A History of the Mahrattas v1.c19.3

v1.c19.3

Yessoo Bye was a woman of much prudence and carefully avoided intrigues. When Aurungzebe began to evolve the scheme of releasing Shao, he proposed to marry him to the daughters of two of the most distinguished Mahrattas in the imperial service, and to secure them in his interests by additional favours; these were Jadow of Sindkheir, to whom the Emperor had given the title of Roostum Rao; and Sindia, Patell of Kunneirkheir,¹ whose illegitimate offspring, as heads of a Mahratta principality, are well known in the modern transactions of India. Shao was connected with Jadow by the mother's side, and the proposal being agreeable to all parties, the nuptials were celebrated in a respectable manner, but without pomp; and the Emperor, besides conferring favours on Jadow and Sindia, bestowed on Shao the districts of Akulkote, Indapoor, Sopa, and Neywassa, in Jagheer. On this occasion, Aurungzebe, amongst other presents to Shao, gave him a sword he had himself frequently worn, and restored two swords which Shao's attendants had always urged him, if possible, to recover; the one was the famous Bhowanee of Sivajee; and the other, the sword of Afzool Khan, the murdered general of Beejapoor, both taken at Raigurh.²