The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c7.s9.191

c7.s9.191

The treaty of Poona in June 1817 which was concluded after several months of resistance to the British demands, gave our Government possession of the whole of the North Konkan, described as "the districts of Bailápoor, Autgong, and Culleaun, and all the territories to the north of those districts as far as Gujarát lying between the Gháts and the sea."² It was intended also to procure the cession of the Southern Konkan to complete our command of the coast and because it was believed to be "a fertile country full of strong military positions," but being the native country of the Peshwa and of almost all the principal Bráhman families³ connected with the Poona government so much opposition was made that the cession could not be insisted upon.⁴ The delivery of Ráygad as well as Sinhgad and Purandhar had in the previous month been demanded as an earnest of the Peshwa's intention to act fairly by us,⁵ and Mr. Elphinstone in a despatch of May 9 wrote that in the event of war there was little doubt that Bájiráv would fly to Ráygad where he might establish himself during the rains without the possibility of military operations being undertaken against him.¹ As however on this occasion the Peshwa yielded at the last moment he lost his last chance of saving himself by the old Marátha safeguard of retreating to the Konkan forts. It is possible that his experiences of Ráygad and Suvarndurg in 1802-3 rendered him less ready to shut himself up in the Konkan than Mr. Elphinstone anticipated. It was said that he had entrusted the principal forts to some of his chief officers, Revdanda being made over to Angria's diwán, and it was believed that the forts were in a better state of defence than proved to be the case.²