The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c7.s8.159

c7.s8.159

The Moghals had continued to hold the ports of Máhuli and Karnála, two of the most famous in the Konkan; but in 1670 when after nearly three years' truce open hostilities again broke out, these two forts were besieged, and the latter taken without much trouble. At Máhuli however Moro Pant was at first repulsed with a loss, it is said, of a thousand men, but after a second repulse and a siege of two months the place surrendered, and the whole province of Kalyán was taken before the rains.⁴ During this time proceedings were going on in the Konkan with a view to the capture of Janjira. The historian Kháfi Khán was then in that district and has given a long account of what took place, but it need only here be said that Shiváji was himself present in this year, and that Fateh Khán the Sidi who was in the Bijápur interest, abandoned Dánda-Rájápur and took refuge in Janjira, and was willing to surrender even that. But three of the other Sidis prevented this, and having deposed Fateh Khán put themselves and the state under the protection of the Moghals. Khán Jahán the Imperial general sent ships to assist them, and during this year and the next there were frequent naval fights between these and Shiváji's fleet, in which the Moghals and Abyssinians were often victorious.⁵ At the end of 1670 Shiváji sent a large fleet up the coast, of which the Portuguese captured twelve vessels and took them into Bassein. The Marátha fleet, however, took a large Portuguese ship and brought her in triumph to Dábhol.⁶ The Sidis were now as anxious to take Dánda-Rájápur as Shiváji was to get Janjira, and on one occasion, apparently the Holi of 1672, took advantage of Shiváji’s absence to land and destroy the fortifications. At the same time the Sidi took several forts in the neighbourhood, one of which held out for a week, after which it surrendered on the promise of quarter. But when seven hundred people had come out the Sidi put the men to death, made slaves of the children and pretty women, and released only the old and ugly. For these services he was well rewarded by the Emperor.¹ While this was going on Shiváji twice brought troops down from Ráygad to retaliate, and sent a force under Moro Pandit to burn the Moghal ships at Surat, but in this he did not succeed.² He however took possession of various places (in the Bassein and Dahánu sub-divisions apparently) which had hitherto belonged to Koli Rájás. He made an attempt on the fort at Ghodbandar, then with the rest of Sálsette belonging to the Portuguese, but was repulsed.³ In November 1672 he marched from Ráygad with ten thousand men, levied a large contribution from the Dakhan, and returned to Ráygad without interruption.⁴