Page 295 - Early English Adventurers in the Middle East_Neat

JOB CHARNOCK FOUNDS CALCUTTA 295

enemy at Hooghly. Though they had put a wholesome
fear into the mind of the local Governor their action had
had a totally different effect upon Shayista Khan, the
Nabob of Dacca, the supreme Mogul authority in these
parts. Shayista Khan was greatly incensed, as perhaps
was only natural, when he heard of the doings of the inso­
lent foreigners. He collected from all quarters troops
with the determination of driving the English out of
Bengal. To conceal his plans and gain time he affected
to be desirous of concluding a permanent arrangement. He
encouraged Charnock to formulate his demands. The
Agent utilized the opportunity to elaborate a compre­
hensive list of claims. He asked for a site for a fort, for
permission to establish a mint and to conduct trade free
-
’ of customs. In addition the native Government was to
rebuild at its own cost the Company’s factory, restore all
the money it had appropriated and assist to recover the
Company’s debts.
A suspiciously prompt assent was given locally to all
these demands. Indeed, it seemed that the only thing
wanting to complete the treaty was its formal ratification
by the Nabob and the Emperor. But the time at last
came for the native authorities to throw off the mask and
then Charnock was left in no doubt as to how matters
stood. He received back the treaty unsigned with an
uncompromising declaration of war, phrased in language
of indignation at the effrontery of the English in preferring
such demands.
Accepting the challenge Charnock promptly took the
initiative in the struggle by burning down the King’s
salt houses on the banks of the river and attacking and
capturing the forts at what is now Garden Reach. After

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