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HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 59
consonance with this proposal, the Court of Directors appointed,
as their shipbuilder at Boinba}^ Mr. Warwick Pett, a descendant
of the famous Sir Phineas Pett, celebrated for his talents as a
shipbuilder at Deptford, in the reigns of Elizabeth and James.
Mr. Pett was directed to proceed to Bombay and construct two
ships, for w^iich equipments and stores were sent from England,
and, in the following year, directions were given for the con-
struction of two other small brigantines. These orders may be
regarded as the first links in the chain of events that, ultimately,
ended in the withdrawal of the Marine forces of the Company
from 8urat to Bombay, which gave to the Service the name by
which it was known until the year 1830.
In this year, also, the Council at Surat were directed to fortify
Boujbay, two military officers being appointed as engineers ; and
indeed, at the time of the lamented deatli of Sir George Oxenden,
which took place on the 14th of Jul}^ 1GG9, the Council
suggested the desirability of transferring the Presidency
altogether from Surat to Bombay, as the proceedings of the
Governor in banishing the shroffs, or native bankers, and the
banians, or merchants, on account of some religious differences,
affected the Company's trade, which was still further depressed
by the alarm consequent upon an apprehended attack by Sevajee,
when Mr. Aungier, the President, placed the factory in a state
of defence.
In 1670 affairs at Surat again assumed a critical aspect.
Bahadar Khan, the General of Aurungzebe, arrived, with three
thousand horse, to defend the city against Sevajee,* who
appeared at its gates at the head of fifteen thousand men. The
great Mahratta Chief effected an entrance on the 3rd of October,
and pillaged the city of an immense amount of booty and
treasure. On this occasion, the Company's servants and the
seamen of the Marine, did good service. Mr. Streynsham Master,
one of the Council, who had acted early in the year as the
Deputy of Mr. Aungier during his temporary absence.at Bombay,
proceeded with a party of seamen from Swally to defend the
factory, and, notwithstanding the repeated and desperate
assaults of the Mahrattas, succeeded in making a successful
resistance. At length Sevajee, seeing the futility of his efforts,
tried what persuasion would do, antl endeavoured to induce the
agent to return to Rajahpore for purposes of trade, but, of course,
without effect. During the conflict many men were killed and
wounded, and some goods, stored in detached warehouses, were
lost ; but the factory remained unscathed, and the most valuable
* At this time Sevajee was possessed of the greater portion of tlie Concan, by
•which is denoted the narrow strip of territory bttweeu Goa and Daniaun, ex-
tending between the sea and the mountains, or Gliauts, (Sanskrit Ghatfa) so
called because they recede like steps from the seashore. Exce]iting Choul, which
remained in the possession of tlie Portujiuese, Sevajee was master of the sea coast
from the river Rajahpore to Bombay harbour.