A History of the Mahrattas v1.c13.7

v1.c13.7

The Moghuls, by their own account, lost nine hundred in killed and wounded before Chakun, which, considering the length and obstinate nature of the defence, does not appear a great number ; but Shaisteh Khan became impressed with an idea of the insur- A.D. 1663. mountable difficulty of reducing the hill forts. Aurungzebe, on the contrary, considered their reduction a matter of easy accomplishment; and long after this period, continued to entertain the greatest contempt for the Mahrattas as enemies. Raja Jeswunt Sing, the Rajpoot prince of Joudpoor was, however, ordered to join the Khan with a large reinforcement. The fair season was far advanced before his arrival, and the whole army lay inactive in the neighbourhood of Poona, whilst Netajee Palkur again appeared about Ahmednugur and Aurungabad, burning and plundering the districts.¹