Chhatrapathi Shivaji

[Bharatvarsh]

The following is a continuation of the last post:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Conquests of Sivají.

[vol. ii. p. 220.] Sundry forts which had belonged to the Kutb-Sháhí kings had passed into the hands of the 'Ádil-Sháhís. Sivají had a great reputation for skill in the reduction of forts, and he swore to 'Abdu-lla Sháh, that if he would supply him with forces and the means for conducting sieges, he would in a short time wrest these forts from the Bíjápúrís, and hand them over to the officers appointed to accompany him; he would not even accept some forts which had belonged to himself, and were in the possession of the officers of Aurangzeb, if he recovered them by the means supplied him. He vowed also that for the remainder of his life he would remain the devoted servant and adherent of 'Abdu-lla Sháh. The ultimate objects of the arch de¬ceiver never entered into the consideration of 'Abdu-llah Sháh. He provided a sufficient force and a suitable siege train, and he appointed to it several officers acquainted with siege operations, whom he enjoined to serve heartily in obedience to and in accord with Sivají.

Sivají, with the force placed under his command, marched on his enterprise. By fraud and stratagem, and by his marvellous skill in the conduct of sieges, every fort that he approached fell into his hands after a few days' investment. He cajoled the officers who had been sent with him to take charge of the cap¬tured forts, with plausible statements, with promises of giving them the command of more important places, and by using the money and property he had obtained from the captured strong¬holds. So he carried them with him to other forts, and in a short time he reduced Sattára, Parnála, and ten or twelve other renowned forts belonging to Bíjápúr, which it would have taken years and lacs of expense to conquer. He then marched against Rájgarh, and other forts which had been captured by Rája Jai Singh, Diler Khán, and other Imperial generals, the keys of which he himself had surrendered. Having mastered them all, he placed one or two of them in charge of the officers of 'Abdu-llah Sháh.

According to common report, and the oral statements of men of Haidarábád, Sivají came to that city in the first or second year of the reign of Abú-l Hasan, and succeeded in wheedling and satisfying that sovereign. When he had finished his fortress-taking, according to his wont, he took up his abode at Rájgarh, and there again raised the standard of rebellion. In the days when the fortifications of the port of Surat were not yet com¬pleted, he attacked and took the place.* There he obtained an immense booty in gold and silver, coined and uncoined, and in the stuffs of Kashmír, Ahmadábád, and other places. He also made prisoners of some thousand Hindú men and women of name and station, and Musulmáns of honourable position. Krors in money and goods thus came into the hands of that evil infidel.

Aurangzeb, on being informed of the capture and plunder of Surat, ordered that the fortifications of that port should be completed; and he placed Diler Khán and Khán-Jahán in com¬mand of an army to punish Sivají. It is said that Sivají got together some ten or twelve thousand Kachh and Arab horses, so that when he sent out an army most of the horsemen were bárgírs, i.e. they rode horses belonging to him. He rebuilt the forts which had formerly stood on the sea-shore, and he con¬structed also vessels of war, which were kept under the guns of the fortress. With these vessels he attacked and plundered ships which were proceeding to Europe and to Mecca.

When Sivají had satisfied himself of the security of Rájgarh, his old retreat, and of the dependent territory, he turned his thoughts towards finding some other more inaccessible hill as a place for his abode. After diligent search he fixed upon the hill of Ráhírí,* a very high and strong place. The ascent of this place was three kos, and it was situated twenty-four kos from the sea; but an inlet of the sea was about seven kos from the foot of the hill. The road to Surat passed near the place, and that port was ten or twelve stages distant by land. Rájgarh was four or five stages off. The hills are very lofty and difficult of ascent. Rain falls there for about five months in the year. The place was a depen¬dency of the Kokan, belonging to Nizámu-l Mulk. Having fixed on the spot, he set about building his fort. When the gates and bastions and walls were complete and secure, he removed thither from Rájgarh, and made it his regular residence. After the guns were mounted, and the place made safe, he closed all the roads around, leaving only one leading to his fortress. One day he called an assembly, and having placed a bag of gold and a gold bracelet worth a hundred pagodas before the people, he ordered proclamation to be made that this would be given to any one who would ascend to the fort, and plant a flag, by any other than the appointed road, without the aid of ladder or rope. A Dher came forward, and said that with the permission of the Rája he would mount to the top of the hill, plant the flag, and return. He ascended the hill, fixed the flag, quickly came down again, and made his obeisance. Sivají ordered that the purse of money and the gold bracelet should be given to him, and that he should be set at liberty; and he gave directions for closing the way by which the Dher had ascended.

