All the ports of the Ratnagiri district did much trade also in calicoes, silks, grain and coarse lac, though pepper was their chief export, "which coming out of Kanara is sent by sea to Persia, Surat and Europe. This country is the storehouse for all its neighbours."
(Bom. Gaz., x. 175.)
§2. Shivaji's conflict with the English at Rajapur.
After the disastrous failure of Afzal Khan, Rustam-i-Zaman had marched against Shivaji (October, 1659) with 3,000 horse, but this show of hostility was made simply to save his credit with his king. The queen-regent, Bari Sahiba, being his enemy, he had made a secret alliance with Shivaji for self -protection. This fact was well-known to the country around, and even the English factors had heard of it. But even if Rustam had been in earnest, he could have done little with his small army.
Shivaji had followed up his victory over Afzal's army by pushing on to Panhala and capturing that fort. Then he entered the Ratnagiri district and began to "take possession of all the port and inland towns." The Bijapuri governors of these places fled to Rajapur, which was at first spared, "because it belonged to Rustam-i-Zaman, who is a friend of Shivaji." (Rajapur to Surat, 10th October 1659, F. R. Rajapur.)
On the fall of Dabhol, its defeated governor made his escape to Rajapur with three junks of
