The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c21.112

v4.c21.112

Bāji Rāo concentrated a large force at Poona in the cold weather of 1736-37, and being himself fully occupied with events in Hindūstān, he entrusted it to his brother Chimājī Appa. The Marāthā army moved down the passes with great speed and secrecy, and on 6 April, 1737, captured Thānā, which, as we have seen, commanded the southern entrance of the Salsette channel. Until the break of the monsoon, the Marāthās occupied their time in overrunning Salsette and reducing the fortresses on the island. As soon as the rains were over, they made a general assault on Bassein itself, but the storming party, 9000 strong, was completely defeated by its gallant defenders, who manned the walls, sword in hand, threw down the scaling-ladders, and killed or captured every one who reached the ramparts. Meanwhile the government of Goa, at last awake to the situation, sent two shiploads of troops under Pedro de Mello to the relief of Bassein. De Mello at once realised that Thānā was the key to the position: could he retake it, the Marāthā forces in Salsette would be cut off. But in the meantime, the Marāthās also received large reinforcements: Bāji Rāo's campaign in Mālwā had come to a successful conclusion, and Holkar and other Marāthā leaders had hastened to the scene of operations. De Mello was killed in action, and his troops were driven back to their boats in disorder.