A History of the Mahrattas v1.c26.25

v1.c26.25

Since the month of November, a body of the Peishwa’s troops, under Khundoojee Mankur, had been successfully employed against Toolajee Angria, and had, with the exception of Gheriah, reduced the whole of his forts along the coast to the northward of that place. No loss of any importance was sustained by them in the attacks, but at Rajapoor, one of the places which they took, after they had got possession, three hundred men were killed by an accidental explosion, owing to the careless manner in which the Mahrattas expose their gunpowder. When the English armament appeared off Gheriah, Toolajee repaired to the Mahratta camp for the purpose of making the best terms he could: Ramajee Punt³ and Khundoojee Mankur were negotiating for the surrender, which was deemed by the British authorities a violation of the agreement concluded in the preceding year; and therefore, in order to prevent their obtaining possession, Admiral Watson attacked the sea face on the 12th February, whilst Colonel Clive, landing with the troops the same night, invested it on the land side, so as to prevent the Mahrattas from having any communication with the garrison. If the Mahratta authorities intended to possess themselves of Gheriah in the manner alleged, which from several circumstances as well as their known chicane is more than probable, the British authorities might be deemed justifiable in anticipating them; but on this point and their subsequent attempt to keep the fort, the evidence is not so satisfactory as to allow our countrymen the merit of a decision entirely correct, or a disinterestedness wholly unimpeachable. Ramajee Punt had intimated, on the arrival of Admiral Watson, that he was in treaty, and promised to come on board for the purpose of obtaining the sanction of the Commissioners. He did not come at the time appointed, and his Carcoon had the assurance to offer Mr. Hough a bribe of any sum, on condition that he could get the Admiral to suspend operations. The Admiral, therefore, was certainly justified in commencing the attack; but it appears that the property contained in Gheriah was well known, and a committee of ten officers, of which Admirals Watson and Pocoke, Mr. Hough and Colonel Clive were members, had, before they left Bombay harbour, agreed to share the whole prize property, without reference to their allies.¹ If the Mahrattas had intelligence of this proceeding, they had an equal right to anticipate the English. Ramajee Punt, when he found Colonel Clive had occupied a position between him and the fort, perceived what was intended, and endeavoured to get in a few of his men by any means. With this view he made secret overtures to Captain Andrew Buchanan, the officer on picket, offering him a bill on Bombay for eighty thousand rupees, if he would permit him and a few of his people to pass into the fort, an offer which was rejected as became a British officer, but it is a circumstance worthy of notice, as elucidating the character of the times, that the Bombay Government thought common honesty so rare as to present Captain Buchanan with a gold medal, in consideration of his extraordinary good behaviour.