Administrative System of the Marathas c18.s28.22

c18.s28.22

"A merchantman with a cargo on board on its way to Bassein was taken by pirates. From them it was recovered by men serving in the navy under you and you also came to know that the ship belonged to the merchants * * *. Therefore enquire whether the ship belongs to the merchants and Krishnaji Raghunath. If it belongs to them, restore to them the cargo that you may have found and the gallibat, and get from them an acknowledgment of receipt." It is to be noted that no salvage money is mentioned in any part of the document; such an item was not likely to be omitted by a Maratha officer, because even *antast* or bribe is mentioned in state papers.⁴¹