New History of the Marathas v2.c24.s1.6

v2.c24.s1.6

But the Portuguese had not been idle. They fully utilised the interval of Maratha distraction during 1738. Fresh succours arrived for them from Europe, and they started a great offensive against the Marathas in 1738. Mahadaji Pant Phadke, a daring Maratha captain lost his life in the attempt against Mahim, another Portuguese post and thereby caused a sort of general depression among the Maratha soldiery. So when Chimnaji resumed operations towards the end of 1738, he had to face a serious situation. At the risk of ruining his failing health, Chimnaji proceeded to the theatre of war and started a determined campaign, a life and death struggle regardless of losses. The Portuguese made a last heroic effort to recapture Thana, in which a chance shot from the Maratha garrison killed the valiant Portuguese commander Pedro de Mello, while inspecting the defences from his boat rowing through the creek. This was a portent of coming events to the Portuguese and served to cool their ardour. It at the same time roused the Maratha spirits to an unprecedented height : nor was the lure of pecuniary reward neglected by Chimnaji at this critical moment, as he held plentiful funds collected during several years of profitable expeditions by Bajirao in north India. In the month of December Chimnaji descended into Konkan with his very best commanders and select troops and occupied the marshy regions traversed by the various creeks, examined the terrain and formed concerted plans for simultaneous storming, assigning duties with definite instructions and inculcating care and caution. All conceivable preliminaries and precautions added to a spirit of buoyant hope and pre-vision, alone yielded the desired result. The Portuguese contested every inch of the ground and defended their positions with the courage of desperation, so that even if overcome, they would make victory as costly to the Marathas as possible. Chimnaji was ever on the move like lightning throughout the difficult months from November to June.