A History of the Mahrattas v1.c9.152

v1.c9.152

It appears that a secret partition treaty had been entered into betwixt Ibrahim Adil Shah and the Moghul Emperor, at some period of the war with Mullik Umber, the conditions of which were, that the Beejapoor government, if it afforded active co-operation in reducing the Nizam Shahee territory, should receive the districts in the Concan belonging to that state, also the fort of Sholapoor with five forts on the eastern side, communicating with the Edil Shahee districts near Beder, of which Dharoor was one. But Mohummud Adil Shah, though he appears to have recognized the agreement in the first instance, never entered heartily into the views of the Moghuls: he would gladly have seized for himself a portion of the Nizam Shahee territory; but he did not consider it politic to share it with such a formidable power. On the present occasion he had engaged in a secret negotiation with Mortiza Nizam Shah, but sent forward an army under his general Rendoollah Khan, giving out that they were auxiliaries proceeding to join the Moghuls. On arriving in the neighbourhood of Azim Khan’s army, Rendoollah Khan sent to request that the fort of Dharoor might be delivered up to the troops of Adil Shah, according to the treaty. Azim Khan reasonably objected, that as they had not assisted in its reduction, nor as yet fulfilled their part of the conditions, he could not comply with the demand; but, as there was still ample opportunity for proving their good faith, the present application might be a future consideration with the Emperor. Meanwhile Mortiza Nizam Shah having agreed to restore Sholapoor to the king of Beejapoor, an alliance was concluded between them, which had for its object mutual defence against the Moghuls.