Chap. TV] REIGN OF AURUNGZEBE. 299
far greater than the actual gain and loss of the combatants, the conquerors ad. i674. being as much elated as the vanc^uished were disheartened.
While Am'ungzebe was sustaining these losses in the Deccan, his attention insurrec-
tions and
was occupied by disturbances in the north-western provinces. The Afghans, general always restless and troublesome, had for some tune been kept in check by the governor of Cabool, Amin Khan, son and successor of the celebrated Mir Jumla; but in 1670 they defeated him in a pitched battle, and resumed their supe- riority. After various attempts to subdue them, Aurungzebe undertook the war in person, but with very indifferent success, and after the lapse of three years returned to Delhi. To save his honour, he had concluded a very imper- fect arrangement. His return was opportune; for a formidable insurrection, headed by Hindoo devotees, who possessed great influence among their country- men, broke out in the vicinity of the capital. Its importance was at first underrated, and the idea gaining ground that the rebels were rendered invin- cible by enchantment, the Mogul troops could scarcely be brought to face them Ultimately, however, Aurungzebe succeeded in inspiring his Mussulmans with a fanaticism equal to that of the devotees, and the insurgents sustained a signal defeat. The I'eligious form which the insurrection assumed, gave new force to Aurungzebe's bigotry, and he commenced a long course of persecution, with the revival of the odious jezia, or capitation tax on Hindoos. The utmost discon- tent in consequence prevailed ; and in the capital in particular, the streets were so crowded with clamorous suppliants, that one day, finding himself obstructed in proceeding to the mosque, he made way for himself by trampling down the mob with his horses and elephants.
In the provinces the results of this persecuting system were soon manifested, capture of
' _ r to ^ Cliittoor.
The Rajpoots entered into a league for mutual defence, and the whole of the western part of Rajpootana rose in arms. An exterminating war commenced, and raged fm'iously for many years ; but as Aurungzebe's resources far exceeded those of the insurgents, he gradually gained ground, captured the remarkable Rajpoot fortress of Chittoor — situated on a lofty isolated rock, which, rising abruptly from its base, had for additional security been scarped all round to the depth of nearly 100 feet — and by the teiTor of his devastations compelled an external submission from many who continued to hate him in their hearts. In the Deccan, every Hindoo now considering his religion at stake, felt personally interested in the triumph of the ^lahrattas. Sevajee, consequently, continued to prosper. In 1674, when a disputed succession in Bejapoor made conquest easy, he extended his sway over the whole of the Southern Concan, with the exception of a few isolated points ; and beyond the Ghauts pushed his boundary much farther eastward. Having now all the reality of a great sovereignty, he resolved to complete it in due fonn ; and on the 6th of June, 1674, was crowned with a pomp which imperfectly but ostentatiously imitated the Mogid ceremonial on similar occasions. From this period, regarding himself
