The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities c9.10

c9.10

If Shivaji had perceived the advantages of these strongholds he was not blind to their perils in a hilly region like Maharashtra. If they were easy of defence, they could be easily used against him by the petty chiefs as he himself had demonstrated in his war against Bijapur. He therefore demolished all the adulterine castles as soon as his authority was fairly established in the country and no private person was permitted to build a castle, or a fort, or even a house with a bastion. But this alone was not sufficient. It was necessary to guard against all risks. He wanted to be sure that his forts must always be held in his own interests and should never be used against him. The standard of public morality was not very high. He himself had often used the silver bait with success and he knew that what had happened once might happen again.