Indian Antiquary Vol 51

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 7

JANUARY, 1922)
SIVAJI'S RAID UPON SURAT IN 1664.
were likewise seized, but they were released towards evening and returned, bringing news that the invader was certainly Siwagie, for one of them had seen him before at Ragiapoer.
"About seven o'clock the sailors from the Leerdam were brought into the factory, and two guns from the Macassar were placed in position. Some piece-goods from Broach, which were lying on the maidan, were also carried in, without waiting for permission from the Governor. Messages were sent to the weavers and dyers to bring to the factory any cloth they had belonging to the Company and this they did in great haste and confusion.
"Whilst we were thus engaged, the English President Oxenden about ten o'clock came marching over the green, past the castle, and then by our factory. He had with him a goodly number of Englishmen, as, fortunately for him, there were two ships from England lying at Swally, besides four or five smaller vesseis for local trade. He took the pocasion to pay a visit to the Directeur, and showed himself so full of spirit and so confident, because of his 200 Englishmen (in addition to the Moor sailors), that he declared himself ready to attack Sivagie, should he approach the English factory.
"Our Directeur replied that on his part he meant to stand on the defensive and do nothing unless attacked, in which case he and his companions would resist to the death. At the close of the interview a report came that the enemy was approaching the gates of the city; and shortly after the President's departure (about midday) this was confirmed. Thereupon the Directeur signalled to the ships to depart for Swally Hole.
"No sooner had we closed the gates of the factory and repaired to the roof than we saw flames burst out with great fury in the middle of the city. Some of the robber's troops made their way, quite unopposed, to the custom house and there found plenty of booty. The Governor, though the commander of 1000 horse and charged with the duty of defending the city, took refuge in the castle, with his suite and 100 horsemen all that he had of the aforesaid numbert) as the principal inhabitants had already done, though, if they had had the presence of mind to do so, they might, by hiring a few Moor soldiers, have defended their houses and saved their goods. Thus the whole city was left 29 a prey to burning and pillage. The robbers, finding themselves nowhere opposed, had the boldness this evening to come close up to the castle, the guns of which did them no harm, while inflicting considerable damage on the city itself. During the first watch of the night the firing continued' very briskly. The thieves could be heard all round the factory, calling to one another and breaking into the houses ; but the conflagration did not seem to increase perceptibly.
"7 (Thursday). Early in the day came an emissary from Sievagie, in the person of Nicolaes Calostra, & Greek merchant who lived in Surat, accompanied by & horseman. The Greek was admitted and told us in Portuguese that he had been dragged out of his house and had been ordered to tell the Dutch and English Chiefs that Surat had been given to Sivaji by Prince Siasousa (Shah Shuja), who was now living with him : that he needed money to maintain his army: and that unless they gave him some (the amount not being specified), the whole city would be burnt. This pretext was obviously false, it being well known that the Prince had died three years ago in Arracan,