Page 75 - Early English Adventurers in the Middle East_Neat

HOW THE ENGLISH WENT TO INDIA 75

Portuguese pretensions to exercise undisputed sway in
Indian waters. All attempts to’ communicate with the
shore were frustrated, and when in defiance of the edict
imposed by the commander of the Portuguese warships
on the coast boats attempted a landing the crews were-
attacked and made prisoners. Hawkins forwarded a
vigorous protest against the outrage demanding the re­
lease of the men and goods seized and pointing out that
the warlike attitude adopted was unjustifiable in view
of the fact that England and Portugal were now at peace.
The remonstrance was treated with contempt by the
Portuguese commander. The " proud rascall ” not only
insolently declined to set the crews at liberty, but in the
presence of Hawkins’ messenger “ most vilely abused his
Majesty, terming him King of fishermen and of an island
of no importance.” It was, he finally indicated, beneath
his dignity to send any written reply to the indignant,
representations of the English commander. Eventually
the captured men were sent as prisoners to Goa, to be dealt
with by the authorities there.
Hawkins, by dint of perseverance, managed to establish
a precarious communication with the shore, but he quickly
discovered that this extension of his activities merely
increased his difficulties. Surat at the time was under
the rule of a local governor named Makarrab Khan, who-
enjoyed a semi-independent authority under the Viceroy
of the Ahmedabad province.
Makarrab Khan was a typical Mogul official, proud,
arrogant and avaricious. He had been elevated to power
by one of those curious freaks of fortune that from the
time of Joseph onwards have brought individuals from
obscurity to positions of power in Oriental countries-