Shivaji and His Times c16.s3.10

c16.s3.10

Lakham Savant and other desais of the country immediately north of Goa, had opposed Shivaji's advance at the end of 1664, but they had been signally defeated, deprived of their lands and forced to flee to the Portuguese district of Bardes, from which they fitted out expeditions for recovering their former possessions. (Ch. 10 §4.) The viceroy's repeated warnings to them to maintain peace had no effect, and at last on 19th November 1667, Shivaji's forces made a dash into Bardes in order to punish these desais, and carried off a number of Portuguese subjects and cattle. The viceroy complained to Shivaji against this act of war while he was maintaining amity. He sent (24th Nov.) Ramoji Shenvi Kotari as his envoy to the Maratha king, who replied in friendly terms. Next, Shivaji's agent Sakho Pant came to Goa and a treaty of peace was arranged, (signed by the viceroy on 5th December and sealed by Shivaji on the 11th.) Father Gonsalo Martins, S.J., was sent by the viceroy to Shivaji's Court to get the treaty ratified and take delivery of the released captives. It was also promised in this treaty that trade between Portuguese India and Shivaji's territory above the Ghats would no longer be obstructed by his officers.