A History of the Mahrattas v1.c22.78

v1.c22.78

After the rains the body of horse under Wenkut Rao Narrain Ghorepuray, the Peishwa’s brother-in-law, returned to the neighbourhood of Goa, whilst Chimnajee Appa was sent down with Sindia and Holkar into the Concan, attended by a very large army, a number of guns, and a vast body of infantry. Ranoojee Sindia, detached from the main army, took Kuttulwaree and Dannoo early in January, and before the month of February Seergaom was surrendered, and Kelwa and Tarrapoor were carried by storm. At the last-mentioned place the defence and assault were desperate: there were four mines constructed by the Mahrattas, two of which succeeded and effected large breaches in a bastion and curtain; the different leaders vied with each other in the attack, Bajee Bew Rao, Ramchundur Hurry, Yeswunt Rao Powar, and Tookajee Powar (the last an officer of Angria’s), rushed forward with their respective colours; but the Portuguese gallantly opposed them, and for a time success was doubtful. At length Ranoojee Bhonslay having crossed the ditch at a place where there was no breach, applied scaling ladders to the wall and entered sword in hand; ‘but the garrison,’ says Chimnajee Appa in his account of the attack, ‘still fought with the bravery of Europeans, and defended themselves till completely overpowered. The few that remained alive, amongst whom was their commander, Don Francis de Alarcao, demanded and received quarter.¹