A History of the Mahrattas v1.c14.2

v1.c14.2

¹ His well-known letter to Aurungzebe concerning the jizeea or poll-tax, on all persons not professing Mahomedanism, is preserved by the Raja of Kolapoor, as the production of Sivajee. [See O.H.I., p. 439 n. Professor Sarkar supports Dr. Smith's thesis that the letter was sent by Sivājī (R.A.S. MS., 71), the actual writer being Nīl Prabhū Munshi. Sivājī, himself, was too illiterate to have composed so finished a composition. Tod (Annals, i. 400 f.) ascribes the authorship of the letter to Rānā Rāj Singh of Mēwār.]