The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities c15.117

c15.117

The capture of the two Dutch ships was a tactical blunder; for, the next year witnessed the appearance of a Dutch fleet of eight men-of-war and some light vessels near the bar of Agoada intent upon making a demonstration against Gheria, one of Sambhaji’s naval strongholds. The Portuguese Viceroy, anxious to exploit every opportunity, at once proposed an alliance with the Dutch not only against the Angria, against whom they had a legitimate grievance, but also against the Marathas. The principle he advocated was that all European nations should act in concert against their Asiatic enemies. Nothing, however, came out of these negotiations, and the Dutch fleet soon left the Malabar coast without effecting anything.¹