of a settlement of their claims. Our psychology is naturally coloured by our emotions.

Shivaji's encounter with the English during his two raids on Surat (in 1661 and 1670) and the dispute between them in connection with his fortification of the Khanderi island have been kept out of the present paper, which deals with the South Konkan and Kanara factories only.

The policy of the English traders is thus clearly set forth in a letter from the Deputy Governor and Council of Bombay to the President and Council of Surat, dated 25th November 1668:

"According to your commands, we shall at convenient time enorder such as we employ to treat Shivaji's servants civilly wherever they meet them, but not to enter into any contract with them, letting them know the great damage the Hon'ble Company hath suffered and the abuses offered to our people on several occasions, for which we expect satisfaction and reparation before we enter into any league with their master,-all of which, we suppose, will come to his ears by one or more of his servants, though we are not of opinion that ever he will be brought to a peaceable treaty till he be forced to it." (F. R. Surat, Vol. 105.)

In a letter from the same to the same, dated 17 March 1669, we read, "Shivaji Raja having by his servants requested a favour of no great import, not exceeding Rs. 300,... we ... having much occasion for a good correspondence with his people on the main [-land] from whence most of provisions come hither, and wood [i.e., fuel] in special, (which is not to be had other where), we were the more ready to gratify Shivaji Raja.” (Ibid.)

On 5th March 1670, the President and Council at Surat instruct the Deputy Governor of Bombay thus: "The war broke out between Shivaji and the Mughal hath put a check to some overtures which were made to the President of an accommodation with Shivaji touching the Company's demands on him; but we hope they will yet go forward, ... but we would not have

you appear too forward lest you undervalue our pretence [= lawful claim] and make him cool." (F. R. Surat, Vol. 3.)

In October Shivaji tried to put the English of Bombay in distress, evidently because they refused to sell him war material (esp. lead) for his contest with the Siddi of Danda-Rajpuri. Bombay writes to Surat on 14 October 1670: "A few days since we, as usually, sent our boats to the main [-land] for wood to burn our chunam with; but ... our boats returned, empty being forbid by Shivaji's people to cut any more wood in those parts." (F. R. Surat, 105.) On 12 August 1671 Bombay writes to Surat, "The Deputy Governor [of Bombay] received an answer from Shivaji,...by which your Honour, etc., will see how he slights our friendship." (Ibid.)

But in September 1671 Shivaji sent an ambassador to Bombay to treat with the English. Shivaji's chief motive was to secure English aid against Danda-Rajpuri, especially a supply of "grenadoes, mortar-pieces and ammunition". The Bombay Council immediately realized that unless he obtained these war materials he "would not pay a penny" of compensation for the loot of their factory at Rajapur. The President of Surat sent the following instructions to the factors at Bombay: "Let him know that if he gives us such encouragement that we settle in his port, he may obtain from us those advantages that other nations do in whose ports we trade. But we would not positively have them [ the English representatives in these negotiations] promise him those grenadoes, mortar-pieces and ammunition he desires, nor absolutely deny him, in regard we do not think it convenient to help him against Danda-Rajpuri, which place if it were in his possession, would prove a great annoyance to the port of Bombay ; and on the other side, our denial is not consistent at present with our interest, in respect we believe the keeping in suspense will bring him to a speedier conclusion of the treaty, hoping thereby to be furnished with those things he desires." (F. R. Surat 87.)

The negotiations, as might have been expected from the diverse aims of the two parties, could not possibly end in an

agreement. They were protracted till December, when Shivaji was out on his forays and "now not easily to be found or treated with ". The English proposed to send Lieut. Stephen Ustick to treat directly with Shivaji. (F. R. Surat, 106, Bombay to Surat, 8 November and 15 December 1671.) This envoy was directed to "set out in a handsome equipage befitting the Company's honour ", with Ram Shenvi, the Company's interpreter. (F. R. Surat, 87, Surat to Bombay, 30 September 1671.)

As early as the end of November, the Council of Surat lest all hope of a settlement. They write to Bombay (30 November 1671)," Ram Shenvi hath private [ly] discoursed with us [as to] what Shivaji proposes to us by way of accommodation and what he demands from us in order to the supply of his wars against Danda-Rajpuri, in both which we find so much subtility, self-policy and unsecure inconstancy on his part, and so great difficulties and apparent hazard on the Company's to deal with him on these terms, that we begin to despair of bringing the business to any issue in the way it is now carried....We do confirm our former resolution that till the matter of satisfaction for the Company's and nation's former losses be first determined, we cannot with honour or safety concede to any thing which he proposeth".

