The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c7.s8.183

c7.s8.183

Early in 1679 Sámbháji deserted his father's cause and leaving Ráygad joined Sultán Mauzim, Aurungzeb's son, at Aurangabad.⁷ In return Shiváji ravaged the Musalmán territories up to near Surat. He also in the middle of the rains took possession of Khánderi or Kennery, which until now had been uninhabited, and fortified it, on which both the English and the Portuguese claimed the island.¹ On October 15 Daulat Khán, Shiváji's Musalmán admiral, brought his fleet to engage the English vessels which were watching Khánderi. The *Revenge* a sixteen-gun frigate, beat them off singlehanded, and they sailed off to the Nágothna river. Boats and troops however managed to get over to Khánderi a few at a time, notwithstanding the watch kept by the English vessels, and 5000 of Shiváji's troops came down to Kalyán to be ready to take advantage of any opening. The Sidi was now in open alliance with the English, as he had been in reality though in rather an arrogant way for several years: but after working with them for some time in the blockade of Khánderi he in January 1680 suddenly and secretly took possession of the neighbouring island of Underi or Hennery and began to fortify it, a proceeding which was scarcely more agreeable to his allies than to his enemies. Two engagements between the Sidi and Daulat Khán's ships followed, in the last of which the Maráthás lost 500 men, and were so much damaged that they sailed away to Rájápur to refit. The Sidi then sailed up the Panvel river, and burnt and pillaged without mercy. The English however now made a treaty with Shiváji, and being heartily tired of the Sidi's alliance, agreed to exclude him from Bombay harbour for the future.² This, as far as this district is concerned, may be considered the last event of Shiváji's life. After returning from an expedition into the Dakhan he died at Ráygad on April 5, 1680.³