[3] By 1736, the Portuguese had been at work for four years constructing the fortress of Thana, and aside from the long delays, the workers were unpaid and unfed.

According to a Portuguese account, his forces numbered 40,000 infantry, 25,000 cavalry, and around 4,000 soldiers trained in laying mines.

More joined from Salsette in the following days, increasing the total Maratha troops amassed to take Baçaim to close to 100,000.

The Portuguese, alarmed at this threat, decided to vacate Bandra, Versova and Dongri so as to better defend Baçaim.

As per orders of the Portuguese Viceroy, the Count of Sandomil, only Baçaim, Damão, Diu and Karanja (Uran) were to be defended.

Within the fort, the towers of São Sebastião and Nossa Senhora dos Remedios faced the Marathas at Bhadrapur.

Appa, Malhar Rao Holkar, Ranoji Shinde and Manaji Angre goaded their contingents to scale the walls throughout the day.

[citation needed] The Maratha general ordered that the rest of the garrison should leave Baçaim with unfurled colours, muskets at the shoulder and playing drums, and that they be transported by sea to Mumbai (Bombay).