The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities c6.57

c6.57

² According to a manuscript chronicle entitled *Rellacao da guerra que o Inimigo Marata fes no Estado da India, e dos progrecos della desde o dia seis de abril de 1737 the os primeiros de janerio de 1741 com algua’s noticias das antecedencias e principios que teve origem a mesma guerra* (Archivo Ultramarino of Lisbon, fundo geral, No. 1605), the Marathas began to demand *sardeshmukhi* (or as the Portuguese writer calls it, ‘a decima parte de rendimento’) from the Portuguese Province of the North as early as 1718, but it was not until 1739 that the Viceroy Conde de Sandomil agreed to pay 40 per cent. of the revenue. Vyankat Rao, the Maratha General, had penetrated into the Portuguese territories as far as Margao and his retreat had to be purchased at any price. And besides the 40 per cent. of the revenue the Viceroy further agreed to pay an indemnity of 20 lakhs of Rupees. The 40 per cent. probably consisted of 25 per cent. *chauth*, 10 per cent. *sardeshmukhi* and five per cent. *ghasdana*. Only one instalment of the indemnity was paid but when a Maratha General entered into the Portuguese territories to realise the promised tribute during the second viceroyalty of Marquez do Lourical, he was expelled by force of arms. See *Relacam das victorias alcancadas na India contra o inimigo Marata sendo Viceroy daquelle Estado o Illustrissimo e Excellentissimo D. Luiz Carlos Ignacio Xavier de Meneses V. Conde da Ericeira e I. Marquez do Lourical*, pp. 9-15.