The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c7.s8.272

c7.s8.272

Thus the rule both of the Sidi and of Angria being broken, and the Moghals got rid of, the Marátha state had again become the chief power in the Konkan. The time had arrived when they might hope to make a successful attack on the Portuguese and by driving them out of their old possessions unite the whole province under Native rule. No particular pretext for attacking the Portuguese was necessary, for war was the natural state of these powers on the coast and peace the exception, and it was not likely that the "Government of the Konkani Bráhmans," as it was called since the Peshwás had become virtually the rulers of the state, should much longer endure the presence of foreigners in their native district. It appeared also in the result that, except in two or three places, the Portuguese were not in a position to offer much defence,⁵ although trusting rather to their old prestige than to their present strength, they did not scruple to give the Maráthás provocation. In 1737 they again allied themselves with Sambháji Angria and attempted to take Kolába from Mánáji, whom the Peshwa was sent to support.⁶ The intolerance as to religious matters from which the native subjects of Portugal suffered has already been described, and it is said that the Hindu inhabitants of Sálsette complained of "the intemperate zeal with which it was attempted to convert them to the Roman Catholic faith, and to subject them to the terrors of the Inquisition.¹ The Maráthás therefore invaded Sálsette in April 1737, and having taken Ghodbandar and put the garrison to the sword speedily got command of the Bassein river, and so prevented any succour being sent from Bassein. The fortifications of Thána were incomplete as has already been mentioned, and the Governor of Sálsette retired to Karanja with unnecessary haste.² Thána was however defended, and not taken till two assaults had been repulsed, the capitulation being assisted by the Maráthás seizing the families of the defenders and threatening to slaughter them.³ The English sent men and ammunition to assist in the defence of Bándra, but finding it untenable they induced the Portuguese to destroy the fortifications and abandon the place.⁴ The great church of St. Anne with the Jesuits' college, standing on the site of the present slaughter-houses, was then destroyed, and also the church of Our Lady of the Mount now generally known as Mount Mary, which was rebuilt in 1761, the great crosses of the two older buildings alone remaining. There being no other places of much strength in the island, Sálsette was thus practically lost to the Portuguese. The Peshwa thought it necessary to send a very large force to the Konkan, but being at the time much pressed in the north of India was soon obliged to withdraw a great part of it. Encouraged by this the Portuguese in 1738 made some gallant efforts, and at Asheri defeated the Marátha army and were preparing to attempt the recovery of Thána, but it was too late.