over a number of Mannajee’s officers, and Alibagh, Thull, and Sagurgurh fell into his hands at once.  He attacked Chaul, but was beaten off by the Portuguese, and then laid siege to Colaba.  Mannajee was at once reduced to great straits.  Half his garrison were untrustworthy, and his water supply was cut off.  In his distress he appealed to Bombay for assistance.  Though the Council bore him little good will, they recognized that it was better to maintain him in Colaba than to allow Sumbhajee to establish himself there; so, in great haste, the Halifax, a small country ship, the Futteh Dowlet grab, the Triumph, Prahm, and the Robert galley were equipped and sent down, under Captain Inchbird, arriving just in time to save the place.  Water was supplied to the garrison, and Bombardier Smith, together with gunner’s mate Watson, a mortar and plenty of ammunition were put into the fort.  Sumbhajee’s batteries were much damaged by the shells from the mortar, his camp was bombarded by Inchbird, and his gallivats forced to run for Severndroog.  This prompt action of the Bombay Council upset Sumbhajee’s plans.  He addressed remonstrances to the Council, offering to restore the Anne, which he had taken some months before.  A week later, a Mahratta force, from Salsette, under the Peishwa’s son, Ballajee Bajee Rao, appeared on the scene, attacked Sumbhajee’s camp, destroyed some of his batteries, killing a number of his men, and taking prisoner his half-brother, Toolajee.

In his distress, Sumbhajee tried to come to terms with Mannajee.  Each distrusted the other, and both were afraid of the Peishwa.  At this juncture the death of the Peishwa was announced.  Ballajee Bajee Rao was obliged to return to Satara, and Sumbhajee was allowed to retreat, after making peace with the Mahrattas.  The promptitude and energy with which the English had come to the assistance of Mannajee raised them greatly in the esteem of the new Peishwa, and strengthened the bonds of the alliance.

Mannajee now found it expedient to make a solid peace with the English.  The new Peishwa had his hands full at Satara.  The only power able to afford him ready protection against Sumbhajee was the English, the value of whose friendship he had lately experienced.  So he sent agents to Bombay, offering to pay a sum of Rs.7500, on restitution of the gallivats taken from him by Inchbird the year before.  On this basis a peace was made.

At the same time, the Portuguese, whose power and resources were fast diminishing, recognized the difficulty of retaining the isolated fortress of Chaul.  They offered it first to the Dutch and then to the English, but the dangerous gift was refused by both.  Finally they made it over to the Peishwa by agreement.[1]

While these things were going on, the Antelope, gallivat, fell a prey to the Coolee rovers of Sultanpore.  Through the treachery of the pilot it was run ashore.  The crew defended themselves gallantly, but in the course of the action the ship blew up, and ten Europeans, two sepoys, and two lascars were killed.