A History of the Mahrattas v2.c44.25

Language: English

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do not appear to have been aware that there was a distinction between the pirates of Waree and Malwan until 1765, when, on the 7th April of that year, they concluded a treaty of nineteen articles with the Dessaye, whom they distinguished by his ancient family name of Bhonslay, or, as written in their records, the Bouncello.¹ Of this treaty not one article was observed by the Mahrattas. Mr. Mostyn was therefore deputed in 1766 to conclude some settlement, and obtained an obligation for two lacks of rupees, with a promise on the part of the Dessaye to refrain from further aggressions, on condition that the Bombay Government should restore Rairee. The money could only be raised by a mortgage on the revenues of the district of Vingorla ² for thirteen years, and to induce the mortgagee, Wittoojee Koomptee, to advance the stipulated sum, Mr. Mostyn, in addition to two hostages procured from Waree, was obliged to promise that a small factory should be established, and the English flag hoisted under the protection of a few Sepoys, to be left in the fort of Vingorla. This arrangement being concluded, Rairee was restored in the end of 1766. A very short time, however, had elapsed, when the hostages made their escape, and the agents of Wittoojee Koomptee were driven from the stations where they were collecting the revenue. Much remonstrance and negotiation followed, but nothing specific was effected.

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At last, when the thirteen years expired, the Sawunts, although they had prevented the mortgagee from recovering the revenue, demanded restitution of the district, which being refused, they attacked and took Vingorla on the 4th June, 1780, with a considerable quantity of private and some public property belonging to the English. The piracies of the Sawunts of Waree were henceforth renewed, and the marriage of Kem Sawunt to Luximee Bye,¹ the niece of Mahadajee Sindia, although a connexion more splendid than honourable, increased their arrogance, especially whilst the English were too much occupied to send a force against them. The Raja of Kolapoor, seeing the depredations of the Sawunts escape with impunity, returned to his former habits; and thus piracy became as prevalent as ever. Complaints on the subject were made by the English to Mahadajee Sindia, who promised to oblige his relations to restore their captures; and the Raja of Kolapoor was also induced to promise a liquidation of all balances, and to abstain from further aggressions on the English. The conditions were not enforced, and of course such temporizing measures only encouraged a repetition of robbery and insult. In the end of the year 1789 the English had resolved to adopt more active measures, and had determined to crush those depredators;

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but in their extreme anxiety at that time to avoid giving offence to the Poona court, a doubt suddenly arose as to the propriety of attacking the Raja of Kolapoor: for so ignorant were they at this late period of the existing relations in the Mahratta state, that they supposed him a dependant of the Peishwa. When the question was referred to Nana Furnuwees, he foresaw, as he conceived, an opportunity of drawing in the Kolapoor state to seek the Peishwa’s protection, and ultimately to yield obedience to the Poona government. Accordingly, by Nana’s address, the Raja was at first induced to accept the Peishwa’s mediation; but afterwards suspecting the design and hearing of the hostilities in which the English were about to be engaged with Tippoo, he suddenly revoked his consent, and piracy was never more frequent on the coast of Malabar than during the war with Mysore. It was an attempt to mediate between the Bombay Government and the Sawunts of Waree, that led the former to accuse Sindia of the improper interference to which we have alluded. However, some compromise through Sindia was agreed on with respect to the Sawunts, and an armament was prepared against the Kolapoor Raja in 1792.

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But the expedition never took place, as in consequence of his offering indemnification to individuals, promising to pay the balance due to the Company on or before January, 1795, granting permission to establish factories at Malwan and Kolapoor, and tendering the humblest apologies for his misconduct, the numerous aggressions he had committed were once more overlooked, and a treaty was concluded with him on the terms he thus proposed. But no benefit resulted from it; on the contrary, in the ensuing year there were complaints not only against the Raja of Kolapoor, but against the Sawunts, Angria, and Dhoolup, for the capture or plunder of British ships; and it is no slight stigma on the British Indian administration that this system of piracy was not finally suppressed until the year 1812.