History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c76.s4.1

v5.c76.s4.1

Matabar Khan, a Sayyid of the Navaiyat clan of Arabs long settled in Kalian, was at first employed in the subordinate capacity of a thanadar in the Nasik district. Even there his enterprising spirit and far-sightedness had inspired him to enlist about a thousand hill-infantry (Kolis, Bhils, and Mavles) of the Western Ghats and to bring many of the zamindars round Patta and other Maratha forts over to the imperial side by lavish bribes. An influential local Maratha leader, Harji Jakhré, had left Tarbiyat Khan (the Mughal thanadar of Nasik) in anger and was living at Sonamba (a village six miles s. w. of Sinnar and 9 miles n. e. of Patta.) But Matabar Khan gave him a large cash subsidy, a horse and a robe, and sent him at the head of the above-mentioned force to capture Patta, one of the most valued forts of the Marathas, where Shivaji had sought refuge in his last year and which he had renamed Vishram-garh.