Volume 1

Materials towards a statistical account of the town and island of Bombay in three volumes.

  • Bombay Presidency
Date:
1893-1894
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Materials towards a statistical account of the town and island of Bombay in three volumes. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    203/522 (page 185)
    Material SvI AND ISLAND. 185 certain what force the Portuguese can raise. An idle proposal has been made for permitting the Marathas to conquer Salsette and pri- vaLCly treat with them for delivering it to us. Besides the perfidy of such an action m regard to the Portuguese and the mischiefs it miaht bring upon our Honourable Masters from that nation, so many objections and Uiniculties occur against so treacherous a scheme that we can by no means think of undertaking it, were we even secure of the event It is then debated how far it may be prudent to assist the Portuguese In this regard It IS observed that, so long as the Marathas continue on P* “ extraordinary expense in maintaining an additional force tor the security of the island. We shall be obliged to keep the outposts well guarded to prevent a sudden invasion of which we should odierwise be continually apprehensive as that island lies so contiguous to ihis, and there being so many passages fordable at low water. If theretore die Portuguese can raise such a force that with our assistance le living che Marathils from Salsette may be attempted with hopes of success it wi l behove us to join with the Portuguese. On the oiher hand should it be judged that the Marathas are too powerful for us boJi, we must be content to sit quiet under a heavy expense, as there will be no dependence to be had on the faith of the Marathas, even should they engage to live on the strictest terms of friendship with us : 111 oui sa eiy will ^as alieady observed] depend on our being constantly prei^arecl to frustrate their attempts.^ The next day (April 28th) the President acquaints the Board that he has desired this meeting to communicate to them the substance of a messao*e he received this morning by a subhedar from the Portuguese Captain in the f ort of Sabage called Bella Flor/ importing that he is in the utmost distress tor want of watei and ammunition, and that unless we send him succours before night he shall be obliged to deliver up the place to the enemy, the said subhedar reports that there are 500 of the enemy's men very near the fort and about 4000 at some further distance. The Presi- dent desires the opinion of the Board what resolution it will be proper to take on the present occasion. It is observed that even were it in our power to send the necessary supplies for relieving the said fort, the time gi\en is too short for us to make the necessary preparations. Further as the enemy are so near as to have immediate notice of our undertakino' such an expedition, we should expose the island to their attempts as we cannot pretend to send any succours without taking off the people stationed to guard the passes from Salsette to this island. Even with the best force we might send the enterprize would be extremely hazardous, considering how closely the fort is blocked up and the number Tr sensible that by this fort falling into the hands of tlie Mardthas, they will become masters of a large tract of land and may the more easily get the entire possession of one side of this bay (when they will have it in their power to distress this island) which we should be glad to prevent. But the short space of time, the danger our own island would be exposed to while our forces were absent, and the ^Bom. Gov. Consultation, 27th April 1737, Pub. Diary 10 of 1736-37, 103. :ill '49Taml^x¥y*^43^4^^^ Panvel. b’ee Bombay Gazetteer, Tlihia, B 1185—24 Chapter What part should Bombay take, 1737. Bisk of aiding the Portuguese, 1 70^ i / t > .