A History of the Mahrattas v2.c44.25.2

v2.c44.25.2

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;