The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c7.s9.97

c7.s9.97

the making of any treaty. Active operations being then begun various posts between Sálsette and the Gháts were occupied by our troops early in 1780,¹ chiefly to prevent the Maráthás from cutting off supplies from Bombay; for Sálsette which had formerly been so flourishing and prosperous was now pining in decay, so that a few years afterwards it is described as "not cultivating a sufficient quantity of grain to maintain the town and garrison of Thána."² This may no doubt be attributed to our Government having held to the Marátha system introduced after the death of Báláji Bájiráo of farming the lands to the highest bidder. The main part of the army was employed in Gujarát, and it was not till May that Colonel Hartley was sent into the Konkan.² A small detachment had possession of Kalyán, and was besieged by a large Marátha army, which was to make the attack on May 25, but Colonel Hartley fortunately arrived on the twenty-fourth, and beating up the Marátha camp in the night drove them out of that part of the Konkan. Two battalions were left at Kalyán for the rains, and on August 3 an attempt was made to surprise the fortress of Malangad (Bhau Malan) which was not successful.³ Our force, however, occupied the lower works of the fort, and was there surrounded by 3000 Maráthás until relieved by Colonel Hartley on October 1. The next day the Maráthás again took up a threatening position, but Hartley attacked them with such spirit that they shortly afterwards retreated up the Gháts. The rigours of this war are shown by the fact of three emissaries of the Poona government having been blown from guns at Thána in October.⁴