A History of the Mahrattas v1.c16.15

v1.c16.15

No authentic record of the particulars of the secret compact which was entered into has been preserved by the Mahrattas; but the purport seems to have been, a division of such parts of Sivajee’s conquests as had not belonged to his father, Shahjee, and a treaty offensive and defensive against the Moghuls and their allies.² With the usual burlesque advantages, which a power not consulted commonly obtains by such alliances of its neighbours, Beejapoor was to be admitted to all the benefits of this agreement, after its possessions in the Carnatic had been reduced and divided between Sivajee and Kootub Shah, on condition of dismissing Abdool Khureem from the regency and receiving the brother of Mahdhuna Punt in his stead.³ What further inducement may have been held out, or whether the ambition or avarice of Mahdhuna Punt may have been more treacherously excited, cannot be discovered; but Sivajee succeeded in obtaining a considerable supply of money; and what he most wanted, a train of artillery with its equipments. It is probable that he dispensed with all other reinforcements; and the necessity of keeping the whole of the troops of Kootub Shah for the defence of the kingdom was an opinion likely to arise of itself, without being suggested by Sivajee.