A History of the Mahrattas v1.c18.77

v1.c18.77

A.D. 1697.—At Ginjee the same languid operations continued, and the siege at this time would probably have been bloodless, but for the inebriety of Daood Khan, Zoolfikar Khan’s lieutenant, who, when intoxicated, always turned out his men to storm the fort and exterminate the infidels³; these fits only produced frequent skirmishes, but the conduct of Zoolfikar Khan, having at last aroused the suspicion of the Emperor, the Khan was privately warned by his friends, that unless he speedily effected the reduction of Ginjee and the capture of all the principal people, no influence could save him from disgrace and ruin. This information the Moghul general communicated to Raja Ram, and as he was now obliged to press the siege, he connived at a plan for the Raja’s escape through his relations the Sirkays, who agreed to convey him safe to Vishalgurh, to take charge of his family, and to join him themselves on the first opportunity, provided they received certain hereditary rights and the town of Dabul in the Concan, in Enam. All these conditions being settled, Raja Ram, by the assistance of the Sirkays, escaped through the Moghul lines and reached Vellore, where he was received by Mannajee Moray the commandant.¹