A History of the Mahrattas v1.c18.39

v1.c18.39

A.D. 1692.—Ramchundur Punt was as useful in Maharashtra as the Pritee Needhee at Ginjee; he had an excellent second in Pureshram Trimbuck, who used great exertions in restoring the arrangements of the forts and giving spirit and zeal to the garrisons. Ramchundur moved from place to place, but fixed his principal residence at Satara, where by the aid of his head Carcoon, Shunkrajee Narrain Gaudekur, he not only attended to every military disposition, but regulated the revenue and established some order in the country. He had raised troops of his own, and had cut off several straggling parties of the Moghuls, before Suntajee and Dhunnajee returned; but when they joined him, Ramchundur proposed a plan for surprising the Foujdar at Waee, to which Suntajee, greatly pleased,² immediately consented, took the Foujdar with all his troops prisoners, and established a Mahratta *Thanna* in the place. The mere presence of Suntajee and Dhunnajee animated Ramchundur’s followers, and he incited his commanders to follow their example. He sent them out to make their established collections, as the Chouth and Surdeshmookhee were termed, from the Moghul territory; and as they became encouraged by success, his officers added a third contribution for themselves under the head of *Ghas-dana* or forage money. In this manner a distinct army was raised, of which the principal leaders were Powar, Thorat and Atowlay. The commanders received honorary presents and rewards from court, the title of Wiswas Rao was conferred on Powar, Dinker Rao on Thorat, and Shumsher Buhadur on Atowlay.