during the 18th century, the hindu maratha empire expanded rapidly, claiming konkan and much of eastern gujarat from the disintegrating mughal empire. in western gujarat, including kathiawar and kutch, the loosening of mughal control allowed numerous local rulers to create virtually independent states. the first conflict between the british and the marathas was the first anglo-maratha war which began in 1774 and resulted in the 1782 treaty of salbai, by which the island of salsette, adjacent to bombay island, was ceded to the british, while bharuch was ceded to the maratha ruler scindia. the british annexed surat in 1800. british territory was enlarged in the second anglo-maratha war which ended in 1803. the east india company received the districts of bharuch, kaira, etc., and the maratha gaekwad rulers of baroda acknowledged british sovereignty.