formidable Bijapuri army, Fath Khan seized the opportunity of trying to recover his own and laid siege to Tala. But, on hearing of the destruction of the Bijapur army (October), he retired in haste. Next
year, when Ali Adil Shah II. opened a campaign against Shivaji, who was invested in Panhala fort, Fath Khan renewed his invasion of Konkan. The Kay Savant of Vadi, a loyal vassal of Bijapur, co-operated with the Siddi. After an obstinate battle both the Savant and Baji Rao Pasalkar (Shivaji's general) fell in a single combat, and the Marathas
retreated to their base. (Sabh. 66; Chit. 65-66.)*[1]
To retrieve the position, Shivaji next sent a larger force, five to seven thousand strong, under Raghunath Ballal Atre, who forced his way to the sea-coast. The Marathas continued the campaign even during the rains, and after a long siege captured the fort of Danda-Rajpuri (July or August, 1661), and following up their success opened batteries against Janjira itself. But their weakness in artillery defeated their
- ↑ * I have followed Sabhasad in the above order of events. But Chit. 34 and 66 gives a different narrative : Shivaji's first Peshwa invades the Siddfs dominion, but is defeated with great slaughter (early 1659) — Raghunath Ballal replaces him in the command — both parties retire for the monsoons — during the time when Shivaji was besieged in Panhala (July 1660) Baji Pasalkar fought the Kay Savant, both being slain — Shiva captures Danda-Rajpuri (Aug. 1661.) The English merchants of Rajapur write on 10 Oct. 1659, of "Shivaji having already taken the town of Danda-Rajpuri, but not the castle." (F. R. Rajapur.)
