AUKANGZIB IN THE DECCAN 109

eyes of the best soldiers in the land. The generals learnt to appreciate him at his true value, and the men discovered that their prince was as cool and steady a leader as the best officer in India. He had gone over the mountains a reputed devotee, with no military rec- ord to give him prestige. He came back an approved general, a prince whose wisdom, endurance, coolness, and resolution had been tested and acclaimed in three arduous campaigns. The wars over the northwest TOMBS OF THE KINGS AT GOLKONDA. frontier had ended as such wars have often ended since, but they had done for Aurangzib what they did for Stewart and for Roberts : they placed their leader in the front rank of Indian generals. The inevitable destiny of a prince who had displayed such ability was to govern the ever critical province of the Deccan. His arrival in 1655 was the sign for a vigorous " forward policy." Not only were the kings of Golkonda and Bijapur in possession of provinces which had once been part of the kingdom of Delhi, but