The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities c15.105

c15.105

Sekhoji made an attempt to compose his differences with the English.² Their alliance with the Savant of Wari in 1730, though fruitless and ineffective, was a warning which he did not ignore. In 1731 the Portuguese fleet had again agreed to co-operate with the English against their common enemy at sea. Sekhoji, therefore, in June 1733 sent two envoys with proposals of peace to Bombay, but events over which he had no control prevented their acceptance. In that very year Peshwa Baji Rao had commenced a war against the Sidi of Janjira. The English and the Portuguese could not remain indifferent witnesses of the extermination of the only country power which offered any check to the naval supremacy of the Marathas. The Viceroy of Goa sent Antonio Cardim Froes with two ships to Janjira, ostensibly to mediate between the two combatants, but really to help the Sidi openly, should such assistance be absolutely necessary. The English openly sided with the Chief of Janjira, and this involved them in open hostility with Sekhoji, who was co-operating with the Peshwa. His brother, Manaji, had inflicted a defeat on the Sidi’s fleet and but for English intervention the island of Henery would certainly have changed masters. The English occupied the little island and hoisted their own flag there, to which Angria responded by an ineffectual bombardment from the neighbouring stronghold of Kenery. Shortly afterwards, the career of Sekhoji was cut short by his death, which occurred in September 1733. With his demise the most successful period of Maratha naval history came to a close.