296
HISTORY OF INDIA.
[Book II.
Shaista Khan sur prised.
AD. 1664. his opportunity. Being informed by spies of all hi.s enemy's movements, he learned that Shaista Khan had takf;n uj) his quarters in the house where Seva- jee's early days had been spent. Well aware of the Mahrattas' craft, the Mogul commander had taken every precaution against surj^rise ; and wa« living in su{'- posed security, when a band of armed men, with Sevajee at their head, ru.shed into his bed-chamber. He escaped by leaping from a window, but not before he had lost two of his fingers by a blow from a sword. The Mahratta part}- had gained admission into the town by joining a marriage procession, and had afterwards availed themselves of their thorough knowledge of the locality to penetrate into the house by a back entrance. Shaista Khan's son, and mo.st of his attendants, were cut to pieces ; and in the confusion, before any steps could be taken, Sevajee was again hastening back in triumph to his mountain fast- ness. Though the exploit failed in its mam oVject, it was indirectly the cau.se of important results. Shaista Khan, unwilling to admit that he had been com- pletely outwitted, threw the blame on the rajah, Jeswant Sing; not he.sitating to accuse him of treachery, though he had only recently arrived to assist him with a strong reinforcement. In the quarrel which ensued, the operations of the Mogul army were so much crippled that Aurungzebe interposed ; and, removing Shaista Khan to the government of Bengal, devolved the command of the Mahratta war on his son. Prince Moazzim, assisted by the rajah. The change was favourable to Sevajee, who did not fail to turn it to account. After an ineffectual attempt on Singurh, the Mogul araiy had returned to Amungabad It was now Sevajee's turn to retaliate. Having, by a number of feigned move- ments, deceived the enemy, he suddenly darted oflf at the head of 4000 horse, and was not heard of before he made his appearance at Surat, in the beginning of January, 166-i. It possessed no means of defence, and, with the exception of the English and Dutch factories, which effectually resisted the attacks made upon them, was plundered without opposition diuing six days.
Not long after this achievement Sevajee lost his father, Shahjee, who, at a very advanced age, was killed by a fall in hunting. He thus acquired a con- siderable addition to his territories ; and, assuming the title of rajah, began to coin money in his own name. He also turned his attention to naval affairs ; and collecting a fleet of eighty-seven vessels, manned with 4000 men, took many Mogul ships, made descents upon the coast, and carried off much plunder from the ports and maritime tracts belonging to the King of Bejapoor. AU these aggressions could not be permitted to pass unavenged. The rajah, Jei Sing, who enjoyed as much of the confidence of Am-ungzebe as that emperor's suspicious temper allowed him to give to any one, arrived in the Deccan at the head of a large army. Sevajee made little resistance in the open field, and, though his forts of Singurh and Poorundliur when besieged made an effectual resistance, became so desponding of success that, on being assured of favourable terms, he at once offered to make his submission. It is difficult to penetrate
Sevajee acquires a fleet.
