they were brought into notice by the exploits and ambition of their leader, Sevajee. This soldier of fortune was born amid the storms of war, and during his childhood was frequently in danger of falling into the hands of enemies; his education was, therefore, limited to horsemanship and the use of weapons, in which he acquired great skill and activity, imbibing at the same time a deep attachment to his native superstitions, and a determined hatred of the Mahomedans.
By an early career of boldness and dexterity, happily mingled with great prudence and caution, Sevajee had possessed himself of a considerable territory and great influence amongst his native tribes; and when Aurungzebe entered the Deccan, a correspondence ensued between these two great masters of political intrigue, without any apparent advantage on either side. Sevajee continued to pursue his own objects by his own means, till the Mogul Government of Beejapoor despatched an expedition to put him down, which, however, he defeated by a singular combination of audacity and cunning.
Having affected great alarm, and proposed submission, he prevailed upon Afzool Khan, the Mahomedan general, to favour him with an interview, each to be attended by only a single follower; and prepared himself in the following manner for the enterprise he contemplated. To appearance, his covering was only a turban and a cotton gown, but beneath he wore a steel-chain cap and steel-chain armour. Within his right sleeve he placed a crooked dagger, called in the language of the country a scorpion; and on the fingers of his left hand a treacherous weapon called a tiger's claw, which consists of three crooked blades of small dimensions, the whole being easily concealed in a half-closed hand. Thus accoutred, he slowly advanced to the place of meeting. The Khan had arrived before him; and Sevajee, as he approached, frequently stopped as though under the influence of alarm. To assure him, the armed attendant of the Mahomedan general was removed to a few paces distant from his master;
