History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c74.s5.9

v5.c74.s5.9

The Dutch, as the mortal enemies of the French, intrigued hard at Rajaram's Court to destroy the infant French settlement rising at Pondicherry, close to their factory at Cuddalore. In view of the approaching war between the Mughals and the Marathas on the East Coast, which he had clearly foreseen as early as February 1688, Martin had fortified the landward side of Pondicherry and secured through his agent, M. Germain, permission for these defensive works by paying 5,000 *chakram* to Harji Rajah (9 Jan. 1689).