At the first, Ráhírí was attached to the Kokan, and belonged to Nizámu-l Mulk. Afterwards this country and several of the dependencies of Bíjápúr passed into the possession of the Emperor Sháh Jahán. When the Imperial government became friendly with Bíjápúr, the Kokan, which had belonged to Nizámu-l Mulk, was granted to 'Ádil Sháh in exchange for territory newly acquired by Bíjápúr. Fath Khán, an Afghán, was appointed governor of the country on the part of Bíjápúr, and he posted himself in the fort of Dandá-Rájpúrí,* which is situated half in the sea and half on land. Subsequently he built the fort of Jazíra* upon an island in the sea, about a cannon-shot distant from Dandá-Rájpúrí, in a very secure position, so that, if the governor of the country was hard pressed by an enemy, he might have a secure retreat in that place.

After Sivají had fixed his abode at Ráhírí, which is twenty kos from Dandá-Rájpúrí, he appointed a commandant of that fortress. In a short time, he reduced and occupied seven other forts, small and great, in that neighbourhood, and then resolved upon the conquest of Dandá-Rájpúrí. Fath Khán had observed the triumphant progress of Sivají, and how fortress after fortress had fallen into his hands. So Fath Khán lost courage; he abandoned Dandá-Rájpúrí, and retired to the island fortress in the sea. Sivají then resolved to effect the conquest of the island also, and he so conducted matters that Fath Khán was soon reduced to extremities, and he offered to surrender the place to Sivají, upon a pledge of security to himself and the garrison.

Fath Khán had in his service three Abyssinian slaves, Sídí Sambal, Sídí Yákút, and Sídí Khairiyat, each of whom had ten Abyssinian slaves, which he had trained and drilled. The management of the island and of many domestic concerns was in the hands of these Abyssinians. These three men got infor¬mation of the enemy's power, and of Fath Khán's intention of surrendering the island to Sivají. They took counsel together, and resolved that no good could come from allowing the island to pass into the hands of any infidel. So they determined to take Fath Khán prisoner, and to make Sídí Sambal governor of the fortress. In the fourteenth year of the reign these Abyssinians seized Fath Khán unawares, placed chains upon his legs, and wrote a statement of the facts to 'Ádil Sháh Bíjápúrí. They also wrote to Khán-Jahán, the Súbadár of the Dakhin, begging the aid of the Imperial forces, and requesting him to send his forces by sea from Surat. Khán-Jahán graciously bestowed mansabs and presents on each of the three Abyssinians.
Khán-Jahán also took measures to thwart the designs of Sivají. Hegot together some ships at the fortress (of Surat), and began the rebuilding which had been ordered. Then he collected some ships of war with the intention of taking a cruise. One night he attacked the vessels of Sivají which lay near the fort of Dandá-Rájpúrí, and captured them with two hundred sailors trained for warlike work. One hundred of them were Mahrattas, and had lately been appointed to this duty by Sivají. Stones were tied to the feet of these men, and they were thrown into the sea. From that day forth the animosity between the Abyssinians and Sivají grew more violent. Sivají collected forty or fifty vessels of war to defend the forts of Kalába and Gandírí, which were the strongest of his newly-built forts on the sea-shore. He then turned his thoughts to the reduction of the fort of Jazíra (Jinjera), and the capture of the Abyssinians. There were frequent naval fights between the opposing forces, in which the Abyssinians were often victorious.

Sídí Sambal was advanced to a mansab of 900, and then he died. Before he expired he made Sídí Yákút his successor, and enjoined all the other Abyssinians to pay him a loyal and cheerful obedience. Sídí Yákút was distinguished among his people for courage, benignity and dignity. He now strove more than ever to collect ships of war, to strengthen the fortress, and to ward off naval attacks. He was armed and ready night and day. He frequently captured ships of the enemy, and cut off the heads of many Mahrattas, and sent them to Surat. He used to write reports to Khán-Jahán, and he frequently received marks of approbation from him. He was constantly revolving in his mind plans for wresting the fort of Dandá-Rájpúrí from the hands of Sivají. He got together some rockets,* which he fastened to trees, and discharged them at night against the fort.

