The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities c6.5

c6.5

The first of these letters was addressed to Shivaji by Pedro d'Almeida, Conde de Assumar, Viceroy of the Portuguese State in India, on 10 January 1678. It runs as follows: ‘Pitambar Shenvi, the envoy of Your Highness, gave me a memorial on certain negotiations that speaks of some letters delivered to the Viceroy, my predecessor, to which he had given no reply, for he was at that time occupied with some business. I immediately ordered a diligent search for them in the secretariat and I shall try to ascertain the particulars of which they treated, so that I may negotiate with Your Highness (on the subject). The envoy has delivered to me the much esteemed letter of Your Highness, in which Your Highness expresses satisfaction at my arrival, informing me of your health and the progress of your arms, which delighted me much, (for) it is in accord with the excellent friendship that Your Highness always had with this state, and Your Highness may be assured of the continuation of the good relation between us without any failure on my part as the Prince, my master, recommended to me. Your Highness asks me to write to the captains of the fortresses of Bassein and Daman that they should pay to Your Highness the *chauth* that has been always paid to the Chauthia, as Your Highness is now in possession of his territories, I order the said captains to enlighten me (about it), for having arrived here only a few days ago, I have till now got little information on this subject, and when their reply arrives I shall advise Your Highness to send a person with powers to make a settlement with the people I nominate, after an examination of the terms of the contract by which the said *chauth* was settled and the conditions on which it was conceded. Your Highness may be certain that when it is proved that Your Highness is the absolute master of the said territories, there will remain no doubt about paying to Your Highness what has been paid to the said Chauthia. As to the rest of what Your Highness tells me in your letter, I observe to Your Highness that the Portuguese are better as friends than as enemies, and as Your Highness is so wise, you should consider these things with care, that our amity may be preserved and augmented, and Your Highness will always find in me a faithful friend. May God illuminate the person of Your Highness in His Grace.¹ Two other letters were addressed on the same date to Annaji Datto and Moropant Pingle. The letter written to Annaji could not be deciphered; but in the epistle addressed to the Peshwa, reference is made to his demand for chauth, and the answer is exactly similar to that in the letter quoted above.² The Viceroy being a recent arrival in India, was bound to enquire into the justice of the Maratha claims.