the President of Surat was requested by the Siddi "to mediate a peace between them." (O. C. 3939.)
Next month (March 1674), however, Siddi Sambal attacked Shivaji's admiral Daulat Khan in the Satavli river (i.e., the Muchkundi creek in the Ratnagiri district), both the admirals being wounded and the two sides losing 100 and 44 men respectively. The Marathas were left victors, and Siddi Sambal withdrew to Harishwar, a port 21 miles south of Janjira. In May Shivaji, who "was resolved to take that castle (Danda-Rajpuri) let it cost him what it will," was reported to be daily sending down more artillery, ammunition, men and money to strengthen his siege-troops. In the course of this year he reduced the whole coast of South Konkan from Rajpuri to Bardez near Goa, but not the fort of Danda-Rajpuri. (F. R. Surat 88.)
§ 8. Grand assault on Janjira, 1675-1676.
In September 1675, we read of his making preparations for taking that fort by a land and sea attack. The cruise of the Siddi fleet along Shiva's coast in January and February of this year had proved unsuccessful. But it returned in November with reinforcements, and sailed down the coast to Vingurla, plundering and burning. Maratha squadrons from Gheria (Vijay-durg) and Rajapur took the sea, seeking a fight, but the Siddi escaped to Janjira. (F. R. Surat 107, Bom. to Surat, 7 Sep; Orme, Frag., 49, 53.)
