History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c76.s4.19

v5.c76.s4.19

Matabar Khan's achievements brought lustre to the Mughal arms in that quarter. As his Secretary writes in the introduction to his letter-book, "The Khan captured about 50 forts which Shivaji had seized in his lifetime. He cleared the hills from Aurangabad to the sea, especially the Nizam Shahi Konkan plain and the district of Junnar, from the impure dust of the presence of the infidels. The thana of Kalian and other parganas in North Konkan had been ruined by twenty years' unbroken Maratha predominance. These he recovered, strengthened, colonised, and caused to be cultivated again, and beautified with new mansions, gardens, canals etc." [Karnamah, 3-4.]