The Derby was attacked on 26 December 1735. An entire day, from six in the morning to five in the evening, had been spent in capturing it, taking down one mast, then another, firing shots into the main body of the ship, until she lay immobile in the water. Then, the British crew surrendered and Angre’s men boarded the captured vessel. A further letter from Captain Abraham Anselone, the ship’s captain said to Bombay, “Seven of our men were killed, five more their legs shot off and many other wounded. There is 115 of us now prisoners with Angres. He seems to insist on peace of no (release?) for us…”
The ship was later taken to Vijaydurg, and the crew sent to prison. British authorities at Bombay began negotiations, however, Sambhaji did not budge.
In April 1736, a royal envoy named Raghuji Rajwada went to meet Sambhaji Angre to convince him to cooperate with Shahu, who was keen to win the Govalkot and Anjanvel forts. He wrote to Chimaji Appa about what transpired in the meeting. “The Sarkhel answered that, ‘the Swami has done good for us! He engaged us for a year saying he will give Colaba, but there is no fruit. Meanwhile, Siddi Saat said to me that in my interest we should help each other. We should defeat the siege at Govalkot fort. He has promised to win Colaba for me. I will act accordingly.’”
Sambhaji not only justified his alliance with the Siddis, but questioned Shahu’s claim on the Konkan. Raghuji Rajwada reported his conversation, “’What has Rajashree (Shahu) got to do in the Konkan? Half is the Shamal’s (Siddi), half is ours, why are you quarrelling here?’ Raghuji asked him, ‘Who gave you the Konkan?’ To this, Sambhaji answered, ‘It was given to me by God.’ (Raghuji asked) ‘But are you not a servant?’ Sambhaji replied, ‘We are rebels, what are you going to do about it?’”
Seeing Sambhaji aligning with Siddi Saat, Raghuji made his recommendation: “If Siddi Saat is sunk, half of Sambhaji Angre’s intoxicated arrogance will disappear.”
Siddi Saat made good his promise to Sambhaji and advanced north to attack Manaji near Colaba. He attacked Maratha forts, and put to the sword the entire Maratha garrison at the fort of Rewas. Hearing this, Chimaji Appa rapidly descended into the Konkan and in a seminal battle at Kamarle, near Sagargad, Siddi Saat was killed and the power of the Siddis was broken.
The death of Siddi Saat was a major triumph for Chimaji. There was a lull in the quest to capture Colaba. Three years would pass before Sambhaji would come back to attack Manaji.
After nearly a year, in November 1736, Captain James Inchbird visited Vijaydurg and met Sambhaji. A strong armada comprising six British warships came to Vijaydurg harbour. However, no agreement could be reached. When Sambhaji’s chief minister, Visajipant, came aboard the British vessel to negotiate, Inchbird refused to let him go until all the British prisoners were released. Inchbird finally agreed to come ashore and meet Sambhaji (after he had taken some hostages as security) and made a visit to Vijaydurg, where he was well-received and even taken around the fort. Eventually, a treaty was signed, and the crew returned to Bombay.
Significantly, Sambhaji’s proposed treaty contained some interesting clauses, two of which assert that he considered Shahu as a Master, but the Siddi and the Portuguese as his friends:
- To the end that Colaba may be delivered up to me, I insist upon your going down with your fleet, to put me into perfect possession of the same.
- As I am obliged to obey the Shahuraja, my Master, in order to please him, I must feign an attack against the Siddis with my own fleet.
- That I look upon the Portuguese and Siddis as my friends, but if any difference should happen to arise, the British shall stand neutral.
The Derby seaman who wrote of the ship’s capture had this editorial comment about Sambhaji’s strategy, “Sambhaji now thought he was assured he had got his ends, and tells Inchbird, ‘I have now,’ says he, ‘made peace with the British of Bombay,’ and so made solemn protestation against those that broke it first; that he did not care for the Shahuraja, nor the Bajirao…”
The Derby affair of 1735 and the long-drawn negotiations for the release of its crew is an example of Sambhaji’s practice and his policy. The Vijaydurg Sardar’s relations with the Peshwa remained rocky with outward civility coupled with inner hostility. As for Shahu, he chose to appear loyal, without actually helping him.
The release of the crew did not end the war between Sambhaji and the British and there were skirmishes at sea until 1739. Manaji had similar encounters with the British near Colaba. The British too brought warhips from Mocha to blockade Angre’s ports. Periodically, there were letters seeking a reconciliation. However, both sides knew their offers of peace were a kind of subterfuge. The British and Angre, therefore, remained on their guard at all times. Sambhaji was careful in the selection of the ships to attack and usually steered clear of any armed fleet. Indeed, the British navy was unable to ply with any assurance of safety owing to sudden attacks by Angre.
To be continued…
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