New History of the Marathas v1.c17.90

v1.c17.90

The hilly regions below the Sahyadri range between Kolhāpur and Satara were long held by the Shirkes, who had become Sambhājī's mortal enemies and had out of revenge deserted to the Emperor. They now played their game, watched Sambhājī's movements and communicated them to the Mughal officers. For about a year after Hambir Rao's death, Sambhājī and Kavi Kalash struggled on as best they could. In November 1688 Kavi Kalash had a severe brush against the Shirkes and being hotly pursued, saved his life by taking shelter on the fort of Vishālgad. When Sambhājī heard this news at Raigad, he at once attacked and put down the Shirkes near Sangameshwar and joined Kalash at Vishālgad. But their situation soon became critical, on account of most of their followers being seduced. The Shirkes reported the secret movements of Sambhājī and Kavi Kalash to the Emperor’s agents. One Shaikh Nizam, a former officer of Golkonda who was posted at Kolhāpur with instructions to pounce upon Sambhājī at a moment’s notice, obtained news of Sambhājī’s movements. During January 1689 Sambhājī and Kalusha organized their party and started from Vishālgad to proceed to Raigad by the Ambā Ghat. Shaikh Nizam receiving information that Sambhājī and Kavi Kalash were halting at Sangameshwar, suddenly fell upon them on 1st February 1689, and apprehended them with a few of their followers after a light skirmish in which some of Sambhājī’s men lost their lives and a few escaped to Raigad. Why Sambhājī and Kalusha tarried at Sangameshwar it is difficult to say. They had nimble horses, perhaps better than those of their pursuers and could have easily escaped to Raigad even after the arrival of their captors. Māloji Ghorpade whose father Shivaji had killed but who faithfully served Sambhājī to the last, sacrificed his own life trying to save that of his master. Shaikh Nizam seated Sambhājī on his own elephant and the other captives were accommodated on horses and camels. All immediately afterwards moved back from Sangameshwar towards the Emperor’s camp by the Ambā Ghāt.