. Indika. The country and the people of India and Ceylon . nguishedhimself by brilliant achievements on many fields of battle Heprepared the way for the wonderful military triumphs of Sivaji,one of the greatest warriors of history. The career f Sivajiabounds in romance. Through the (piiet teaching of a Hindupreceptor, his mind became early imbued with a desire to drivethe Mohammedans out of India. He took delight in the mythol-ogy of his people, and regarded himself of royal blood and wor-thy of a great throne. His imagination revelled in the prospeelof a mighty empire. He was not taught the r
. Indika. The country and the people of India and Ceylon . nguishedhimself by brilliant achievements on many fields of battle Heprepared the way for the wonderful military triumphs of Sivaji,one of the greatest warriors of history. The career f Sivajiabounds in romance. Through the (piiet teaching of a Hindupreceptor, his mind became early imbued with a desire to drivethe Mohammedans out of India. He took delight in the mythol-ogy of his people, and regarded himself of royal blood and wor-thy of a great throne. His imagination revelled in the prospeelof a mighty empire. He was not taught the refinements of evena general education, and never learned to write liis name. Afirm faith in his own religion, and an intimate knowledge of allthe resources of Oriental warfare, were his sole acquirementswhen, with a fearless spirit, he went forth for empire. Whenonly nineteen years of age he captured the hill fort of Tornea,near Puna, and thenceforward war to the knife was his meatand drink. Sivaji was outwardly friendly to the Mogul emperor, but. 62 INDIRA. sought the first opportunity to betray his interests. In hismarch to power, no falsehood or treachery was too base forhim, if he could gain new territory. While his own hands werered with the blood of his enemies, and he did not hesitate to slaughter a strong foe in private, he washumane to his captives taken in method in warfare was that of thefreebooter. He stands out as the greatestraider of whom we have any account inhistory. He had a large army at com-mand, which burst down from its retreatin the Western Ghats, crushed proud andvictorious foes, captured large booty, fled AN OUTCAST HINDU, llll ? 1 • 4. J ? 4. quickly back again, and waited its time BERAR. 1 J O for another destructive soldiers were planters in seed-time ; then they left for bloodywarfare, and only came back to be reapers in harvest. At allother times they were on horseback, with deadly weapons, readyfor any daring enterprise
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