The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities c17.48

c17.48

The English had by similar means procured freedom of navigation for their own vessels and those belonging to their servants and subjects. In 1713 Kanhoji Angria had undertaken not to molest English ships, but a controversy regarding the status of foreign vessels laden with English goods had led to a breach between the two powers. The subject was, therefore, more clearly dealt with in 1739, when a treaty was concluded between Baji Rao I and the Government of Bombay. Article 1 of that treaty runs as follows: ‘The English shall only issue passes to the Company’s vessels, the merchants or servants, dependents, belonging to the island of Bombay, or other places where the English have settlement, and the English shall not interfere with Baji Rav’s fleet, nor give convoy to foreign vessels; save that if two or three vessels should accidentally fall in company with the English, in such case Baji Rav’s fleet shall not molest them.’ And Article 2 provided that neither ‘the English, nor their subjects or dependents, shall not freight or put their effects on board any vessels not provided with passes from Baji Rav, but if any unavoidable necessity obliges them to the contrary of this, in case of such effects being seized by Baji Rav’s fleet they shall be restored to the owners, they proving their property therein.' But all restrictions were finally removed by the treaty of Salbye, Article 11 of which laid down that 'The Hon'ble East India Company and the Peshwa mutually agree that the vessels of each shall afford no disturbance to the vessels of the other and the vessels of each shall be allowed access to the ports of the other, where they shall meet with no molestation and the fullest protection shall be reciprocally afforded'.