452 Political Events in the Carnatic, from 1564 to 1687. [No. 150. 



on the sea coast of Bednore, when he embarked on his own fleet, and 

 carried off an immense booty from Barcelore. Even the succession 

 of his eldest son Shambha, who had thrown himself on the protection 

 of Dellere Khan in the former year,* did not disconcert him ; and he 

 had prevailed upon him to return; but soon after, contemplating vast 

 Dies in the midst Projects and enterprizes for extending his newly- 

 of vast projects. formed state, this extraordinary man diedt amidst 



an army and a government that was formed by his own genius, and 

 supported by his enterprizing spirit and perseverance. 



69. In the following year, the Mogul in chief was again changed, 

 and Dellere Khan $ recalled, and Khan Jehan a second time recalled 

 from the North. The Marhattas appear in this interval to have in- 

 creased in numbers in an extraordinary degree, and prosecuted the 

 war on their side with vigor. As we seldom meet their name before, 

 doubts have been entertained whether these countless hosts were 

 really of a nation who can scarcely be imagined to be contained with- 

 in the narrow precincts of the ancient Maharastra Dasum. To resolve 

 this doubt, it should be recollected, that a great part of the armies of 

 the late Nizam-Shahi§ Sultans and of Bejapoor were composed of 

 these tribes, who now resorted to their own native chiefs under a nation- 

 al standard, which swelled their importance, and inspired increased 

 confidence in a cause they deemed their own ; and it is probable, the 

 fanatical rigor of Aurungzebe also excited a spirit which he could not 

 now suppress, and this augmented that rancour and inveteracy which 

 seems to have invited all the Hindu tribes of the Deckan at once to 

 appear in arms in a cause that was deemed national. 



* From Scott, but his dates err sometimes from 2 to 3 years, owing to some error in the computa- 

 tion of the Higera. 



t The death of Sevajee happened, according to an authentic MS. of his life and actions, in the 

 Hindoo year Rowdree, 1602 A. S., or A. D. 1680. 



t Dillere Khan on his recall is said in the Marhatta Memoirs, to have been poisoned by the 

 Emperor's orders, who was dissatisfied at his allowing Shambha to return to his father; the gene- 

 rosity and good faith of Dellere Khan on this occasion is highly praised by the Marhatta author, 

 though it did not meet with the approbation of his master. 



§ In the Ram Raja Cheritra it appears, that in the memorable war and battle wherein the last 

 monarch of the Carnatic fell, great numbers of Marhattas fought in the army of the Sultan of 

 Ahmednuggur, who was in fact sovereign of the Maharastra Dasum, and the names of their chiefs 

 are mentioned. The same conciliating policy that induced these Hindoo tribes to fight under 

 Mahomedan standards then, would in all probability have secured their attachment to Aurung- 

 zebe. 



