Page:History of Aurangzib (based on original sources) Vol 1.djvu/273

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CHAP. X.]
AURANGZIB A LOSER.
243

presents from Qutb Shah, without mentioning the fact in his despatches or setting their price off from the tribute due. Against this charge Aurangzib indignantly protested that the presents he had received were few and too poor to deserve mention to the Emperor.[1] Further, he complained that Shah Jahan had not kept his promise as to sharing the Golkonda indemnity with him, so that the Viceroy of the Deccan was poorer than before as the result of the war. As a financial speculation, the raid on Haidarabad had proved a failure to Aurangzib. For the last six months his soldiers' pay had been in arrears and he had besides borrowed large sums to equip his force for the war. "At the outset of this expedition, His Majesty had written to me that out of Qutb-ul-mulk's indemnity the jewels and elephants should belong to the Government, and the cash to me. . . . But now the entire Golkonda and financial loss as the result of the war. indemnity has been taken by the Emperor and placed in Daulatabad treasury. How can I repay my debt for the war and the arrears of my army, about 20 lakhs of rupees?"[2] The presents received from Golkonda had, he said, been exaggerated into "chest-loads of jewels" by malicious

  1. Adab, 84b, 85a, 107a & b, 192b.
  2. Adab, 84b, 190a & b.