afterwards, when it was too late to carry it out. (Sabh. 61-62.)
§3. War renewed, 1670.
This rupture with the Mughals occurred in January 1670, or a month earlier. On 11th Dec. 1669, the Emperor received a despatch from the Deccan reporting the desertion of four Maratha captains of Shiva's clan (biradari) from the imperial service. Aurangzib soon set to strengthening his forces in the Deccan. On 26th January 1670 an order was sent to Dilir to leave Deogarh in the Gond country and hasten to Aurangabad. Daud Khan was ordered to arrange for the defence of his province of Khandesh and then go to Prince Muazzam's assistance. Many other officers were transferred from North India to the Deccan. (Akhbarat, year 12.)
Shivaji opened his offensive with great vigour and immediate success.*[1] His roving bands looted Mughal territory, and he attacked several of the forts
- ↑ * Sabhasad, 59, says, "In four months he recovered the 27 forts he had ceded to the Mughals." But it is an exaggeration. There is a most spirited but legendary ballad on the capture of Singh-garh (Powadas.) The Akhbarat and Dilkasha have been of invaluable help in the history of the campaigns of 1671 as reconstructed here. Marathi bakhars are silent. Z. C. gives dates in the Hindu lunar year, and says that during 1670 the Marathas gained Kondana, Purandar, Trimbak, Rohira, Mahuli, Lohgarh, Ahivant, Ravla-Javla and Markandagarh, but that Mahabat Kh. recovered the last three forts in 1671.
