A History of the Mahrattas v1.c16.57

v1.c16.57

For this purpose Sivajee assembled a large body of cavalry at Panalla, and marched towards Beejapoor; but finding the besiegers strong, and not choosing to encounter the Patans, of whom a large portion of Dilere Khan’s army was composed, he only made a show of attacking; advanced slowly until within twenty-four miles of the camp, when he turned off to the northward, rapidly crossed the Beema, and attacked the Moghul possessions, literally with fire and sword, leaving the inhabitants houseless and the village sin ashes. Dilere Khan did not relinquish the siege, and Sivajee continued his depredations from the Beema to the Godavery. He crossed the latter river, attacked Jaulna, and, although Sultan Mauzum was at Aurungabad, plundered the town leisurely for three days, pointing out, as was his custom on such occasions, the particular houses and spots where money and valuables were secreted. Nothing escaped him, and no place was a sanctuary; the residence of the peers, or Mahomedan saints, which Sivajee had hitherto held sacred, were on this occasion pillaged.¹ The laden booty was a certain signal that Sivajee would take some route towards Raigurh, and a body of ten thousand horse having been collected, by the prince’s orders from various parts, under Runmust Khan, pursued, overtook, and attacked Sivajee near Sungumnere on his route to Putta. A part of his troops were thrown into confusion, owing principally to the impetuosity of Suntajee Ghorepuray; Seedojee Nimbalkur, an officer of distinction, was killed²; but Sivajee led a desperate charge,³ and by great personal exertion retrieved the day. The Moghul troops were broken, and he continued his route; but he had not proceeded far when he was again attacked by the Moghuls, who had been joined by a large reinforcement under Kishen Sing, one of the grandsons of Mirza Raja Jey Sing. This division cut him off from the pass to which he was marching, and Sivajee’s army was unable to contend with such an accumulated force. But the superior intelligence of one of his Jasooses,⁴ or guides, saved Sivajee in this emergency.