A History of the Mahrattas v1.c15.19

v1.c15.19

Oct. 3.—The rains had scarcely subsided when Sivajee appeared at the gates of Surat, at the head of fifteen thousand men. It so happened that the governor of Surat had died suddenly during the preceding month; and a considerable garrison which had been before thrown into the town, in consequence of a report of Sivajee’s intention to plunder it, were, by accident or design, withdrawn by Jeswunt Sing or the prince. In this unprotected state, with only a few hundred men in the castle, the city was leisurely pillaged for three days. The English, as on a former occasion, defended themselves successfully under the direction of Mr. Streingham Masters,² one of their factors, and killed many of the Mahrattas. The Dutch factory being in a retired quarter, was not molested; but the French purchased an ignominious neutrality, by permitting Sivajee’s troops to pass through their factory to attack an unfortunate Tartar prince,¹ who was on his return from a pilgrimage to Mecca, and whose property became part of Sivajee’s boasted spoils on this occasion.