A History of the Mahrattas v1.c16.34

v1.c16.34

The excuse for this combined attack on the part of Dilere Khan and Abdool Khureem was the alliance which Kootub Shah had entered into with Sivajee. But Mahdhuna Punt had foreseen the coming storm; the invaders were met by an overwhelming force, and were soon compelled to retreat. The troops of Beejapoor had suffered great privation; numbers deserted in consequence, and those that remained were so disorderly and clamorous for want of pay, that it was impossible to lead them against the enemy.³ To add to the general distress, Abdool Khureem was taken ill, and his life being despaired of, Dilere Khan attempted to reconcile the factions, and it was agreed that Musaood Khan, an Abyssinian, son-in-law of Seedee Johur and Jagheerdar of Adonee,¹ should eventually succeed to the regency. Abdool Khureem died in January 1678, and Musaood Khan was appointed his successor accordingly. His personal property was the principal motive for choosing Musaood Khan, especially as he promised to pay the debts of Dilere Khan, as well as the arrears due to the troops.² He also bound himself to fulfil the agreement made by Khowaus Khan, to preserve peace and order, to have no sort of communication with Sivajee, to abide by the advice of Dilere Khan on all occasions, and to send Padshah Beebee to the Moghul camp. Musaood Khan paid a part of the arrears due to the infantry; but after returning to Beejapoor he would neither pay nor retain a great portion of the cavalry. Large bodies were let loose upon the country in consequence; some were entertained by Moro Punt in Sivajee’s service, and others joined the Moghuls.³ A gloomy discontent prevailed at Beejapoor; but on the regent’s afterwards promising not to give the king’s sister to the Moghuls, he acquired considerable popularity.