immediate advance against 'that presumptuous infidel Jaswant Singh,' promised to join the army of Gújarát on the north of the Narbadá, and ended by invoking 'the Word of God as his bail for this compact.' Still more to the purpose, he sent a lac of rupees[1] as earnest of his sincerity. Aurangzíb's policy was actuated as much perhaps by hatred of Dárá and the dread of his tyranny, as by personal ambition. The eldest Prince had used his influence with Sháh-Jahán to thwart his brother's plans in the Deccan, had restricted his powers, countermanded his campaigns, and placed the Persian Jumla, formerly a distinguished officer of the King of Golkonda, in supreme command of the army of the south. Fortunately for Aurangzíb, the Amír showed himself devoted to his cause, and allowed the Prince to lead the whole Deccan army to meet the imperial host.
At the end of March, 1658, Aurangzíb left Burhánpúr on his progress to the capital. His younger brother joined him near the Narbadá, and towards the close of April the combined forces came upon the enemy near Dharmátpúr in the territory of Ujjain. The invalid Emperor at Agra had sent repeated messages to Aurangzíb, assuring him of his convalescence, and commanding him to retire to his government in the south. But the brothers knew it was too late to go back; they pretended, or perhaps really
- ↑ The rupee at that time was worth 2s. 3d. The lac (lakh) is 100,000 rupees (£11,250), and the crore (karór) 100 lacs, or 10,000,000 rupees (£1,125,000).
