The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c7.s8.258

c7.s8.258

The civil war amongst the Maráthás which followed almost immediately on the death of Aurangzeb and the release of Sháhu from captivity were not likely to improve the condition of any part of the country, and from this time the Konkan chiefly suffered from the divisions among the Maráthás themselves. Sháhu advanced as far as Rángna, south of the Phonda Ghát, and laid siege to the fort, and Tárábái, widow of Rájárám, fled to Málvan. Sháhu did not however descend into the Konkan, and Tárábái in 1710, having collected a force and being supported by the Sávants, again went up the Gháts and established herself at Kolhápur. In the discords that thus arose between Shiváji's descendants Kánhoji Angria became the greatest power in the Konkan, having possession of the coast from Sávantvádi to Bombay, and extending his authority into the province of Kalyán.⁴ Orme says that Kánhoji held Suvarndurg against Sháhu and that the latter built the Harnai forts in order to reduce him to obedience, but Kánhoji took them.⁵ This must probably have happened between 1707 and 1713. The Maráthás in 1707 equipped a fleet of sixty vessels under a leader independent of Angria to cruise between Bombay and Goa, partly to make what they could by piracy themselves and partly to oppose the Arab pirates, who were now thoroughly organised and had ships carrying from thirty to fifty guns.¹ Between 1712 and 1720 four actions are recorded between the Portuguese and the Arabs, the first of which was at the mouth of the Rájpuri river. In the last three the Portuguese are said to have been successful; but these successes are spoken of in terms which show the strength and position of the pirates.²