Swally fight,

1615.

at Priaman in the island of Sumatra, as well as with the Malaccas, and at Bantam, where he settled a factory or 'House of Trade' in 1603. In 1604, the Company undertook their second voyage, commanded by Sir Henry Middleton, who extended their trade to Banda and Amboyna. The success of these voyages attracted a number of private merchants to the business; and in 1606, James I. granted a licence to Sir Edward Michelborne and others to trade 'to Cathay, China, Japan, Corea, and Cambaya.' But Michelborne, on arriving in the East, instead of exploring new sources of commerce like the East India Company, followed the pernicious example of the Portuguese, and plundered the native traders among the islands of the Indian Archipelago. He in this way secured a considerable booty, but brought disgrace on the British name, and much hindered the Company's business at Bantam. In 1608, Captain D. Middleton, in command of the fifth voyage, was prevented by the Dutch from trading at Banda, but succeeded in obtaining a cargo at Pulo Way. In this year also, Captain Hawkins proceeded from Surat as envoy from James I. and the East India Company to the court of the Great Mughal. He was graciously received by the Emperor (Jahángír), and remained three years at Agra. In 1609, Captain Sharpe obtained the grant of free trade at Aden, and a cargo of pepper at Priaman. In this year also, the Company constructed the dockyard at Deptford, which was the beginning, observes Sir William Monson, of the increase of great ships in England.' In 1611, Sir Henry Middleton, in command of the sixth voyage, arrived before Cambay He resolutely fought the Portuguese, who tried to beat him off, and obtained important concessions from the native powers. In 1610-11 also, Captain Hippon, commanding the seventh voyage, established agencies at Masulipatam, and in Siam, at Patania or Patany, on the Malay Peninsula, and at Pettipollee. We obtained leave to trade at Surat in 1612.

1

In 1615, the Company's fleet, under Captain Best, was attacked off Swally, the port of Surat, at the mouth of the river Tápti, by an overwhelming force of Portuguese. But the assailants were utterly defeated in four engagements, to the astonishment of the natives, who had hitherto considered them invincible. The first fruit of this decisive victory was the pre-eminence of our factory at Surat, with subordinate agencies at Gogra, Ahmedábád, and Cambay. Trade was also opened

1 For this date and account of the engagement, see Bombay Gazetteer, SURAT and BROACH, vol. ii. pp. 77, 78 (Bombay Government Press, 1877).

with the Persian Gulf. In 1614, an agency was established at Ajmere by Mr. Edwards of the Surat factory. The chief seat of the Company's government in Western India remained at Surat until 1684-87, when it was transferred to Bombay.1 In 1615, Sir Thomas Roe was sent out by James I. as am- Sir bassador to the court of Jahángír, and succeeded in placing Thomas Roe, 1615. the Company's trade in the Mughal dominions on a more favourable footing. In 1618, the English established a factory at Mocha; but the Dutch compelled them to resign all pretensions to the Spice Islands. In that year also, the Company failed in its attempt to open a trade with Dabhol, Baticola, and Calicut, through a want of sincerity on the part of the Zamorin or Calicut Rájá. In 1619, we were permitted to establish a factory and build a fort at Jask, in the Persian Gulf.

with

In 1619, the Treaty of Defence' with the Dutch, to Treaty prevent disputes between the English and Dutch companies, Dutch, was ratified. When it was proclaimed in the East, hostilities 1619. solemnly ceased for the space of an hour, while the Dutch and English fleets, dressed out in all their flags, and with yards manned, saluted each other. But the treaty ended in the smoke of that stately salutation, and the perpetual strife between the Dutch and English Companies went on as bitterly as ever. Up to that time, the English company did not possess any territory in sovereign right in the Indies, excepting in the island of Lantore or Great Banda. This island was governed by a commercial agent of the Company, who had under him thirty Europeans as clerks and warehousemen. This little band, with two hundred and fifty armed Malays, constituted the only force by which it was protected. In the islands of Banda and Pulo Roon and Rosengyn, the English Company had factories, at each of which were ten agents. At Macassar and Achín, they possessed agencies; the whole being subordinate to a head factory at Bantam in Java. In 1620, the Dutch, notwithstanding the Treaty of Defence English concluded the previous year, expelled the English from Pulo by Dutch, Roon and Lantore, and in 1621 from Bantam. The fugitive 1620. factors tried to establish themselves, first at Pulicat, and afterwards at Masulipatam on the Coromandel coast, but were effectually opposed by the Dutch. In 1620, the Portuguese also attacked the English fleet under Captain Shillinge, but were defeated with great loss. From this time the estimation in which the Portuguese were held by the natives declined,

