The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities c9.22

c9.22

But in spite of these elaborate precautions Shivaji could not completely prevent treason and corruption. During his absence in the camp of Jai Sing the entire charge of the fort of Raigad had for the time being fallen on Keso Narayan Sabnis, as there was no *Havaldar*; the *Sabnis* availed himself of this opportunity for misappropriating a large sum of money from the public funds.² In 1663 Shivaji was compelled to postpone an expedition he had planned against the Konkan by the disquieting information of a rebellion in the fort of Sinhgad. In a letter dated 2 April, 1663, Shivaji wrote to Moro Trimbak Peshwa and Abaji Sondev that he was thinking of marching against Namdar Khan in the Konkan, but news arrived from Sinhgad that a revolt had lately taken place in the fort. He had, therefore, to give up his project of marching into the Konkan for the time being. The two officers were requested to march at once to Sinhgad with their troops and milita and take charge of the fort. They were further required to make an enquiry about the rebels and report their names to the King.¹