour. But his
Grandchild, Sepe-Chebuh, yet but very young , feeing his defign, caft himfelf at his
Feet, intreating him for God’s fake, not to enter into the Country of thatP^/i.
His Wife and Daughter did the fame, remonftrating to him, that he was a Robber,
a revolted Governour, that he would infallibly betray him > that he ought not to ftand
upon the raifing of the Siege, but rather endeavour to gain Caboul, that the thing was
not impoffible, foraftnuch as Mir-baba was not like to quite the Siege to follow him,
and to hinder him from getting thither.
Vara, being carried head-long by the force of his unhappy Deftiny, rejeded this
counfd, and would hearken to nothing of what waspropofed to him, faying, as was
true, that the March would be very difficult, and very dangerous j and maintaining
always, that Gion-Kan would not be fo mean, as to betray him s after all the good he
had done him. He departed, notwithftanding all that could be faid to him, and went
to prove, at the price of his Life, Thatnotruft is to be given to a wicked Man*
This Robber, who at firft believed that he had numerous Troops following him,
gave him the faireft reception that could be, and entertained him with very great
kindnefs and civility in appearance, placing his Souldiers here and there among his
Subje&s, with a ftrift order to treat them well, and to give them what refreffiments
the