A History of the Mahrattas v1.c13.83

v1.c13.83

On the side of the Moghuls, Sivajee and Netajee Palkur distinguished themselves, particularly on an occasion where they had the rearguard.⁴ They were also detached against several places of strength, which were reduced by Sivajee’s infantry. Aurungzebe, in consequence of these services, wrote Sivajee a letter, extolling his conduct, and sent him an honorary present as a mark of his regard¹; in a subsequent letter he invited him to court, promised to confer on him great rank and honours, and to permit him to return to the Deccan.² Intercourse had established mutual confidence between Sivajee and Jey Sing; by the advice and on the assurance of the latter, Sivajee resolved to visit Delhi, and dispatched Rugonath Punt for the ostensible purpose of announcing his approach, but principally to gain some intelligence respecting characters and affairs at the imperial court.³ Sivajee ordered all his principal officers to meet him at Raigurh; but whilst they were assembling, he visited the whole of his forts, gave the strictest injunctions to each of the officers in charge, and returned to the meeting at the capital. He there invested Moro Trimmul Pingley, Abajee Sonedeo, and Annajee Dutto, with full authority during his absence, and enjoined all persons to respect and obey their orders as if issued by himself. The territory was now greatly circumscribed: in the Concan, it extended from Choule to the neighbourhood of Ponda, and in the Ghaut-Mahta, from the Neera river to Rangna.