A History of the Mahrattas v1.c12.29

v1.c12.29

Some interviews and discussions having taken place, merely for the purpose of masking their design, Kistnajee Bhaskur, as Sivajee’s wukeel, was dispatched with Puntojee Gopinat to the camp of Afzool Khan. The latter represented Sivajee as in great alarm; but if his fears could be overcome by the personal assurances of the Khan, he was convinced that he might easily be prevailed upon to give himself up. With a blind confidence Afzool Khan trusted himself to Puntojee’s guidance. An interview was agreed upon, and the Beejapoor troops, with great labour, moved to Jowlee. Sivajee prepared a place for the meeting below the fort of Pertabgurh; he cut down the jungle and cleared a road for the Khan’s approach; but every other avenue to the place was carefully closed. He ordered up Moro Punt and Netajee Palkur from the Concan, with many thousands of the Mawulee infantry. He communicated his whole plan to these two and to Tannajee Maloosray. Netajee was stationed in the thickets a little to the east of the fort, where it was expected that a part of the Khan’s retinue would advance, and Moro Trimmul, with the