Storia do Mogor 84.6

84.6

From this time Shiva Jí began to plunder the territories of the Mogul in addition to those of Bījāpur. He took various strongholds, more frequently by deceit than by force of arms. He ravaged towns and cities, above all Surat, where he remained seven days with seven thousand horsemen, gathering all that there was of gold and silver in that famous port. It was through the reputation thus acquired by Shiva Ji as a valiant and quick-witted man that Aurangzeb, when viceroy in the Dakhin, conceded to him the lands of which I have already spoken (I. 171), so as to make use of him in case of necessity. Aurangzeb's object was to have someone on his side in case he failed in his attempt to become king, and he knew how defensible Shiva Ji's territories were, owing to their situation among [20] hills.