A History of the Mahrattas v1.c12.76

v1.c12.76

Sivajee, in the meantime, although he made no attempt to oppose the king’s army, did not remain inactive. In the beginning of the year he again appeared before Rajapoor, which he took and plundered. On this occasion the English sustained some loss, and several of their factors were seized and confined in a hill fort for two years, on an accusation, never substantiated, of having assisted Seedee Johur with mortars and shells at the siege of Panalla.¹ On the reduction of Rajapoor, Sivajee attacked the possessions of the Mahratta Polygar Dulwey. Sringarpoor, his capital, was surprised and taken; but Dulwey continued to resist, until he was killed in an action where Sivajee in person commanded against him. Neither this conquest nor that of Jowlee was viewed throughout the country with the same favour as his successes against the Mahomedans; and although the present advantage was not acquired by any atrocious deed, such as disgraced several of Sivajee’s successes, yet some of the most respectable Hindoos of Sringarpoor preferred emigrating to the territory of the Seedee to residing under the government of the conqueror. It required all Sivajee’s address to persuade them to return, and he only effected it by gaining over a family named Soorway, the members of which had been principal managers under Dulwey. Sivajee, to obliterate this odium and to make amends for his past conduct, assumed a greater regard for the forms enjoined by the Hindoo faith, to which he was probably induced, as much from superstition as from policy. Precluded by the situation of the celebrated temple of Dewee Bhowanee at Tooljapoor from paying his devotions there, he, this year, during the rains, dedicated a temple to that deity with great solemnity in the fort of Pertabgurh. His religious observances from this period became exceedingly rigid: he chose the celebrated Ramdass Swamy¹ as his Mahapooroosh,² or spiritual guide, and aspired to a high character for sanctity.