The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities c17.3

c17.3

The first European nation to reach Indian waters in modern times were the Portuguese. Their powerful navy gave them an overwhelming advantage over the Indian princes and they were resolved to make the fullest use of it. They claimed the sovereignty of the sea and compelled all powers, friendly or otherwise, to respect their claim. None were allowed to navigate the Arabian Sea or the Indian Ocean without their express permission, and such permission had to be purchased by every trading vessel. Even Indian sovereigns were not exempted from this acknowledgement of Portuguese naval supremacy. In 1534 Bahadur Shah of Gujarat concluded a treaty with Nuno da Cunha, and one of the clauses clearly laid down that all ships sailing from Bahadur Shah's ports would have to come to Bassein to take *cartaz* from the officers of the King of Portugal, irrespective of their destination, exception being made only in favour of vessels bound for Mecca.¹ In 1547 Joao de Castro conceded to King Nizamshah free *cartazes* for five ships only, on condition that they should not give passage to any Turk.² In 1548 similar favours were granted to the Sultan of Bijapur by a treaty,³ but in a subsequent treaty concluded with that prince in 1574 it was stipulated that if any vessel sailing without Portuguese *cartazes* was seized in a port of Adilshah by his subjects, half of the prize should belong to the Portuguese and the other half to King Adilshah even if the captured boat happened to be the property of one of his subjects.¹ But it was not the Muhammadan princes alone who were subjected to these humiliating terms. In 1631 Virappa Naik, King of Canara, and the Zamorin of Calicut undertook not to allow any vessel to enter or leave their ports unless it had been furnished with a Portuguese cartaz.² Only small rowing vessels were allowed free ingress and egress.