The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c7.s8.118

c7.s8.118

One cause of the decline of the Portuguese power remains to be mentioned, the indifference of the kings of Portugal, and the small value they set on their Eastern possessions. This was due partly to their thinking so much more of their Brazilian colonies and partly to the Indian settlements being so expensive. Their disregard of this country was particularly great during the subjection of Portugal to Spain,⁴ when the Court of Madrid ordered that to meet the expenses of Government all employments and offices in India should be sold publicly to the highest bidder. On the restoration of the national dynasty of Portugal in 1640 more interest began to be shown in the Indian colonies,⁵ but the Dutch were by this time too strong to be opposed, and the English after the civil war soon became so. By the end of the century India was again neglected, and so remained till the catastrophe of 1739.