2
SIYAR-UL-MUTAKHERIN.
tinue of a king, directing him, at the same time, to pursue his journey by long stages, and to push forward without stopping. The order required that he should set out on 17 Zilkad, A.H. 1118
10 February, A.D. 1707. Tuesday the seventeenth of Zilkad, four hours before daybreak. The object of such precise instructions was to place the young prince out of the power of his elder brother Mahomed Aazem. Seven days after, having taken that precaution, he ordered his second son to proceed to his government of Malwa four hours after sunrise, with injunctions to make short stages of about five coss daily, and to halt two days at each stage, so as to march only every third day. In giving such orders, the emperor told him that it was to put it in his power to prevent the disorders that might happen in that country in case of a vacancy of the throne, and moreover that he might be at hand to avail himself of his father's demise, and take possession of his inheritance. But the emperor's real object was to keep so enterprising a prince at a distance from him at that time, and to prevent his availing himself of his feeble state of body to seize and confine him, in the same way as Aurengzib had confined his own father Shahjehan. The prince had proceeded a few stages only when the emperor fell into a state of extreme debility, and having lent an ear to his Maker's summons, he answered it by saying, "I am ready, O Lord,"
10 February, A.D. 1707. Tuesday the seventeenth of Zilkad, four hours before daybreak. The object of such precise instructions was to place the young prince out of the power of his elder brother Mahomed Aazem. Seven days after, having taken that precaution, he ordered his second son to proceed to his government of Malwa four hours after sunrise, with injunctions to make short stages of about five coss daily, and to halt two days at each stage, so as to march only every third day. In giving such orders, the emperor told him that it was to put it in his power to prevent the disorders that might happen in that country in case of a vacancy of the throne, and moreover that he might be at hand to avail himself of his father's demise, and take possession of his inheritance. But the emperor's real object was to keep so enterprising a prince at a distance from him at that time, and to prevent his availing himself of his feeble state of body to seize and confine him, in the same way as Aurengzib had confined his own father Shahjehan. The prince had proceeded a few stages only when the emperor fell into a state of extreme debility, and having lent an ear to his Maker's summons, he answered it by saying, "I am ready, O Lord,"
