A History of the Mahrattas v1.c8.41

v1.c8.41

lands and immunities on the leading men, or confirmed them in those they already enjoyed, as Deshmookhs and Deshpandyas. He likewise appears to have conferred some subordiante military rank on a few of the chiefs,¹ and to have appropriated lands in Jageer for the maintenance of small bodies of horse; but such lands seem to have always been within the jurisdiction of some greater Mahomedan Jagheerdar, himself subordinate to the governor of a great province. By such means did the Sultan bind the natives of the country to his interest. He had obtained possession of almost the whole of Maharashtra, except the Concan-Ghaut-Mahta from the Poorundhur range of hills to the Hurnkassee river, which, together with the coast from Dabul to Cape Ramas, was not entirely conquered by the Mahomedans for upwards of a century after the establishment of the Deccan monarchy. There were very few insurrections occasioned by the natives of the country against their Mahomedan rulers: the first took place during the reign of Sultan Mohummud Shah, about the year 1366, or after his return from his first expedition to the Carnatic. The insurrection alluded to was headed by one of his own officers, named Bahram Khan Muzenderanee. The circumstances which gave rise to it were the report of the Sultan’s death, and the absence of the troops from Doulutabad upon the Carnatic expedition. Bahram Khan was incited to this rebellion by a Mahratta chief, named Jadow,² who was probably a relation, or a descendant of the ancient rajas, as he is termed chief of the Naiks, and the Jadows are still Deshmookhs in that part of the country. The insurgents were joined by the Raja of Buglana; whilst other chiefs in Berar, with true Mahratta policy, secretly sent reinforcements of troops. Bahram Khan seized on all the collections he could obtain, and the greater part of the district, which, from the time of Kafoor, appears to have got the name of Maharasht,³ fell into his hands.