The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities c15.111

c15.111

For our information about the maritime operations of the two Angria brothers during the Maratha-Portuguese wars we are mainly indebted to contemporary Portuguese letters and narratives. In 1735 the Portuguese fleet encountered two *Pals* of Sambhaji Angria and put them to flight after half an hour’s fighting.¹ In 1738 however his arms were more successful, for a Portuguese *Pal* belonging to Diu surrendered to Sambhaji’s captains near Dahanu without much resistance.² In the same year a squadron of Sambhaji’s fleet consisting of five *Pals* and eleven *Gallivats* captured the Portuguese *pataxo*³-of-war, *Sao Migual*, near Gheria, and Antonio Fernandes informed Conde de Unhao that this *Pataxo* carried on board a cargo of ivory worth 100,000 Xerafins and other merchandise of great value belonging to the traders of Goa.⁴ He had also captured, as we learn from the same source, three *Parangues*, one of which had on board forty thousand Rupees in cash alone. These successes naturally emboldened Sambhaji’s men, and the Portuguese captains, convoying the grain boats from the south, were alarmed at the news that Angria’s fleet was waiting for them. Their relief may be imagined when they shortly afterwards learnt that Sambhaji had sighted two Dutch vessels, captured them and carried them to Gheria, leaving his principal opponents to bring their much needed provisions safely to port.⁵ Had he waited a little longer, Sambhaji might have intercepted the whole fleet. This would have involved the earlier capitulation of Bassein, but Sambhaji cared more for his own immediate profit than for the rapid success of the Peshwa’s arms.