Sivají also was prosecuting his plans for the reduction of Jazíra. But he now retired to a dwelling about three kos to celebrate the holí, leaving in command at Rájpúrí some officers experienced in siege work, to prosecute incessantly the opera¬tions against Jazíra during his absence, and he held out to them the reward of a man of gold and other presents. One night, while the garrison of Dandá-Rájpúrí were celebrating the holí, and were intoxicated or inattentive, Sídí Yákút sent on shore four or five hundred men under Sídí Khairiyat with ropes, ladders, and other apparatus. He himself drew thirty or forty boats laden with siege matériel under the walls of Rájpúrí, and gave the signal agreed upon to announce his arrival. They found the garrison off their guard, and Sídí Khairiyat assaulted the place with loud cries from the land side. When the enemy took the alarm, and rushed to repel the attack on that side, Sídí Yákút planted his scaling-ladders, which he had brought in his boats, and by means of these and of ropes, his brave followers scaled the walls, and quickly made their way up. Some of the assailants were cast into the sea, and were drowned, others fell under the swords of the defenders, but the storming party forced its way into the fort, and raised the cry, “Strike! kill!” Just at this time the powder magazine caught fire, and blew up a number of men, including ten or twelve who were with Sídí Yákút. The smoke and the noise made it difficult to dis¬tinguish friend from foe, but Sídí Yákút raised his war-cry, and encouraged his men to slaughter the defenders who had escaped the fire. Sídí Khairiyat also scaled the walls on his side, and the place was taken.

I, the author, was in that country some time, and I repeatedly heard from many men, and from the mouth of Yákút Khán himself, that when the magazine blew up, although Sivají was twenty kos off, it awoke him from sleep, and he said that some misfortune had fallen on Dandá-Rájpúrí, and he sent men to ascertain what had happened.

At this time Sivají's forces had gone to attack the neighbour¬hood of Surat. Within the space of four or five kos from Rájpúrí there were six or seven Nizámu-l Mulkí forts which had fallen into the hands of Sivají, but he was unable at this time to render them any assistance. So Sídí Yákút seized the oppor¬tunity to attack them. Six forts surrendered after two or three days' resistance, but the commandant of one fort held out for a week in the hope of relief from Sivají. The Abyssinians pushed forward their approaches, and kept up such a fire that he was obliged to surrender. Sídí Yákút granted quarter to the garrison, and seven hundred persons came out. But notwith¬standing his word, he made the children and pretty women slaves, and forcibly converted them to Islám. The old and ugly women he set free, but the men he put to death. This struck such terror into the hearts of Sivají and his followers that he was obliged to confine himself to securing Ráhírí. Sídí Yákút sent an account of his victory to Prince Muhammad Mu'azzam, Súbadár of the Dakhin, and to Khán-Jahán. His mansab was raised, a robe of honour was sent to him, and he received the title of Khán. Similar honours were also given to Sídí Khairiyat.

[Text, vol. ii. p. 229.] A report reached Sivají that his son Sambhá, whom he had left at Alláhábád with the Bráhman, was dead, and Sambhájí's wife wanted to become a satí, * * but a few months afterwards the Bráhman arrived, bringing Sambhájí with him.

TWENTY-THIRD YEAR OF THE REIGN, 1090 A.H. (1679-80 A.D.).
Affairs of the Dakhin. Death of Sivají.

[Text, vol. ii. p. 270.] Khán-Jahán Bahádur Kokaltásh, after arriving at the Khujista-bunyád Aurangábád, according to order, laid siege to the fort of Sálír. Many Rájpúts were killed, and many Musulmáns also fell. He pressed the siege for four or five months, but making no impression, he withdrew to Aurangábád.
The hell-dog Sivají went forth with an army on a plundering expedition, and while Khán-Zamán, the Súbadár, was at Burhánpúr, he entered Khandesh, and plundered the town of Dharan-gánw,* one of the most flourishing places in that country. * * * Afterwards he ravaged and burnt Chopra* and other parganas. He then marched against Jálna, a rich mercantile place in the Bálághát.* * * In the course of the same year he was attacked with illness and died.* The date of his death is found in the words, “Káfir ba-jahannam raft,” “The infidel went to hell,” which was discovered by the writer of these pages. Sivají left two sons, Sambhá and Rám Rája. The former succeeded him. He made Kabkalas,* the Bráhman who brought him from Allahábád, his minister.

