A History of the Mahrattas v1.c18.55

v1.c18.55

A.D. 1695.—The Portuguese about this time had fallen under his displeasure, and war was waged against them in every part where they had settlements in India. Great cruelties were exercised on the defenceless inhabitants subject to that nation in the northern Concan,⁵ but numbers found an asylum in their forts of Damaun and Bassein; at last, the Moghul courtiers, bribed by the viceroy at Goa, represented the advantage of making peace with the Portuguese, for the purpose of procuring cannon in order to reduce the Mahratta forts; a sure way to carry their point, as the Emperor's age and imbecility had become apparent, and to flatter his favourite scheme rendered even the wily Aurungzebe the dupe of that despicable deceit and artifice, which he had all his life practised on others. A like means was used to pacify him with regard to the English. The ravages of the pirates continued; and as the Moghuls always concluded that one or both the English East India Companies were engaged in these depredations, the Emperor, although a considerable revenue was derived from the customs on their trade, would have driven them from the coast, had they not been protected by the fort of Bombay, which, defended by their artillery, was considered impregnable. One capture, that of the Gunj-Suwaee,¹ the largest of the Moghul ships, proceeding from Surat to Mocha with many pilgrims as passengers, gave particular offence and occasioned the seizure of the chief at Surat, with several other Englishmen, who were imprisoned for a considerable period, until the affair was adjusted.