The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities c14.60

c14.60

² Ibid, Vol. 90, Pt. II, fol. 5. It should be noted that the English sometimes tried to keep the balance between the two enemy powers by extending their protection to Shivaji’s fleet, as they did in 1672. We read in a Bombay letter, dated 2 December, 1672 (Ibid, Vol. 106, Pt. II, fol. 24): ‘Wee have thought good to advise you that there is laid up in this harbour, six small vessells, belonging to Sevagee with his concent, all new and lately built at Cullian Buindy, wee give out here that wee have seized on them on account of our demands made to him, and wee desire you likewise to give out at Suratt that the onely reason why they are seized on here is to prevent their attempting the Surrat armada.’