Shivaji and His Times c9.s2.34

c9.s2.34

From the field of Umrani, Pratap Rao made a dash south-westwards into Kanara, robbing many places, in May. (Ch. 10 § 9.) Shortly afterwards, Bahlol with a replenished army, took post near Kolhapur, where he continued for some months, defeating the Marathas in several encounters and forcing all their roving bands to leave Kanara. We hear of his pressing hard upon Shivaji and successfully defending that region throughout June, July and August, 1673. But in September he fell very ill at Miraj, and the Bijapur and Golkonda Governments sought Shivaji's help in defending themselves from a Mughal invasion threatened by Bahadur Khan. As Gerald Aungier, the President of the Bombay Council, wrote on 16th September, "Shivaji bears himself up manfully against all his enemies;...... and though it is probable that the Mughal's army may fall into his country this year and Bahlol Khan on the other side, yet neither of them can stay long for want of provisions, and his flying army will constantly keep them in alarm; nor is it either their design to destroy Shivaji totally, for the Umaras maintain a politic war to their own profit at the king's charge, and never intend to prosecute it violently so as to end it." (F. R. Surat 106.)