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A.D. 1755.
Kariliojee, instead of seeking to disguise or palliate the principles on which he acted, says: "As touching the desire of possessing what is another's, I do not find the merchants exempt from this sort of ambition, for this is the way of the world ; for God gives nothing immediately from himself, but takes from one to give to another. Whether this is right or no, who is able to determine ? It little behoves the merchants, I am sure, to say our government is supported by vio- lence, insults, and piracies, forasmuch as Maharaja (which is Sevajee), making war against four kings, founded and established his kingdom. This was our introduction and beginning, and whether or no by these waj^s this government hath proved durable, your excellency well know.s so likewise did your prede- cessors."[1]
In 1722 the British and Portuguese, the latter furnishing the land different
forces, and the former three ships of the line under Commodore Matthews, made against
an attack on the strong fort of Kolabah, at that time the chief seat of Kanhojee's
power ; but his usual good fortune, or the cowardice of the Portuguese, saved
him; in 1724 the Dutch, with seven ships, two bomb- vessels, and a body of
troops, made an equally imsuccessful attempt on Viziadroog or Gheriah. These
ignominious failures strengthening a prevalent belief that the forts attacked
were really impregnable, the reduction of them was abandoned as hopeless ; and
as the only other alternative, the Company were reduced to the necessity of
giving convoy to their merchant ships by means of a naval force, which was
maintained at an annual expense of £50,000. The expense of this expedient
was not the worst part of it. Humiliating as it was, it proved unavailing ; and
Kanhojee, only emboldened by the ineffectual resistance opposed to his ravages,
continued them with more daring, and on a more extended scale. At his death,
in the end of 1728, he was possessed of immense wealth, a powerful fleet, and a
territory stretching 100 miles along the coast, and backward to the mountains.
Successful expedition under Commodore James.
Kanhojee Angria left two legitimate and three illegitimate sons. The former were recognized as his successors, and fixed their residence, the one at Kolabah and the other at Severndroog. Ultimately, after various changes, produced partly by domestic dissensions and partly by foreign influence, the succession passed to one of the illegitimate sons, called Toolajee, who made Gheriah his capital. It was against him that the squadron under Admiral Watson and the troops under Colonel Clive were now about to be employed. His depredations committed on all ships not bearing his passport had been severely felt, as well by the Mahrattas as by the Bombay presidency; and both as early as 1751 had come to a mutual determination to put him down as a common enemy. Actual steps, however, were not taken till 1755. The very year before, the pirates had given new proof of their formidable power, by attacking at once three Dutch ships of fifty, thirty-six, and eighteen guns, burning the two first, and capturing the last ; and it was resolved, at the earnest entreaty of Balajee Bajee Rao, the Peishwa, to attack Toolajee Angria both by land and sea. At this time neither
- ↑ Duff's History of the Mahrattas, vol. i. p. 459.
