Shivaji and His Times c13.s14: §18. The European traders during Shivaji's invasion
Shivaji and His Times c13.s14
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§18. The European traders during Shivaji's invasion
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As soon as Shivaji descended into the Karnatak plains (early in May 1677), the European traders on that coast hastened with presents to keep him amicably disposed towards them from the outset. On 14th May the English Governor of Madras received a letter from him, brought by his Brahman agent, Mahadji Pant, asking for some cordial stones (bezoar) and other counter-poisons. The English supplied these, together with Maldiv cocoanuts and presents worth 60 *hun*. These were acknowledged with thanks on the 25th, in Shivaji's letter from Vellore in which he asked for a fresh supply of "good counter-poisons," entreating the Governor "not to be bashful in asking for the cost," and sending a robe of honour for the Governor. But, again, the English supplied him with presents, worth 52 *hun*, (18th June.) Two Brahmans in the service of the English attended Shivaji's camp and sent news of his doings and intentions to Madras. On 22nd September, Shivaji again wrote to the Governor asking him to send 20 or 25 men who knew how to make gun-carriages and dig mines and blow up stone-walls, and promising to pay them very well. The Governor maintained his neutrality.
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∗ F. R. Surat 107, Madras to Surat, 27 May 1678; Martin; Snbh. 93; Malkaré, 82. Malkaré adds that Arni and Venidurg were left to the son of Vedaji Bhaskar, out of respect for Shahji's grant to him. Shivaji does not seem to have retained any of his conquests in eastern Mysore such as Kolar and Bangalore, after 1678. A late tradition runs that by a polite fiction, the Bangalore, Ooskota and Shilagutta parganas (i.e., the modern Mysore and Kolar districts) were handed back by him as a present to Vyankoji's wife for her wardrobe expenses!
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[Madras Diary, 1677, pp. 112-115; O.C. 4266; F.R. Madras, 27.]
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At the near approach of the Marathas and the consternation and flight among the people all around, Francois Martin, the Governor of Pondicherry, sent (22nd May) a Brahman to Shivaji at Vellore, with a letter appealing to him to protect the French factories in the Karnatak as he had hitherto protected them at Rajapur in his own dominions. This agent had three interviews with Shivaji who demanded French help in his war with Sher Khan, and finally asked what they would give him for leaving them in peace. The French pleaded poverty in consequence of their recent war with the Dutch and stoppage of trade. On 2nd July, Martin sent his Brahman agent again with a fresh appeal for protection written as from M. Baron, the director. Shivaji wished for a European envoy to be sent to him. Sieur Germain (with A. Cattel as interpreter) was accordingly sent to Shivaji's camp on the Kolerun, where they were introduced by Janardan Pant, and returned after three days with a farman of reassurance for Pondicherry. (August.) But the local Maratha officials of Shivaji who visited that city continued to extort money from the people. As Martin wrote, "It was nothing but a continual search for the men whom they believed to be capable of yielding money. The intendants are in concert with the governor (subahdar) of this province. All the ways of extracting money are permitted. The letters that were written to Shivaji had no effect at all." [Martin, tr. by me in Mod. Rev. Feb. 1924.]
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On 31st July the Chief of the Dutch factory at Tevenapatam (Cuddalore) waited on Shivaji at Tundum-gurti with presents (scarlet silk stuffs, sandal wood, rose water, Maldiv cocoanuts, cloves, and sword blades.) Shivaji was pleased and gave the party robes of honour. But some goods of their factory had been robbed and they asked for their restitution. Evidently they had no relief. As Martin writes, "The Dutch were as prisoners in their house at Tevenapatam and forced to give presents in order to have free entry and exit." [F. R. Madras 27; Martin.]