A History of the Mahrattas v1.c17.188

v1.c17.188

¹ [The invasion of Bombay by the Sīdī is described in a letter from Bombay to the Court of Directors of January 25, 1698. The Sīdī landed with 20,000 men, seized the small fort at Sivri (or Sewri), plundered Māhīm and hoisted his flag in Mazagon fort, which had been abandoned. By February 15, 1689, he was master of the whole island, except the castle and a stretch of land to the south of it. From April to September 1689, Bombay was in very sorry plight. In December Child dispatched two envoys to Aurangzeb to sue for peace, the request for which was aided indirectly by certain external political factors; and finally in February 1690, the Emperor granted a new firman to the Company, which had to pay him Rs. 150,000 in satisfaction of Mughal losses, and to promise to expel ‘Mr. Child, who did the disgrace.’ The Sīdī finally left Bombay on June 8, 1890, nearly a year and a half after his first landing at Sivri. (B.C.G., ii. 83–85.)]