A History of the Mahrattas v1.c15.63

v1.c15.63

A.D. 1673.—In the month of March, 1673, he secretly assembled a large force at Vishalgurh. A detachment from this body surprised and retook Panalla; but the main object was an attack on the rich mercantile town of Hooblee.² The command of the expedition was entrusted to Annajee Dutto; and the booty acquired exceeded anything of the kind before taken by the Mahrattas. The account given of the plunder in their manuscripts is incredible; but there is no doubt of its having been very considerable. Merchants of all nations were pillaged; and the Beejapoor troops, stationed for the defence of the town, completed what the Mahrattas had left. The English factory shared in the general misfortunes.¹ Mr. Aungier, the deputy governor at Bombay, frequently endeavoured to obtain indemnification, both for the losses at Hooblee and Rajapoor, and took judicious opportunities of pressing the demands. Sivajee persisted in declaring that his troops had not molested the English at Hooblee; and being still in hopes of obtaining their assistance against the Surat and Jinjeera fleets, he continued to express his desire for a treaty, and to hold out expectations of granting re-imbursement for the losses at Rajapoor. Mr. Aungier² was also frequently solicited for assistance by the opposite party, particularly by the Seedee; but he maintained a strict neutrality; and several circumstances occurred which gave both the one and the other a high respect for Mr. Aungier’s judgment and firmness.³