The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c7.s8.108

c7.s8.108

The Dutch found it easier to conquer the Portuguese on the Malabár coast than to make new settlements for themselves, and they were everywhere assisted by the hatred which the natives now had for the Portuguese. The Dutch blockaded Goa from 1639 to 1642, and in the last-mentioned year took some ships trying to enter the port.³ A cessation of arms for ten years had been concluded in Europe between the Portuguese and Dutch in 1641, and this extended to Asia in the following year, but in 1649 the war was again going on. The Dutch had built a fortified factory at Vengurla previous to 1641.⁴ But it does not appear that they ever cared much about establishing themselves in the Konkan, as at that time they refused an invitation from the king of Bijápur to winter their ships in Dábhol, Ortzery' (A'chra?), or other of his harbours.³ They were however for many years the strongest of the European powers in the East, and in 1660 their fleet was again blockading the harbour of Goa, but could not get close enough to take it.⁵ In 1661 when Bombay was ceded to England the object was said to be that King Charles might be "better able to assist and protect the subjects of the King of Portugal in those parts from the power and invasion of the States of the United Provinces."⁶ But it does not appear that any thing was ever done to carry this into effect, probably because when the English troops came to take possession, a dispute arose as to whether Sálsette was or was not included in the cession.⁷ This so-called claim of the English may