Shivaji and His Times c8.s30.6

c8.s30.6

∗ In this connection Khafi Khan (ii. 219-220) writes :—"When I was at the port of Surat, a Brahman physician named Nabha [or Babha] used to tell the following tale: 'I had been serving one of the Benares Brahmans as his pupil, but he stinted me in food. At last, one morning when it was still dark, I went to the river-side as usual; a man seized my hand, thrust into it a quantity of jewels, *ashrafis* and *huns*, and said, 'Don't open your fist, but quickly finish the bathing rites for me.' I immediately hastened to shave and bathe him, but had not done ministering to him, when a hue and cry was raised and the news spread that sergeants at the mace had arrived [from the Court] in search of Shiva. When I became attentive I found that the man to whom I had been ministering had slipped away. I [then] knew that it was Shivaji. He had given me 9 gems, 9 *ashrafis* and 9 *huns*. Then without going to my preceptor I returned to my country and reached Surat. The grand house that I have here was bought with that money.'"