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HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 147

that the Seedee should bring his ships to an anchor, and send
an officer to wait upon the English representativ^e. As no
answer was returned and the defiant attitude continued, the
' Heathcote' saluted her challengers with a broadside, when a
short action ensued, which ended in the King's fleet sheering off,
and it never again made its appearance during these trans-
actions. Teg Beg and his party now manifested symptoms of
concession. The blockade had raised the prices of provisions
forty per cent., and the inhabitants attributed their sufferings
to the crimes and obstinacy of their rulers, rather than to the
measures of the English, whose firmness was at last rewarded
as it deserved, by Teg Beg signing all the articles dictated to
him. Disputes now arose between the Nawab and the Seedee,
who had been deprived of his tunkha, and the latter visited
Bombay to solicit the intercession of the President, who, how-
ever, asked him to resign at least a portion of the tribute to
the English. This led to reprisals on the Surat commerce by
the Seedee, until, in August, 1735, the Nawab agreed to pay
c£24,000 arrears of tunkha, and .£15,000 yearly. The Nawab
now treated the English fiictory with insolence, as they had
declined to interfere in his dispute with the Seedee, but once
more a naval force, consisting of the ' Victoria' frigate, with
two smaller vessels, called the ' Princess Caroline' and ' Defi-
ance,' was sent to the bar of the Surat river, and the Govern-
ment of Bombay showed that they could obtain by compulsion
what they still condescended to ask with politeness. But they
had no wish to ruin either the Governor or Seedee, and, having
overawed them both, were satisfied with an apology for the
aftVonts which had been offered, and a promise that their debt
should be discharged by more regular instalments.* Still this
settlement was only temporary, and could hardly be otherwise
in the unsettled state of affairs consequent on the decay of the
central power at Delhi.
The duty of affording protection and convoy to the trade,
became very harrassing at Surat, owing to the constant feuds
between the Nawab and the ]\logul Adnjiral, and, at times, it
became necessary for armed boats to escort the trailing
vessels up the Taptee, to prevent their being plundered by the
villagers on the banks of the river. These people could have
been coerced into quietude by the ships of the Marine, but, at
this period, such a course would have been detrimental to the
trade, which was still very consiilerable; careful watch and
ward was all that could be effected, and this was most effec-
tually performed by the officers and men of the Service, in
1759, however, they had an opportunity of distinguishing
themselves, and of performing a service of lasting importance
to their masters.
* Surat Diary, 1737-39.
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