1 Orders issued, 1684; transfer commenced, 1686; actually carried out, 1687. Bombay Gazetteer, vol. ii. p. 98.

attacked

patam fac

tory, 1622.

while that of the English rose. In 1620, too, the English Masuli- Company established agencies at Agra and Patná. In 1622, they joined with the Persians, attacked and took Ormuz from the Portuguese, and obtained from Shah Abbas a grant in perpetuity of the customs of Gombroon. This was the first time that the English took the offensive against the Portuguese. In the same year, our Company succeeded in re-establishing their factory at Masulipatam.

The massacre of Amboyna,

1623.

English

driven out

of Archipelago, 1624.

English retire to India, 1625.

Their early factories, 1625-53.

The massacre of Amboyna, which made so deep an impression on the English mind, marked the climax of the Dutch hatred to us in the eastern seas. After long and bitter recriminations, the Dutch seized our Captain Towerson at Amboyna, with 9 Englishmen, 9 Japanese, and 1 Portuguese sailor, in February 1623. They tortured the prisoners at their trial, and found them guilty of a conspiracy to surprise the garrison. The victims were executed in the heat of passion, and their torture and judicial murder led to an outburst of indignation in England. Ultimately, commissioners were appointed to adjust the claims of the two nations; and the Dutch had to pay a sum of £3615 as satisfaction to the heirs of those who had suffered. But from that time the Dutch remained masters of Lantore and the neighbouring islands. They monopolized the whole trade of the Indian Archipelago, until the great naval wars which commenced in 1793. In 1624, the English, unable to oppose the Dutch, withdrew nearly all their factories from the Archipelago, the Malay Peninsula, Siam, and Java. Some of the factors and agents retired to the island of Lagundy, in the Strait of Sunda, but were forced, by its unhealthiness, to abandon it.

In 1625-26, the English established a factory at Armagáon on the Coromandel coast, subordinate to Masulipatam.1 But in 1628, Masulipatam was, in consequence of the oppressions of the native governors, for a time abandoned in favour of Armagáon, which now mounted 12 guns, and had 23 factors and agents. In 1629, the factory at Bantam in Java was reestablished as an agency to Surat; and in 1630, Armagáon, reinforced by 20 soldiers, was also placed under the presidency of Surat. In 1632, the factory was re-established at Masulipatam, under a grant, known as the 'Golden Firman,' from the King of Golconda. In 1634, by a farmán dated February 2,

In these chronological paragraphs I follow, almost verbatim, with a few omissions, additions, and corrections of dates, Dr. Birdwood's official Report on the Old Records in the India Office (folio), p. 83. For notices of the various towns mentioned, see the articles in the Imperial Gazetteer.

1634.

the Company obtained from the Great Mughal liberty to trade Trade to in Bengal. But their ships were to resort only to Pippli in Bengal, Orissa, now left far inland by the sea. The Portuguese were in the same year expelled from Bengal. In 1634-35, Bantam Bantam was again raised to an independent presidency, and an agency Presidency, was established at Tatta, or 'Scindy.' In 1637, Courten's 1635. Association (chartered 1635) settled agencies at Goa, Baticola, Kárwár, Achín, and Rájápur. Its ships had the year before plundered some native vessels at Surat and Diu. This act disgraced the Company with the Mughal authorities (who could not comprehend the distinction between the Company and the Association), and depressed the English trade with Surat, while that of the Dutch proportionately increased. In 1638, Armagáon was abandoned as unsuited for commerce; and in 1639, Fort St. George or Maderaspatam (Chineepatam) Madras founded, was founded by Francis Day, and the factors at Armagáon 1639.

were removed to it. It was made subordinate to Bantam in Java, until raised in 1653 to the rank of a Presidency. In 1640, the Company established an agency at Bussorah, and a factory at Kárwár. Trade having much extended, the Company's yard at Deptford was found too small for their ships, and they purchased some copyhold ground at Blackwall, which at that time was a waste marsh, without an inhabitant. Here they opened another dockyard, in which was built the Royal George, of 1200 tons, the largest ship up to that time seen in England.