The instructions to Lieut. Ustick were "that he endeavour to end the dispute touching satisfaction of past damages..., as also to procure his i.e., Shivaji's] general qawl or farman for us to trade with freedom and security in all the ports of his country and inland cities whatsoever, paying 2 per cent. custom." Surat, 87.)

(F.R.

The Maratha envoy had brought with himself to Bombay Rs. 6,000 worth of the cloth looted at Surat in October 1670, consisting of katanis, rumáls, etc., and asked the English to buy them; but "they being not commodities proper for the Hon'ble Company to deal in " the factors refused to buy them. (F. R. Surat, 87, Surat to Bombay, 1 January 1672.) But as Shivaji had presumably no ready money to spare, the English

were ready to accept these goods in part payment of" what shall be agreed on to be due for satisfaction of our former losses, provided that the commodities were not over-rated, but cheap and good in their kind." (Ibid, 30 November 1671.) Á compromise was, however, made with the Maratha ambassador; the English lent him Rs. 1,500 upon his goods payable at two months' time. Lieut. Ustick was to have set out on his embassy on 15th January 1672, but was detained at Bombay by a message from Shivaji saying that he was too busy fighting the Mughal generals in Baglana to receive the envoy then. (F. R. Surat, 106, Bombay to Surat, 13 and 20 January 1672.)

IV.

At last Lieut. Ustick was sent on his mission on 10th March 1672, and came back on 13th May, with failure.

He, after a long and tedious attendance, had half an hour's discourse with him (Shivaji) and his Brahmans to little effect, but at last [Shivaji] proffered 5,000 pagodas towards our losses, and promiseth, if your Honour will please to settle a factory at Rajapur, to show all kindness and civility imaginable to the said factory." (Bombay to Surat, 13 March and 14 May 1672, F.R. Surat, 106.)

The negotiations broke down on the question of the amount of the indemnity. A Bombay letter to the Company, dated 21st December 1672, (O.C. 3722) states, "We demanded one hundred thousand rupees, they offered 20,000, declaring that Shivaji never made more advantage by what was robbed of the English ;...that what was taken in the chests, trunks and warehouses of particular men (i.e., European private traders), it may be was plundered by his soldiers, but he never had anything thereof, and therefore would not satisfy for it; but what (booty) was received and entered into his books he was willing to restore and make satisfaction for ... While these. things were transacting, Shivaji was engaged in a great design against the Koli country, whereupon the (Brahman) minister appointed to treat (with Mr. Ustick) being called away,

Mr. Ustick also returned to Bombay." But the English factors deliberately held off from pressing the negotiations to a close. As they write, "We have a hard and ticklish game to play, for the King (Aurangzib) being highly enraged against Shivaji, should he understand that we... hold any correspondence with him, it might probably cause him to order some disturbance to be given to your general affairs, not only in these parts but in Bengal also. On the other hand, we are forced to keep fair with Shivaji also, because from his countries we are supplied with provisions, timber and firewood, and likwise your inhabitants of Bombay drive a good trade into the main [-land], which would be a great prejudice to your island if it were obstructed. On these considerations we judge it your interest to suspend the treaty at present....We shall have great difficulty to recover anything for those gentlemen (i.e., private traders) who suffered particularly in that loss at Rajapur, for Shivaji... by the merchants of Rajapur hath understood what did belong to the Company and what to particular men; the latter he disowns totally.... Had it not been for our standing on some satisfaction for them, we had ended the dispute before now." (Ibid.)

V.

Between May and December 1672 two envoys were sent by Shivaji to the English factors at Bombay. In February 1673, a third envoy, Pilaji, came from Shivaji, but was dismissed without effecting anything. In May the Bombay Council resolved "to send Mr. Thomas Niccolls with a Banian broker to make a final demand of the damage done us at Rajapur, and now lately by his forces in Hubli."* (F.R. Surat, Vol. 3, Surat Consultation, 24 May 1673.)

On 19th May, Niccolls left Bombay with 37 persons in all for Rairi castle, which he was permitted to ascend on tho 23rd. He interviewed Shambhuji on the 24th in the absence of Shivaji on a pilgrimage. On 2nd June Shivaji returned to the castle, and next day Niccolls was received in audience. The Raja

*The latter amounted to 7,894 ragodas, or £3,500.