New History of the Marathas v1.c10.69

v1.c10.69

At this time (1664) Shivaji wrote a very strong letter to the officers and counsellors of the Emperor, in which he wrote, "You very well know what results have been achieved by the famous generals and able counsellors sent by the Emperor during the last three years for seizing my country and my forts. How is it you don't realize that this is an impossible task? Your officers are not ashamed of reporting entirely fictitious accounts. My home here is not like the towns of Kalyani and Bedar, which could be easily assaulted and taken. My country has lofty hill-ranges two hundred leagues in length and forty in breadth and is well protected by sixty strong forts newly built. Afzal Khan came against me and perished helplessly. Your great Amir-ul-Umra Shaista Khan laboured hard for three years and went away in disgrace after suffering a terrible disaster. It is my duty to guard my land, and I will do it. Thank God, no invader of my beloved country has yet bloomed forth."¹⁰