A History of the Mahrattas v1.c26.5

v1.c26.5

Ballajee had early promised to assist Mr. Bourchier in restoring order in Surat, where, from the weakness of the Moghul Government, there were three or four authorities, besides the agents of Dummajee Gaekwar and the English factory. Seedee Musaood, an officer of the Seedee of Jinjeera, who had command of that part of the Seedee’s squadron whose proper duty was to protect the trade of Surat, having part of the revenue assigned for that sole purpose, was a principal cause of the many broils which took place in that city. The English at Bombay had always maintained a friendly intercourse with the Seedees of Jinjeera,¹ because theirs was the only territory in the vicinity from which they could procure beef for supplying their ships. In other parts of the Mahratta coast, cows and bullocks were sacred; for to prey on human flesh would not be more revolting to the feelings of a European, than eating beef to the prejudices of a Hindoo. Seedee Musaood had taken advantage of the distractions in Surat, and the confusion in the government at Jinjeera, virtually to throw off his dependence on all authority; and like most of the African race, who have attained power in India, he was overbearing in his deportment and tyrannical in his behaviour.