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112 HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY.
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patches. He wrote: "The Portuguese are really in a miser-
able condition ; I can see care and grief in all their faces." As
to the brave Pereira, he fell into disgrace at Goa, and took up
his residence at the French settlement of Mahe, where, many
years afterwards, he was engaged in conducting negotiations
between Angria and his new protectors.
Ceasing to struggle with their adverse destiny, the Portuguese
prepared to yield their northern possessions, with the exception
of Damaun and its little territory. Although no enemy was
before the forts of Choul and Mhar, they proposed to abandon
both, and offered the former to the English ; but the Govern-
ment of Bombay, in order to prevent its falling into the hands
of Sambhajee, proposed to offer it to the Peishwa. Under these
circumstances, a way was already paved for a mediation, which
the Portuguese now requested the English to undertake. The
Mahrattas, on being invited to propose their terms, at first not
only demanded the cession of Choul, but also of Damaun, and
insisted upon having assigned to them a portion of the customs
at Goa, which they proposed to collect by stationing a guard at
the fort. Captain Inchbird, of the Bombay Marine, however,
having been deputed by the Portuguese, with the consent of the
English Government, to treat for them, obtained more favour-
able terms, and induced their scornful enemies to show some
forbearance. On the 14th of^ci^ober/' 1740, articles of peace
were signed on behalf of -Sajee Rao'^ithe Peishwa, on the one
side, and the Viceroy of Goa"bh the other. The Portuguese
engaged to deliver up to the Mahrattas the forts of Choul and
Mhar, (at the mouth of the river of the same name) which were
to be temporarily occupied by the English, until the Mahrattas
should have fulfilled their part of the conditions by withdrawing
their forces from Salsette. A brief delay occurred inconsequence
of the repugnance which the Portuguese priests of Choul felt
for any measure by which the possessions of Christians should
be delivered to heathens, and they seditiously excited their
people to resist the transfer. Their own envoy, perplexed by
their obstinacy, admitted that he had discovered in them a
malignant spirit, and Inchbird, throwing aside all restraint,
exclaimed in disgust, " Sure such unheard of villains and
inconsiderate men are hardly to be met with !" However, in
Noveuiber, Choul was delivered by the English to the Mahrattas,
and all parties expressed themselves satisfied with the honour-
able manner in which the conditions of the treaty were ful-
filled.^
In order that they might feel their way to the supreme
authority of the Mahrattas, says a writer already quoted, the
Government of Bombay sent Captain William Gordon in May,
1739, to the Rajah of Sattara, with a complimentary letter,
giving him secret instructions to concert measures with the