A History of the Mahrattas v1.c18.44

v1.c18.44

Suntajee headed another attack on the Moghul officer stationed near Merich, against whom he was as successful as at Waee, and Ramchundur, in consequence, by virtue of the powers vested in him, gave him a grant of the Deshmookhee of Merich. As soon as Suntajee and Dhunnajee had collected a sufficient body of troops, mindful of their object of effecting a diversion in favour of Ginjee, they made their appearance on the banks of the Godavery, which was the only part of the country where scarcity, from one cause or other, did not prevail. They there plundered and destroyed every thing, and cut off several of the Moghul convoys coming from Hindoostan. Parties were soon sent against them; but Aurungzebe found that he had not ordinary freebooters to suppress; instead of fleeing from his detachments, they defeated three of them successively, took the commander each time prisoner, and, according to a rule invariably observed by Suntajee, exacted a large ransom before they would grant their release. This system was according to Sivajee’s general rule, but contrary to his practice; for he took a pride in releasing great men, although he always made what he could by the middling class of prisoners. Suntajee conformed to Sivajee’s discipline as far as was practicable, and was particular in obtaining security for the good conduct of his followers, always preferring Mahratta Wutundars to any other class of men. Dhunnajee Jadow was not so strict nor so good an officer as Suntajee, but he was a more popular leader.¹