A History of the Mahrattas v1.c22.60

v1.c22.60

Thāna fell into the hands of the Marāthās, the Bombay Council, which was doubtful what policy to adopt, decided to send ‘Rāmji Parbhu, a person of capacity and experience,’ to discover Chimnāji Appa’s intentions. In 1738, in reply to an appeal for help from the Portuguese, the Governor of Bombay wrote: ‘I dare not hazard to increase our charges by a rash and abrupt declaration of war against these people (Marāthās), not only without the orders of my superiors, but without a force to support and carry it through with dignity and reputation.’ The Council, however, lent some money to the Portuguese ‘at the hazard of our own private fortunes, in case of the same being disavowed by our employers.’]