Shivaji and boldly defied the Maratha chief to come and do his worst, saying, "We are ready for you and resolved not to go away. But come when you please; and [as] you have, as you say, resolved to come, I ask you to come one prahar sooner than you intend." To this challenge Shivaji gave no reply. He was surfeited with booty and was too wise to
run a needless risk by facing artillery concealed behind defences and served by resolute and disciplined men, for the sake of a few lakhs more.
§ 10. How money was extorted.
The plunder of Surat yielded him above a krorof Rupees, the city "not having been so rich [as then] in many years before." The looting was! unresisted, and extended over fully four days and nights, and he "scorned to carry away anything but gold, silver, pearls, diamonds and such precious ware." (Log of the Loyal Merchant.)
On reaching Surat, Shivaji had publicly declared that he had not come to do any personal hurt to the English or other merchants, but only to revenge himself on Aurangzib for having invaded his country and killed some of his relations. But money was really his sole aim.*[1] He had to make the most of
- ↑ * An old merchant who had brought 40 ox-loads of cloth from near Agra but sold none, tried to propitiate Shivaji by offering it to him. But on his answering that he had no ready money, his right hand was cut off by Shivaji's order, he was driven away, and his cloth burnt by the Marathas. (Letter
