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270 that "all the Muhammadan governors as far as Singclay and Dutchole were fled," and in consequence the petty robbers on the route became more active than usual. In June Shivaji returned from Vingurla after leaving a garrison of 2,000 soldiers there. Shortly before this Shaista Khan had defeated a Maratha army, killing more than 200 men. {Ibid, Gyffard to Surat, 24th May and 22nd June 1663.)

In July the Bijapur Government ordered the governor of Ponda to join forces with the Savant of Vadi and other petty Rajahs and try to drive Shivaji 's men out of Rajapur and Kharepatan. But nothing was done, as "there was juggling between them, and he remained possessed of all." (Ibid, 20th July 1663, Vol. 86, Surat to Co., 20th November 1663.) In punishment of Rustam-i-Zaman's secret friendship with Shiva, the Sultan dismissed him from his viceroyalty and gave the province to Muhammad Ikhlas Khan, the eldest son of the late Khan-i-Khanan Ikhlas Khan and a brother of Khawas Khan, while Dabhol and Chiplun were given to Fazl Khan. Shivaji got possession of Rajapur at this time and kept it permanently in his own hands. (Ibid.)

Rustam's agent at Karwar fleeced the English factors there so severely that in July 1663 they were ordered by the Council at Surat to remove themselves and the Company's goods quietly to Hubli. Adil Shah and Rustam-i-Zaman alike were sensible of the loss of revenue caused by such molestation of