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DECEMBER, 1921)
SIVAJI'S RAID UPON SURAT IN 1664.
315
forced to condittions, to release homage to Sevegee of those landes wich hee held of him, and for the rest Sevagee was to make good his possession against the Mogol as well as hee could.
After some tyme of forbearance the Mogol demands his tribute from him of Vija pore, whoe returns answer that hee had not posession of the tributary lands, but that thay were detayned from him by his rebbell, whoe was growne too stroong for him. Upon this the Mogol makes warr both upon the King of Vija pore and Sevagee, but as yet without any considerable success. Many attempts hath been made, but still frusterated, either by the cuning or vallour or mony of Sevagee; but now of late Kuttup Chawne, an Umbraw who posessed (passed ?] by Surrat since I arrived, with 5000 men and 14 ellephants, and had 9000 men more wich marched another way towa[r]ds their randevouz, as wee hear hath taken from him a strong castle and (made ?] some impression into his country; to devert wich ware, it is probable he tooke this resolletion for invation of this country of Guzurat.
His person is discribed by them whoe have seen him to bee of meane stature, lower some what then I am, erect, and of an excellent proportion; active in excersise, and when ever hee speaks seemes to smile; a quicke and peercing eye, and whitter then any of his people. Hee is disstrustfull, seacret, subtile, cruell, perfidious, insulting over whomsoever he getts into his power, absolute in his commands and in his punishments more then severe, death or dismembering being the punishment of every offence; if nesessity require, venterous and desperate in execution of his resolves, as may appeare by this following instance.
The King (of) Vijaporet sends downe his unckell, a most accompleshed soldier, with 14,000 men into Sevagees country. The knowne vallour and experience of the man made Sevagee conclude that his best way was to assasinate him in his owne armye by a suddan surprise. This conduct of this attempt, how dangerous soever, would have been undertaken by many of his men, of whose conduct hee might have asured himselfe, but it seemes he would have the action wholly his owne. Hee therefore, with 400 as desperate as himselfe, enters the army, undiscovered comes to the Genaralls tent, falls in upon them, kills the guard, the Genaralls sonn, wounds the father (whoe hardly escaped), seiseth on his daughter and carries her away prisoner, and forceth his way backe through the whole army and returnes safe without any considerable loss. And afterward in dispight of all the King of Vijla]pore could doe, bee tooke Rajapore, a great port, plundered it, and seised our English marchants, Mr. Revington, Mr. Taylor, and digged up the English house for treasure, and kept the marchants in prison about eight months.
3 Possibly Kut buddin Khân, who took part in the subsequent campaign under Jai Singh.
4 An error for 'tho Mogul Emperor.' The writer is also wrong in making the attack on Shaista Khån precede the capture of Rajápur.
