1682]

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The continued mortality at Bombay made it necessary for the new Deputy-Governor, Henry Oxenden, to beg the Court to send him at least 150 recruits every year to make up the deficit in the garrison.

His demand reached the Company when it was in a surly mood. A body of foolish members were disgusted with the expense they had been put to with regard to Bombay, and they were equally disgusted with Surat, where, as punishment, the title of President was changed to Agent, salaries were cut down, and a general policy of internal economy was adopted to reimburse the Company for its losses and the decline in trade. At Bombay, Oxenden's salary was reduced to £120, and the military establishment cut down to 180 privates and a small number of officers. Although this order was afterwards mitigated, and Keigwin, who had been dismissed, reinstated, yet coming at the time it did, it caused the utmost indignation. It was clear that by its policy the Company was doing its best to sacrifice Bombay and its trade and servants on the west coast of the peninsula. A series of other and contradictory orders followed. In vain the agents protested that the island was at the mercy of both foreign and native foe. The port of Bombay soon became the arena in which Mogul and Mahratta fought.

In 1682 Keigwin and his garrison, sick of the perversity and niggardliness of the Company's policy, broke out in revolt. Ward, the Deputy-Governor, was imprisoned, and Keigwin was elected Governor by popular vote. In the name of King Charles he

issued a proclamation dwelling on the "intolerable extortions, oppressions and unjust impositions" of the Company, and taking possession of Bombay for His Majesty. To the latter, as well as to the Duke of York, he addressed long letters charging the Company's representatives with "not maintaining the honour due to His Majesty's Crown," and of making the King's laws "subject to their depraved wills". The bluff and brave old sailor believed that by its conduct the Company had rightly forfeited its title to Bombay. He had no scruple about boarding a Company's ship in harbour and confiscating 50,000 rupees as back pay to himself and fellows. He obtained leave from Sivaji's adherents to grant factories exemption from customs duties on the eastern coast, and £4,000 in compensation for damages which Ward had been unable to collect. Keigwin also made it his business to encourage interlopers, and began to lay plans for undermining the Company's hold in this part of the peninsula. He even issued a manifesto calling on the Council of Surat to arrest the new President who had succeeded Rolt, who, in turn, made ineffective efforts to put down an insurrection with which some of the Surat servants must have sympathised.1

At home a wave of popular disfavour bade fair to supplement Keigwin's schemes as regards inter

1One Dr. St. John, who was sent by the Company out to Surat in the capacity of Judge Advocate, investigated the whole affair of the mutiny, and satirically termed Keigwin the "Oliver and Protector of the island of Bombay," and declared him to be wholly influenced by predatory and rebellious motives.

1680]

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lopers and private trade. In 1680 the private traders, who since the Restoration had not ventured openly to fit out vessels in England for the Indian trade, came out boldly into the market place. The leading spirit, nominally at least, was one Captain Alley, whose project was to "equip a large ship at Cadiz to carry out Europe commodities and to return with Eastern produce, to be disposed of in foreign European markets". On hearing of this scheme Sir William Thomson, the Company's Governor, waited on Lord Shaftesbury and obtained a letter forbidding Englishmen in the East and servants of the Company to lend any countenance to the "interloping rascals". But such measures were not very effectual, and already many of the "rascals" were driving a roaring trade to the Company's disadvantage in India, while in England there was being laid the basis of that opposition which was to end in the establishment of a rival corporation,

It can hardly be doubted that but for the energy and ability of a single man the rivalry would earlier have begun to press sorely on the Company. But long before this there was an able minority at home which took a broader view of the Company's mission in India. Josiah Child, the leader of this minority, was soon at work with pen and tongue. He recognised the importance of influencing public opinion by means of printed argument, and tracts issued by him, under the pseudonym "Philopatris," were sown broadcast over the kingdom. He meted out scorn to those ignorant ones who questioned the value of the Company's trade to England.