A History of the Mahrattas v1.c12.92

v1.c12.92

Sivajee, however, kept his own garrisons in the territory of the Sawunts,² and drew their infantry to distant quarters. He likewise built Rairee, and Sindeedroog³ or Malwan, and having seen the advantage which the Seedee derived from his fleet, he used great exertions to fit out a marine. He rebuilt or strengthened Kolabah⁴; repaired Severndroog⁵ and Viziadroog⁶; and prepared vessels at all these places. His principal depôt was the harbour of Kolabah, twenty miles south of Bombay. He gave the command of his fleet to two persons, named Dureea Sagur and Mynak Bundaree,¹ and soon began to commit acts of piracy. The Portuguese, in order to prevent the ravages of the Mahratta fleet, sent an ambassador to Sivajee, who readily promised to refrain from molesting them, on condition of being supplied with some guns and warlike stores, to which they consented; and the demand, as might have been expected, was very frequently renewed.²