The territory annexed by Shivaji in the Karnatak was estimated to yield 20 lakhs of hurt a year and included a hundred forts, taken or built by him. (Sabh. 90.) In August 1678, the Madras factors write, "Shivaji by his deputies has a full and quiet possession of all these countries about those two strong castles of Jinji and Vellore, which are worth 22 lakh of par does or 550 thousand pounds sterling per annum, at five shillings the pardoe, in which he has a considerable force of men and horse, 72 strong hills and 14 forts [in the plain] , — being 60 leagues long and 40 broad." (Diary and Consult. 1678.79, pp. 105-106.) But gold, and not land, was his chief object. The whole of the Karnatak was "peeled to the bones" by his system of organised plunder and exaction, which is thus described in the Madras President's letter of 19th June, 1677. "He has ordered letters to be wrote to all this part of the country, the sea-coast especially, to borrow money to the amount of 200 thousand pagodas, whereof 50,000 [is] from Palicat and as much from hence [Madras.] The moneyed men all about the country shift out of the way as fast as they can, he having taken a minute account of all such as he passed by within 2 leagues and 2 of the place." (O. C. 4266.) The booty carried off in this expedition*[1]
- ↑ *With a success as happy as Caesar's in Spain, he came, saw and overcame, and reported so vast a treasure in gold, diamonds, emeralds, rubies and wrought coral that have strengthened his arms with very able sinews to prosecute his
