Jahán never left the fortress of Agra. during the seven years of life that remained to him. At first a bitter correspondence widened the breach between the captive and his jailor, and Sháh-Jahán had the baseness to try to corrupt Prince Muhammad and induce him to raise his standard against his father. But the Prince knew Aurangzíb, and did not feel sure of his grandfather, so the experiment failed. After this Sháh-Jahán became gradually more reconciled to his captivity, and Aurangzíb did all that was possible to mitigate his distress. He was allowed every enjoyment that his sensuous nature demanded, loaded with presents, and supplied with such amusements as most entertained him. His daughter, the Begam Sáhib, and all his numerous women, kept him company. Cooks skilfully ministered to his appetite, and dancers and singing girls enlivened his senile revels. Like many another aged voluptuary, he became wondrously devout at times, and holy Mullas came and read the blessed Korán to him. Bernier, who disliked Aurangzíb, says that the indulgence and respect he showed to his captive father were exemplary. He consulted him like an oracle, and there was nothing he would not give him, except liberty. The two became partly reconciled, and the father bestowed his blessing and forgiveness on the son: but they never met. Sháh-Jahán died[1] at the beginning of 1666 at the age of
- ↑ There is no foundation for Mr. Talboys Wheeler's story of the Emperor's having been poisoned by Aurangzíb, except the insinuations of Catrou, whose evidence deserves little credit. It is incon-
