The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities c14.63.1

c14.63.1

Shivaji, however, was resolved to prevent the Sidi’s depredations; and in order to bring force to bear upon the English, he sent Mai Naik and Daulat Khan to occupy the small and hitherto uninhabited ilsand of Kenery. The twin islands of Henery and Kenery commanded, to a certain extent, the harbour of Bombay, and once established there, it would not have been difficult to surprise the Janjira fleet. The English had by some means obtained notice of Shivaji’s design. On 4 September 1679, the Surat council issued an order to the Bombay authorities ‘that they immediately erect an English flag on the highest part of the Island (and if it may be done without any danger from the Mallabars) that a file of souldiers be kept there to guard it; and the Hunter friggat be ordered to attend upon them, plying up and downe neere the said Island giving the Commander orders, in a friendly way to acquaint those that are appointed by Sevagee, for the management of that designe, when they offer to erect their fort, that the Island belongs to His Majesty of Great Brittaine, and that none can attempt anything upon the place, without an open breach of friendship’. ² But the resolution came too late; the Marathas had acted more promptly than the English anticipated, and Mai Naik with 150 men was already in possession of the island and had raised a clumsy breastwork of dirt and stone, with guns behind it, before the English were prepared to step in.