302
HISTORY OF' INDIA.
[Book II.
Sambajee succeeds Sevajee.
His vices.
A.u. 1080. his good (jualities except courage. While a mere youth he had become a com- plete debauchee; and when by his misconduct he had subjected himself to con- finement, so little was his patriotism that the first ase he made of his recovered freedom was to desert to the enemy. He had again returned to his country; but, so far from having recovered his father s good graces, was a prisoner in the fort of Panalla when his father died. As might have been expected in these circum- stances, some demur was made to his accession, though he was the eldest son ; and a party was formed with the view of placing a second son, Rajah Ram, a boy of ten years old, on the throne. This party endeavoured to conceal the news of Sevajee's death ; but Sambajee got immediate notice of it, and was at once acknowledged by the garrison of the fort. What had previously been a prison was thus converted into a stronghold, where he remained secure till the party opposed to him broke down ; and he entered Ryeghur, the capital, as undisputed sovereign.
His first acts justified the opposition which had been made to him. Seva- jee's widow, the mother of Ram Sing, was put to death. Ram Sing himself was imprisoned, several Brahmins of his party were thrown into chain.s, and such of his enemies as belonged to other castes were beheaded. The disaffection thas produced was greatly increased by harsh treatment of his father's ministers, while he gave himself up to the guidance of a worthless favourite of the name of Calusha, who pandered to his vices.
The first hostilities in which Sambajee engaged terminated to his disadvan- tage. The island of Jinjeera, situated on the west coast of India, a little south of Bombay, had long been possessed by the Hubsees or Siddees, chiefs of Abys- sinian origin, who held it of Bejapoor on the condition of maintaining a fleet for His attempt the protection of commerce, and the safe conveyance of pilgrims to Mecca. The island was strongly fortified ; and the Siddees having the command at sea, were able when attacked to ofier a very formidable resistance. The proximity of the island to the Mahratta capital would have made it a most desirable possession to that power, as it contributes to form one of the best harbours on the Indian coast; and many were the attempts which Sevajee had made to become master of it. He was always uns'uccessful ; and while making large conquests in other quarters, had the mortification of seeing all his eflfbrts baffled whenever he directed them against this little spot. Sambajee flattered himself that he would be more fortunate, and no sooner felt firmly seated than he resolved to com- mence the siege of Jinjeera. One of his operations was to connect the island with the mainland by a mound, and eflfect the capture by means similar to those which Alexander the Great used when he took the city of TjTe. He proved no Alexander ; and after being compelled to raise the siege, was enraged beyond measure on seeing the Siddees plundering his villages, and learning that they had defeated his fleet at sea. In the midst of his wrath he would willingly have fixed the blame on any but himself; and on the pretence that they had
OH the island of Jinjeera.
