and the latter approaching Sevajee, the conference commenced by the ordinary ceremonial of an embrace.
The Mahratta now prepared to make the most of his opportunity, and struck the tiger's claw into the body of the Khan, following the blow by another from his dagger. The Khan drew his sword and made a cut at his assassin; but it fell harmless upon the concealed armour. Sevajee's follower rushed to his support; and a preconcerted signal being given, a body of troops attacked those of his adversary, who had been stationed at a little distance, and who, being unprepared for such an assault, found themselves exposed to an enemy before they could stand to their arms. The victory that ensued enriched Sevajee with a vast amount of plunder; but this was little compared with the accession of reputation which he owed to it; the perpetration of successful treachery being, in Mahratta estimation, the highest exercise of human genius.
But Sevajee was not equally fortunate at all times, and a succession of disasters at length compelled him to tender his submission to Aurungzebe. At a subsequent period, by a series of intrigues, he procured from the Emperor a recognition of his title of Rajah, and revised and completed the internal arrangements of his government. He then resumed his warlike habits, and took several important places; fitting out a powerful fleet also, calculated either to co-operate with his troops by land or to add to his wealth by successful piracy. By these means he possessed at his death, which occurred in 1680, a tolerably compact territory of considerable extent, and his personal wealth was immense.
But the Mahratta power declined in the hands of his son and successor, Sumbhajee, who was abandoned to sensual indulgence, and soon fell a victim to the power of Aurungzebe. In a few years after, however, a greater Mahratta force was in the field than Sevajee had ever commanded, and tribute was levied as usual on all adverse powers; till the Emperor appeared unexpectedly before Sattara, the capital and residence of the Rajah, which,
