New History of the Marathas v2.c25.30

v2.c25.30

The southern portion of the west coast was at this time controlled by Tulaji Angria who had his residence at Vijayadurg, and the northern portion by Ramaji Mahadev, the Peshwa’s governor of Kalyan, both strong and singular personalities, who during the last several years contracted bitter hatred towards each other. The Peshwa in the midst of his other serious pre-occupations, did not personally deal with the Angrias but left every affair in that region in the hands of this Ramajipant, thereby only adding fuel to the fire. The Portuguese of Goa who had lost Bassein in 1739, were trying their level best to get back their possession and readily joined every opponent of the Peshwas. The Savant of Wadi was a protege of the Peshwa and was brought to extremities both by Tulaji and the Portuguese. During 1751 Tarabai then bitterly opposing the Peshwa, instigated both the Portuguese and Tulaji Angria and promised the former the return of their territory of Bassein, if they would put down the Peshwa. It became the Peshwa’s policy therefore in this difficult situation, to prevent an alliance of the Portuguese of Goa and the English of Bombay. The Peshwa for some time was trying his utmost to gain the friendship of the English who bitterly hated Tulaji and gradually accepted the Peshwa’s overtures. The British, intent solely on self-interest with no more love for the Peshwa than for Tulaji, proposed to join the Peshwa in putting down Tulaji. War was going on between the French and the English on the east coast. The Peshwa agreed that he would not help the French on the east coast if the English did not help Tulaji on the west. The Peshwa’s only object in this proposal was to bring Tulaji under his control and prevent him from combining with the enemies of the Maratha State. It was no part of the Peshwa’s programme to destroy the Maratha navy owned by the Angria. Tulaji’s own irascible temper aggravated the situation. He was possessed by an inordinate hatred for the Peshwa and particularly for Ramaji Mahadev the Peshwa’s agent on the spot. He did not fall in with the Peshwa in executing the responsibilities of the Maratha State as a whole. He never showed the least inclination to come to terms with the Peshwa. Otherwise the latter would have gladly utilised his services and promoted the interests of such a valiant naval commander as Tulaji.