________________
220
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ DECEMBER, 1927
All vessels used to anchor at this port, where there is good anchoring-ground; but as the Customs were frequently defrauded there, arrival there was prohibited, and no one has been there since the year 1660 except the English and the Dutch, who still have permission to anchor there, and each have their warehouse there. This port gives them fine facility for saving anything they like without paying duty; and the coaches of the Governors, Commanders or Presidents of these two nations, which frequently drive in these quarter, could easily carry away anything small in bulţ from their ships. They even have gardens at Soulay, on the sea-side, and each has a little port where they keep their bots (Dutch boats) or craft : so much so that it only rests with them if they have a mind to evade the duty on many commodities.
Since the prohibition has been issued for other nations to anchor at Souali, there is always a great concourse of vessels at the bar, though it is very inconvenient for them : for none of the Vessels from Persia, Arabia Felix, or generally from all the lands of India, has ceased coming here, and thus the prohibition from landing at Souali has not in any way diminished the profits of the Customs, which pay to the king annually twelve lakhs of rupees, each lakh being equivalent to about one hundred thousand pounds. The Controller of the Customs is a Muslim, and holds his commission from the Governor of Surat. The clerks are Banias, and the rest of the Customs staff, such as guards, porters and others are also Muslims, and are known as Customs peons.
TH VENOT'S TRAVELS.
CHAPTER XVI.
The Incursion of Sivaji. In January 1664 Rajah Sivaji disconcerted these Customs officials and their Governor in a strange manner; and as he has become illustrious through his actions, it will not be out of place to relate his history. This Sivaji was the son of a captain of the king of Bijapur, and was born at Bassein.21 As he was of a restless and turbulent spirit, he began to rebel during his father's days, and having placed himself at the head of a number of bandits and of a host of dissolute youths, he held out in the mountains of Bijapur against such as came to attack him there, and he refused to listen to reason. The king, believing that Sivaji's father was in league with him, had him arrested ; and as he died in prison, Sivaji conceived so fierce a hatred against this king, that he did all in his power to obtain his revenge. He laid waste a part of Bijapur within a very short time, and with what he pilfered, he fortified himself so well with men, arms and horses, that his position was strong enough to enable him to seize some towns and to form a small State in spite of the king, who died at this time. The queen, who was now regent, having her hands full with other matters, tried her utmost to recall Sivaji to his duty; but being unsuccessful, she accepted the peace which he proposed to her, and after that she remained in peace.
However, as the Rajah could not keep quiet, he laid waste some places belonging to the Great Mogul: this compelled the emperor to send troops against him under Shasta Khan, his unole, Governor of Aurangabad. Shasta Khan had far larger forces than Sivaji, and pursued him vigorously, but the Rajah always took refuge in the mountains, and as he was extremely clever, the Mogul was unable to catch him.
Finally, however, the old captain, thinking that Sivaji's turbulent spirit would result in some mischief to his disadvantage, decided to temporise, and stayed for a long time in the Rajah's territory. As Sivaji was greatly annoyed by Shasta Khan's patience, he resorted to strategem. He ordered one of his captains to write to this Mogul, and to persuade him that he was desirous of entering the service of the Great Mogul and bringing with him five hundred men in his command. When Shasta Khan received these letters, he did not at first dare to trust them ; but when he continued to receive them, and the captain could not adduce any Causes of discontent which appeared to have any semblance of truth, he told him to come and bring his men with him. No sooner was he in the camp of the Moguls, than he demanded a
31 This is a curious mistake. He was born at Shivner, in the Poona district, May 1627.
