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.

    258/522 (page 240)
    History. Chanl and Moro held iu de230sit, 1740. [Historical 240 BOMBAY TOWN to our assuming the deposit of the plaee^ and also assist willing]}^ in its security until the proper notice comes from Goa^ that the Marathas having performed their parts we may surrender the fortresses so deposited with us unto the order of Balaji Bajirav agreeable to the articles stipulated and now in your possession.^ The 5th November 1740 read the following letter from Captain ♦Tames Inchbird to the President^ dated Chaul 4th November 1740 : Don Francisco discovers such a malignant spirit in the Padres, that he is apprehensive they are combining in some ill designs, and is afraid if not prevented they will put the city in flames. Sure, such unheard-of villains and inconsiderate men are hawdly to be met with. I tell Don Francisco the consequences of such actions may be highly resented. And, as the Marathas may not easily forgive such proceedings, they may probably return measure for measure ; and what we are doing for the relief of the miserable state of the Por- tugmese may prove fatal, and involve us in a labyrinth of trouble. This, and the mean's to jirevent it, I pressed him timely to consider. Don Francisco says the only way is without loss of time to draw off the Portuguese garrison and to keep all prej^arations secret till the arrival of the vessels, when he will have all his men in readiness immediately to embark. 4Vhen the Portuguese garrison embarks he advises me to place guards in all the convents and oblige the Padres to withdraw and prevent further mischief. Fie hints to me that Chaul may be in as bad a situation as Moro wa^s. For he reasonably ap- prehends evil results from the malignant spirit of the Padres. I can plainly see the DoiPs whole garrison look on themselves as little better than prisoners. As they have been long here starving and without pay, they are afraid they shall be forced hence to Goa or some other place with their families to end their lives in misery. This I believe at the hazard of their lives they would prevent. I urged the danger of delays, and that it would be proper he should write your Honour. To this he agreed and forwarded the accompanying letter. Should your Honour think it advisable to withdraw the Portuguese garrison, Don Francisco will want fifteen or sixteen shihars. Each of the thir- teen companies must have one for them and their families. The others Don Francisco will want for himself and the Captain of the place. Exclusive of the Portuguese the present garrison is three hundred of our troops, of whom I propose one hundred for Moro and two hundred for Chaul. At the same time, as it has already proved in the case of the Sidi, the main security from foreign attempts must be our dependence upon the Marathas. This confidence in them is great, but it cannot be avoided. At the foot of the Aloro hill is a body of four hundred Maratha sejooys and in a fort adjoining the limits of Chaul is another body of two hundred and fifty. If any attempts should be made against Chaul, we must permit the Marathas to remain in and defend the limits. This is all that we shall expect from them. Should the Moro be attacked, we shall be obliged to admit the Marathas to defend the lower towers, as our own people will be unable