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1676] important military command was most probably given to him, though the Maratha chroniclers are silent about the unhappy renegade. (F. R. Surat 89, Rajapur to Surat, 24 July, 1676.) The premier (Peshwa) Moro Trimbak Pingle was left as Regent, assisted by Annaji Datto the superintendent of correspondence (Surnis) and Dattaji Trimbak the chronicler (Waqnis), with a portion of the army to guard the kingdom. The Konkan districts were entrusted to Annaji Datto "with strong garrisons and a large body of disposable infantry." (Chit. 135-6 differs from Sabh. 85-87.) With Golkonda close friendship and co-operation were secured. Madanna Pandit, the all-powerful wazir of Abul Hassan Qutb Shah, had already made a subsidiary alliance with Shiva, promising him an annual tribute of one lakh of hun for the defence of the realm. Prahlad Niraji, a shrewd diplomatist, had been posted at Haidarabad as Maratha envoy. Shivaji decided to get from Golkonda the expenses of the campaign and the assistance of an auxiliary force, by promising a share of the conquest. But he was careful to avoid the least show of force, and trusted to his personal magnetism and power of persuasion in winning Qutb Shah's consent.

He wrote to his envoy at Haidarabad to arrange for a friendly interview between him and Qutb Shah. The indolent and gay king of Haidarabad was at first afraid of meeting the man who had slain Afzal,