Sivají had always striven to maintain the honour of the people in his territories. He persevered in a course of rebel¬lion, in plundering caravans, and troubling mankind; but he entirely abstained from other disgraceful acts, and was careful to maintain the honour of the women and children of Muhammadans when they fell into his hands. His injunctions upon this point were very strict, and any one who disobeyed them received punishment. But the son, unlike his father, obtained an evil name by collecting round him women of all tribes, and by assail¬ing the honour of the women of the places in which he dwelt. His father never showed any backwardness in attacking and plundering prosperous places, but he never made any attack upon Aurangábád and Burhánpúr, the provincial capitals of the Imperial dynasty. If any of his counsellors advised an attack upon these places, he very wisely and prudently forbade it; “for,” said he, “if we attack these places, the honour of Aurangzeb will be wounded, and he will march hither himself, and then, God knows how the strife will end!”

When Sivají was dead, his wretched son Sambhá desired to surpass his father. He raised the standard of rebellion, and on the 20th Muharram, in the twenty-third year of the reign, corresponding with 1091 A.H. (15th February, 1680), he attacked Kákar Khán Afghán, who acted as collector of the jizya, under Khán-Zamán, the Súbadár of the Dakhin. Sambhá was returning with nearly twenty thousand men from a plundering expedition in Birár. He made a forced march of three or four kos, as was the practice in those days, and early in the morning made his attack, while his victims were entirely ignorant of his approach. Thus he fell upon Bahádur-púr, one kos and a half from Burhánpúr. This place was rich, and there were many bankers and merchants in it. Jewels, money, and goods from all parts of the world were found there in vast abundance. He surrounded and attacked this place, and also another town called Hafda-púra, which was outside of the fortifications, and his attack was so sudden and unexpected, especially upon Bahádur-pur, that no one was able to save a dám or a diram of his property, or a single one of his wives and children.

Kákar Khán, with his men in the city, saw the smoke of these towns rising to the sky, but he had not a force sufficient to go out and attack the plunderers, so he shut himself up within the walls and looked after the security of his gates and defences. Seven¬teen other places of note, such as Hasan-púra, etc., in the neighbourhood of the city, all wealthy and flourishing places, were plundered and burnt. Many honourable men girded on their swords, and, joining in the fight, attained martyrdom. Others submitted themselves humbly to the will of God. Some who were near the fortress took their wives and children by the hand, and fled in distress within the walls. For three days the plunderers ravaged these towns at their will. Large sums of money fell into their hands, much of which had been buried for long periods, and sometimes in places unknown even to the householders. They then repeatedly attempted to carry the fortress by assault. But the officers took their stations at the gates and other points of attack, and with great bravery beat off the assailants. Being unable to enter the city, the plunderers carried off with them the gold, silver, jewels, and other articles of value which were portable; but many other things which they had taken they were obliged to leave behind, because they could not carry them. The property which was thrown into the streets of the bázárs and burnt exceeded all computation.

When the author was staying along with 'Abdu-r Razzák Lárí near the fort of Ráhírí, which Sivají built, he heard from the people of the neighbourhood that Sivají, although an infidel and a rebel, was a wise man. The country round may be called a specimen of hell, for it is hilly and stony, and in the hot season water is very scarce, which is a great trouble to the inhabitants. Sivají had a well dug near his abode. A pavement was laid down round the mouth, and a stone seat was erected. Upon this bench Sivají would take his seat, and when the women of the traders and poor people came to draw water, he would give their children fruit, and talk to the women as to his mother and sisters. When the ráj descended to Sambhá, he also used to sit upon this bench; and when the wives and daughters of the raiyats came to draw water, the vile dog would lay one hand upon their pitcher, and another upon their waist, and drag them to the seat. There he would handle them roughly and indecently, and detain them for a while. The poor woman, unable to help herself, would dash the pitcher from her head, but she could not escape without gross insult. At length the raiyats of the country settled by his father abandoned it, and fled to the territory of the Firingís, which was not far off. He received the reward of his deeds.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->