The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities c15.96

c15.96

Kanhoji Angria may be regarded as the second founder of the Maratha navy, just as Baji Rao I has been styled the second founder of the Maratha empire. He was inspired, as he wrote in his letter to Governor Phipps, by Shivaji’s example, and whatever may be said of his naval practices, he undoubtedly re-established Maratha prestige at sea. Even when he was at open war with the Portuguese, their subjects acknowledged his naval supremacy by purchasing his passports for their trading vessels. He defied the joint efforts of the English, the Portuguese and the Sidi, and in his wars by land and sea he had given evidence not only of good seamanship but also of wise diplomacy. In his foreign relations he could hardly be accused of treachery or faithlessness. Regarding the interpretation of Article 5 of the treaty of 1713, which provided the immediate cause of his war with the English in 1718, there was room for an honest difference of opinion. He never violated the treaty which his master, on his behalf and on behalf of the Maratha State in general, had concluded with the Portuguese State in India in January 1722. In October of that year his fleet met some Portuguese boats on the high seas but permitted them to proceed on their journey as soon as their nationality was known.² In 1723 he permitted Portuguese vessels to take provisions at the port of Gheria,¹ and, according to Portuguese accounts, the Angrias never interfered with their merchantmen or fighting fleet until they were at war with the Peshwa's Government. On the other hand, one eminent Portuguese writer, who was intimately acquainted with the inner policy of the Goa Government, cynically informs us that they secretly helped the Sardesai of Kudal in his war against Kanhoji Angria, because they preferred to have the weaker of the two combatants as their next door neighbour.²