Shivaji and His Times c16.s3.17

c16.s3.17

The Rajahs of Ramnagar (of the predatory Koli tribe) had been accustomed from early times to levy an annual blackmail from the Daman district in their neighbourhood. This money was popularly called *chauth* or one-fourth of the revenue, but in practice the proportion varied from 10 to 25 p. c. in the different villages, and the Rajah was known as the *Chauthia Rajah* (*Storia do Mogor*, ii. 132.) Shivaji after his annexation of Ramnagar (1676) demanded this payment from the Portuguese as his lawful right in succession to the Koli Rajah. The viceroy of Goa delayed giving a direct answer as long as possible, by every diplomatic device, such as calling for reports from his local officers, examining the old revenue accounts, settling the details about particular villages, &c., while at the same time he professed unbroken friendship with Shivaji and eagerness to give him every satisfaction. The negotiations were thus spun out for over two years. Shivaji’s envoy Pitambar Shenvi, who had reached Goa in December 1677 on this mission, died next August, and was succeeded by his grandson Jivaji and later by Ganesh Sethi. At last Shivaji’s patience was worn out and he threatened war, but his premature death gave the Portuguese a short respite.∗