New History of the Marathas v2.c24.s1.3

v2.c24.s1.3

The Peshwa's ambition to extend Maratha supremacy and protect the Hindu religion is responsible for the friction that existed between them and the Portuguese on the west coast. The religious fanaticism of the Catholics and their persecution of the Hindus embittered their mutual relations and frequent complaints reached the Peshwa from the Hindu inhabitants of north Konkan crying for redress. The religious zeal of the Portuguese manifested itself in atrocious persecution of the non-Christian residents in their territory. They demanded tribute from ships plying on the west coast and interfered with the native chiefs in their legitimate spheres. Thus the Portuguese government became a scourge and a terror to the natives of the coastal regions. They forced whole villages to embrace Christianity at the point of the sword. On the death of the head of a family the minor children were taken possession of by the priests and compelled to kiss the cross. The Hindus were forbidden to practise their religious rites and ceremonies. Temples were pulled down and churches raised on their sites. Men of position and standing were falsely accused by the priests and forcibly converted. These methods although lately much softened, had become so intolerable that the Peshwa had to take up arms in defence of his religion.