By the mic'dle of November, 1681, the three armies had arrived at their intended stations. Azim's at Ahmedna gur, alauzum's at Aurungabad, and Aurengzebe himself at Brampore. His plan was to attack the mountains with his land forces, while his fleets should act against the fleet. and coasts of the Mahratta chief. This war is full of petty details, rather than of interesting and important transa. tions. Sambagee continued for a long time either de feat the open measures, or to frustrate the secrac designs of Atirengzebe, till at length, in 1639, he was betrayed into his hands, and murdered in the most barbarous man ner by his orders. Prior to this event, Aurengzebe had commenced hostilities against the kings of Bejapore and Golconda, and he soon reduced these two countries com pletely under his power ; but, notwithstanding these suc cesses, and the death of the Mahratta chief, the mountain ous parts of Baglana were unsubdued, and he expe rienced great difficulty in prosecuting his conquests on the west.
His absence for so long a time in the Decan encouraged the tribes in the north of his empire, particularly the Rajpoots, Patans, and Jats. to take up arms : this was the first time that the Jats appeared otherwise than as banditti. These insurgents, however, were soon and easily quelled; and the emperor appears to have passed the remainder of his reign unmarked by any event of moment. He died in the year 1707, in the 90th year of his age, after a reign of 52 years. Under him, the Mogul empire reached the ut most limits to which it ever attained ; it comprehended the country front the 10th to the 35th degree of latitude, and nearly as many degrees of longitude.
Notwithstanding the ambitious projects in which Au; rengzebe was engaged during a large portion even of his very long reign, he was by no means inattentive to the improvement of his empire, or the comforts of his people. He uniformly, and without solicitation, remitted the taxes in those districts which suffered from a scarcity, inunda tion, or the ravages of war. And during his repeated jour. nies through every part of his immense empire, he care fully noted the farms which were cultivated in the most careful and productive manner; and, as a reward to the farmers, he either remitted or lightened their taxes. He built colleges in all the principal cities of Hindostan, and schools in the inferior towns. He likewise established several public libraries, and gave rewards to learned men. Hospitals, caravanseries, and bridges, were built, and where it was impracticable to build bridges, ferries were established. The administration of justice was impartial; and, though severe and cruel in many of his measures of foreign or general policy, he was by no means so in the in ternal administration of his empire. So averse was he, either from feeling, principle, or policy, to punish crimes with death, that capital punishments were nearly disused during his reign.
His person was by no means remarkable ; nor was his countenance handsome ; but his features were marked with strong expressions of intelligence, and they were by no means disagreeable. His manners were prepossessing and simple, his voice was harmonious, and he was a good orator, and an elegant writer. He was well acquainted with the languages of Arabia and Persia, and he wrote the Mogul tongue, as well as the variou dialects of India, with ease and elegance.
His wealth was immense. Ms revenue exceeded 52,000,0001. sterling, in a coura-r9 where the products of the earth are about four tits.;s as cheap as in England. Even after many years .,t weak government, and both public and private Nadir Shah, when he in vaded India, earrie-a back with him from the royal trea sury of Delhi 80,000,0001. sterling, in gold and jew
els ; most if -tot all of which must have been collected by Aurengzo.e• Yet, notwithstanding the immense wealth se left behind him, the magnificence of his court warm unrivalled, even in the annals of the East. His own asress was simple, except on days of festivals, when he wore cloth of gold and jewels. In the manners and ha bits of his private life he was free from parade and osten tation ; but Ile encouraged magnificence in his nobles, and required it in the governors of his provinces.
He rose every morning at day-break ; and after going into the bath, he spent half an hour at his devotions, and the same time in reading. He then dressed. At seven o'clock he went to the chamber of justice, where he ex pected to meet his judges. Here be heard appeals from such of his subjects as thought themselves aggrieved, and overlooked the last decisions of the courts of law. At this time every person was not only permitted, but en couraged, to approach him. To those who were poor and necessitous he gave money, having always a large sum lying on a bench beside him for that express purpose. If a well-grounded complaint was made against any of his no bles, though they might be men of great influence and consideration, or even his personal friends, they were de prived of their estates, and thus degraded, were obliged to appear daily at the hall of audience, till they were restor ed to their rank and property, by offering full redress and compensation to the injured party ; but if they continued contumacious, they were banished, At nine o'clock, the emperor breakfasted with his family ; after this he ap peared at a balcony facing the great square of his palace. The elephants were now brought out, richly caparisoned, as well as his state horses, to be reviewed before him ;— feats of horsemanship and combats of wild beasts took place. At eleven o'clock he went to the hall or audience, and mounted a throne covered with jewels ; before him all his nobles, in two ranks, were arranged, on rich car pets, when the ambassadors, viceroys, generals, and visit ors, were introduced. Each person, oft. being presented, made an offering ; and, if he was in higli favour, the king received it from his own hand. The ceremonies of intro duction consisted in bowing three times, at three different intervals, on approaching the throne, and the same on re tiring. When a new dignity was conferred on any noble, a dress of state, two elephants, two horses, a camp bed, a sword. warlike lost! 'Intents and ensigns, his patent. and a soot of money, were given him by the emperor. The hall of audience was a most ma4nificent and splendid apart ment ; its roof was of silver ; the rails which divided it front the courts were of gold, and the other rails of sil ver. It opened into a huge square, where Aurengzche reviewed his troops. A second square was occupied by the lower order of nobility ; a third by artizans, who came to exhibit their manufactures, and who received rewards according to their merits ; and a fourth was filled by huntsmen, who presented wild animals and game. The emperor spent two hours in this hall, after which he retir ed to Lis bathing chamber with his officers of state, and regulated the common affairs of the kingdom. Ile spent an :lour at ttble, and in the hot season slept half an hour after dinner. s t four o'clock he appeared in the balcony over the great gat, of the palace, when a mob usually col lected round hint witi•netitions and complaints. Front this he retired to prayers, alm'hence to the bathing.room again, where the vizier and oths.. ministers assembled. The council frequently sat late, his the usual hour for the em peror's retiring was nine o'clock..