A History of the Mahrattas v1.c12.26

v1.c12.26

With such considerations, and mollified by Sivajee’s submission, Afzool Khan, in answer to repeated applications, dispatched a Bramin in his own service, named Puntojee Gopinat, with suitable attendants to Pertabgurh. On his arrival at Phar, a village below the fort, Sivajee came down to meet him. The Bramin stated that the Khan his master and Shahjee were intimate friends, that the Khan bore no enmity towards his son, but on the contrary would prove his desire to assist him by interceding for pardon, and even endeavouring to get him confirmed as Jagheerdar in part of the territory he had usurped. Sivajee acknowledged his obligation, although his reply at this public meeting was not couched in the same humble strain he had used in his messages. He said that if he could obtain a part of the country in Jagheer it would be all he could expect; that he was the king's servant, and that he had been of considerable use to his government in reducing several Polygars, whose territory would now come under the royal authority. This was the substance of what passed at their first interview.