Shivaji and His Times c13.s10.1

c13.s10.1

The flood of Maratha invasion swept over the Karnatak plains. Only a few fortified places offered resistance and stood like islands above the waste of waters, for some time. The vanguard of a thousand horsemen rode a day or two's march ahead of the main body which Shivaji accompanied. The report of his exactions and the fury of his soldiery had preceded him; and at the news of his coming, all who had anything to lose made haste to remove their property to the safe refuge of the neighbouring woods or the fortified sea-ports of the Europeans. The rich men were the first to flee, lest he should seize and torture them for ransom.