The Pirates of Malabar, and an Englishwoman in India Two Hundred Years Ago

Broken pledges and ill-treatment-Directors' vacillating policy-Military grievances- Keigwin seizes the administration of Bombay-His wise rule-Makes his submission to the Crown-Low status of Com

gar cultivation brought in great wealth; the whole machinery of English life was reproduced in the tropics-counties, parishes; sheriffs, rectories, tithes, an established church, etc. The same causes that sent the Cavaliers to Virginia, sent a smaller migration to the West Indies. At the Restoration, the men who had conquered Jamaica for Cromwell were unwilling to return to England. Monmouth's rebellion

utlet. "If you cannot devise expedients to send contributions, or procure credit, all is lost, and I must go to the Indies," wrote William the Third, in bitter humour, at a desperate crisis in his affairs. Fryer tells us (1698) how the Company had entertained Bluecoat boys as apprentices for seven years, after which time they were to be made writers, if able to furnish the required security. The salaries they received from the Company were only nominal. A Bombay pay-list of January, 1716, shows us the official salaries at that time. The Governor received ￡300 per annum. Next to him came eight merchants, who with him constituted the Council, and received respectively, one ￡100, one ￡70, two ￡50, and four ￡40 each. Below them came three senior factors at ￡30 each, three junior factors at ￡15, and seven writers at ￡5.[1] The tale is completed by the accountant and the chaplain, who received ￡100 each. A writer on entering the service had to find security for ￡500, which was increased to ￡1000 when he rose to be a factor. The unma

he condition of the Company's soldiers is considered. The Company's policy was to keep officers and men in a state of degra

iscipline impossible. The greater number of them accepted the terms. Two years later, a company was sent out under Captain Shaxton to fill vacancies. Shaxton was evidently a man of good abilities and position; one who had been trained in the

y broke out, in which Shaxton supported the demands of his men. They complained that a month's pay, promised to them on engagement, was due to them, and claimed their discharge, as their time of service had expired. President Aungier behaved with prudence and firmness. He pacified the men by granting their

as disbanded, Keigwin was discharged from the service, and thirty soldiers, who had been detached to Surat to defend the factory against Sivajee, were refused any extra allowance, which caused much discontent. Before long the Directors became alarmed at the defenceless state of Bombay, and sent out Keigwin again with troops and artillery, to have the chief military command and the third seat in Council. To meet the expense, the other officers were made to suffer in rank and pay, and the whole of the small force fell into a dangerous state of discontent. Among other reductions in the pay of their military force, the Directors reduced the rate of exchange, a measure that affected the men as well as the officers; and, not content with making these changes prospective, insisted that the officers should refund the surplu

e called on to take an oath of allegiance to the King, and to renounce their obedience to the Company, a demand that was universally complied with. Officials were appointed, grievances were redressed, and trade was encouraged, to be carried on without molestation so long as Keigwin's authority was not challenged. Money arriving from England was lodged in the fort, with a declarati

hrattas. There was no disorder or bloodshed; the only thing of the kind that has been recorded being a wound received by Keigwin himself in a quarrel at table. So great was the enthusiasm for Keigwin, that when, first commissioners, and then Sir John Child himself, came from Surat to try and re-establish the Company's authority, it was with difficulty that the crews of their vessels could be prevented from joining Keigwin and his adherents.[5] It was well for the Com

growing up in England, under the mischievous preaching of agitators, which reached its height thirteen years later. They took into their service men of low origi

ompany with the military, especially the Council. Now and then they may invite one to take a d

the Mutiny Act to the East Indies and St. Helena, in consequence of the Company's right to

service as a common soldier, and I suppose was made an officer by one of those governors for trumpeting to him better than any other man could do it in the country. Another, I am told, was a low sort of barber-one of our shave-for-a-penny barbers-he

Company's officers to exercise authority, and to the bad rel

merchants and factors. To such an extent was this carried, that for fifty years afterwards no military officer was allowed to give out the parole and counter

as 'an extraordinary person in disciplining (drilling) soldiers,' he was appointed adjutant of the regiment till he should give a specimen of improved behaviour. When there was fighting to be done, the command was taken by factors and writers, who were given temporary commissions as captains, colonels, etc. Midford, Brown, Cowan, and others we hear of in command

lves in the hard fighting that went on from 1751 to 1764, we find only two who had not graduated in the King's service. These were Clive, who entered the

were only factory guards, and maintained for purposes of escort and display; and it was always the Company's practice to retain officers and men in their service up to any age. On one occasion we find Boone writing to the Directors that 'it would not do to disgust the men too much.' Miserable as was their pay of sixteen laris[9] a month, we find them complaining to the Council that Midford had kept back two laris a month from each man. To which Midford replied that he never received nor took any more profit from the soldiers than what other officers did, all through the i

tratio

t five years, and after that ￡10 a year. In 1699 the Court of Directors settled the salaries of merchants

the English East India Comp

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