The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities c15.36

c15.36

In his treaty, or more accurately his agreement, with Shahu, Kanhoji showed wisdom and moderation. Recognising that his strength lay mainly in the sea, he relinquished his recent conquests on the mainland. The possession of the coast, on the other hand, was essential not only for the maintenance of uninterrupted communication between different ports, but also its revenue on which the navy, as in Shivaji's days, ordinarily depended. He, therefore, received from Shahu Rajmachi and other places and the important island of Kenery.² In acknowledging Shahu's supremacy, he recognised the right of the stronger of the two claimants to the headship of the Maratha Government; and although he thereby incurred the displeasure of Sambhaji of Kolhapur, he practically secured himself from any invasion from the mainland by the promise of the Peshwa to help him whenever occasion should arise. This treaty was concluded in the latter part of 1713 or in the earlier months of 1714. As an immediate result of it the Sidi after further territorial losses came to terms with the Angria and withdrew altogether from the struggle, leaving the Portuguese to carry on the war alone. This explains the bitter complaints made by the Viceroy in 1715 against the Chief of Janjira. In 1716 the Portuguese sought a new ally in the Raja of Kolhapur with whom they concluded an offensive and defensive alliance against Kanhoji;³ but Sambhaji of Kolhapur possessed neither energy nor ability and the net result of these diplomatic efforts was nil. The Angria’s fleet rode the sea boldly, seizing merchantmen of all nationalities which had omitted to purchase his passports, and the Portuguese found themselves powerless to circumscribe his activities. Of all their possessions on the coast, Chaul suffered most; for the main source of its income was the volume of dutiable commerce which suffered heavily from Angria’s interference. His fleet, which originally consisted of eight or ten small Gallivats, now comprised far more than forty vessels of varying type; and adventurers of all nationalities, European and Asiatic, flocked to his service. It was, indeed, reported that Kanhoji boasted that he could capture Chaul whenever he liked. But luckily for the Portuguese they soon found an ally more formidable than the weak Sidi or the incapable Sambhaji. In 1721, only eight years after the conclusion of their treaty with Kanhoji, the English formed an offensive and defensive alliance with the Portuguese against him, though their actual breach with the Maratha admiral had taken place much earlier.