f the present day. The main facts of the
narrative are, moreover, now easily accessible in the histories of
Elphinstone and innumerable other writers. Such explanations as may
be required to elucidate allusions to the excised portion in the
later chapters of the anthor's work will be found in the notes. The
titles of the chapters which have not been reprinted follow here for
facility of reference.

CHAPTER 38

Aurangzeb and Murad Defeat their Father's Army near Ujain.

CHAPTER 39

Dara Marches in Person against his Brothers, and is Defeated.

CHAPTER 40

Dara Retreats towards Lahore--Is robbed by the Jats--Their Character.

CHAPTER 41

Shah Jahan Imprisoned by his Two Sons, Aurangzeb and Murad.

CHAPTER 42

Aurangzeb Throws off the Mask, Imprisons his Brother Murad, and
Assumes the Government of the Empire.

CHAPTER 43

Aurangzeb Meets Shuja in Bengal and Defeats him, after Pursuing Dara
to the Hyphasis.

CHAPTER 44

Aurangzeb Imprisons his Eldest Son--Shuja and all his Family are
Destroyed.

CHAPTER 45

Second Defeat and Death of Dara, and Imprisonment of his Two Sons.

CHAPTER 46

Death and Character of Amir Jumla,

CHAPTER 47

Reflections on the Preceding History.

The contest for the empire of India here described is very like that
which preceded it, between the sons of Jahangir, in which Shah Jahan
succeeded in destroying all his brothers and nephews; and that which
succeeded it, forty years after,[1] in which Mu'azzam, the second of
the four sons of Aurangzeb, did the same;[2] and it may, like the
rest of Indian history, teach us a few useful lessons. First, we
perceive the advantages of the law of primogeniture, which accustoms
people to consider the right of the eldest son as sacred, and the
conduct of any man who attempts to violate it as criminal. Among
Muhammadans, property, as well real as personal, is divided equally
among the sons;[3] and their Koran, which is their only civil and
criminal, as well as religions, code, makes no provision for the
successions to sovereignty. The death of every sovereign is, in
consequence, followed by a contest between his sons, unless they are
overawed by some paramount power; and he who succeeds in this contest
finds it necessary, for his own security, to put all his brothers and
nephews to death, lest they should be rescued by factions, and made
the cause of future civil wars. But sons, who exercise the powers of
vi