pared himself beforehand for such a contingency; he refused either to take Berar or to give up Guzerat.[1] Dara then sent two Imperial armies
under Jaswant Singh and Qasim Khan, the
governors-designate of Malwa and Guzerat, to
bar the path of Aurangzib and expel Murad from
Guzerat. These two forces left Agra on 18th and
26th December. Murad's jagirs in Malwa were
taken away, and Shaista Khan removed from
that province as friendly to Aurangzib. In December, Murad crowned himself and took Surat
Fort by force; and such overt rebellion could
not be left unpunished by the Imperial government. Lastly, Mir Jumla received a formal Imperial letter of recall which it would have been flat rebellion to disregard. Similar letters reached Aurangzib's officers.[2]
The time for action had at last arrived. Further inactivity under these circumstances was impossible if Aurangzib hoped ever to be king or even to live in freedom. His mind was made up. He sent a most flattering letter to Mir Jumla, highly extolling his wisdom, thank-