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HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAVY. 63

and, at length, the}' were glad to make a truce, by wljicli three
hundred of them were permitted to land at a time witliout other
arms than their swords. But Bombay was alarmed, in the
following year, by a descent made by ten thousand Mahratta
troops, opposite the Island of Salsette, and adeniand was made
at Bassein, for the payment of the "chout," or tribute, of which
we now hear for the first time.
Apprehensions were also entertained for the factory at Surat,
from which, on an expected attack by Sevajee, the goods were
removed for safety to Swally, the Company's frigate 'Hunter'
being moored off Surat for the protection of the Establishment.
After many failures, Mr. Aungier, who declined to ally him-
self with Sevajee, so far as to undertake hostile operations
against the Seedee's stronghold of Jinjeera, concluded a treaty
on the 12th of June, 1674, with the Mahratta Prince, by wliicli
privileges of trade were conferred on the Company. On this
occasion, the diplomatic agent, Mr. Henry Oxenden, Avho was
introduced to the great Mahratta Chief, and his son, Sarabajee,
was present at the coronation of the former, which was conducted
with great pomp and magnificence.
In the same year the Company exercised their privilege of
enforcing martial law on the occasion of a mutin}- among their
garrison at Bombay. Mr. Aungier brought the ringleaders to
trial, and, on being convicted, three were shot on the 21st of
October, two were pardoned by the President, and Captain
Shaxton, the Commander and Deputy-Governor, was found
guilty on some of the charges, and sent to England to be dealt
with by the Court. After an absence of nearly three years at
Bombay, owing to the unsettled state of the Government in
that island, Mr. Aungier returned to Surat in September, 1675,
and, immediately, found himself compelled to place the factory
in a condition to resist the apprehended attacks of Sevajee and
his generals, who also extended their conquests into the
Carnatic*
* Dr. Fryer gives an amusing account of a conflict in -which he participated,
between a small galivat belonging to the Company and a Malabar pirate. In the
latter part of 1675, he accompanied the agent of Carwar down the coast on a
visit to Goa. He says : — " In our passage at Scrapalan to the south of Dan de
Rajapoor, a strong castle of Seva Gi's, descended a deep bay, where rode his
navy, consisting of thirty small ships and vessels, the Admiral wearing a white
flag aloft." Havhig left Carwar he visited Goa, and, while proceeding to Vin-
gorla, the action we have alluded to took place. " The next day we i)assed the
bar for Vingorla ; half way we put ashore to refresli our men, and at ten in tlie
morn set out again ; at twelve we came close up with a Malabar that had seized
a grab, but we soon made him yield his prize to engage with us, which they did
briskly for two hours, striving to board us, casting stink-pots among us, whii^h
broke without any execution, but so frightened our native rowers that we were
forced to be severe to restrain them ; tliey plied tlieir cliambers and small shot, and
slung stones, flourishiug their targets, and darting long huiccs ; they were well-
manned in a boat ten times as big as our barge, and at least sixty lighting men
besides rowers ; we had none to manage our small gun, the gunner running away
after sluts iu brothels; one of tlie sailors undertaking it, was blown up by a cart-