The factory at Húglí was established in 1640, and at Húglí, Balasor in 1642. In 1645, in consequence of professional 1640. services rendered by Mr. Gabriel Boughton, surgeon of the Hopewell, to the Emperor Shah Jahán, additional privileges were granted to the Company; and in 1646, the Governor of Bengal, who had also been medically attended by Boughton, made concessions which placed the factories at Balasor and Húglí on a more favourable footing. In 1647, Courten's Asso- Madaciation established its colony at Assada, in Madagascar. In gascar, 1647. 1652, Cromwell declared war against the Dutch on account of their accumulated injuries against the English Company. In 1653, the Company's factory at Lucknow was withdrawn. No. record has been found of its establishment. In 1658, the Company established a factory at Kásimbázár (spelt 'Castle Bazaar' in the records), and their establishments in Bengal were made subordinate to Fort St. George, instead of to Bantam.

In 1661, Bombay was ceded to the British crown as part of Bombay ceded, the dower of Catharine of Braganza, but was not delivered up 1661.

Our fac

tories, 1685.

Bantam.

Madras.

until 1665. King Charles II. transferred it to the East India Company, for an annual payment of £10, in 1668. The seat of the Western Presidency was removed to it from Surat in 1684-87. The Company's establishments in the East Indies then consisted of the Presidency of Bantam in Java, with its dependencies of Jambee, Macassar, and other places in the Indian Archipelago; Fort St. George and its dependent factories on the Coromandel coast and Bengal; Surat, with Bombay. its affiliated dependency of Bombay; and factories at Broach, Ahmedábád, and other places in Western India, also at Gombroom and Bussorah in the Persian Gulf and Euphrates valley. In 1661, the factory at Biliapatam was founded. In 1663, the factories which had been established at Patná, Balasor, and Kásimbázár were ordered to be discontinued, and purchases made only at Húgli. In 1664, Surat was pillaged by Sivají, but Sir George Oxenden bravely defended the English factory; and the Mughal Emperor, in admiration of his conduct, granted the Company an exemption from customs for one year.

Persian
Gulf.

Bengal.

Bengal separated from Madras, 1681.

In 1681, Bengal was separated from Madras, and Mr. Hodges appointed 'agent and governor' of the Company's affairs in the Bay of Bengal, and of the factories subordinate to it, at Kásimbázár, Patná, Balasor, Maldah, and Dacca. A corporal of approved fidelity with 20 soldiers, to be a guard to the agent's person at the factory of Húgli, and to act against interlopers.' In 1684, Sir John Child was made 'Captain-General and Admiral of India,' and Sir John Wyborne, Vice-Admiral and Deputy Governor of Bombay.' Bombay a In 1687, the seat of the Presidency was finally transferred from

Presi

dency, 1687.

Surat to Bombay. In 1686, Kásimbázár, in common with the other English factories in Bengal, had been condemned to confiscation by the Nawáb Shaistá Khán. The Húgli factory was much oppressed, and the Company's business throughout India suffered from the wars of the Mughals and Marhattás. Sir John Child was appointed titular 'Governor-General,'1 with full power in India to make war or peace, and was ordered to proceed to inspect the Company's possessions in Madras and Bengal, and arrange for their safety. On the 20th of December 1686, the Company's Agent and Council quitted founded, the factory at Húglí, and retired to Sutanati (Calcutta). Tegnapatam (Fort St. David) was first settled in this year (1686), and definitively established in 1691-92.

Calcutta

1686.

1 Dr. Birdwood's Report on the Old Records of the India Office, p. 85, quotes this title from the MSS. It is, nominally, a century older than usually stated; but Hastings was the first real Governor-General, 1774.