Hamilton’s account of the east indies. 315

flounced a curfe on them that fhould repair them again. But the Sevajee’s incurfionsmade him order the rebuilding them himfelf, and he chriftened it Suckabant, or theE)ry City ; but that new name could not efface the old one, which it yet retains. Itis now inhabited by weavers, and fuch mechanicks as manufacture cotton cloth. Andthe Baroach Baftas are famous throughout all India, the country producing the bellcotton in the world. This town is alfo fubordinate to Surat ; and formerly the Eng-lilh and Dutch had factories fettled there, but of late have withdrawn them.

Surat is the next fea-port. It was built about the year 1660, on the banks of theriver Tapta or Tappee, which being difcommoded with banks of fand at Rannier, thethen mart town on this river, the Englilh removed about two miles farther down theriver, on the oppofite fide, near a caftle which had been built many years before, to fe-cure the trade from the infults of the Malabar pirates, who ufed to lord it over all thefea-coaft between Cape Comorin and Cambay. In a little time after the Englilh hadfettled there, others followed their example, fo that in a few years it became a largetown, but without walls, and fo it continued till about the aforefaid year, that RajahSevajee, who had never fubmitted to the Mogul's domination, came with an army, andplundered it, except the European factories, who Hood on their guard. Them hecomplimented with the proffer of his friendfhip, becaufe perhaps he apprehended, that hecould not plunder them without bloodfhed and lofs of time. However he carriedaway a very great booty, which made the inhabitants petition Aurengzeb to fecurethem for the future, by a wall round their town ; ■which favour he granted, enclofingabout four miles to build their city in; but trade increafing, the town was too fmallwithin the walls to contain the people that came about commerce, wherefore feverallarge fuburbs were added to the city for the conveniency of mechanicks. The wallWas built of brick, about eight yards high, with round bullions, 200 paces diftant fromone another, and each had five or fix cannon mounted on them. And the rich men°f the town built many fummer-houfes in the fields, and planted gardens about themto folace themfelves and families in the heats, which are pretty violent in April, May,a nd June.

The city flourifhed in trade till anno 1686, that the Englifh company difturbed itstranquillity by an unjuft war they made on Surat , but pretended it was not with theMogul, who had given them many indulgences, which war I’ll remark when I treat ofBombay, but that war was ended in anno 1689, neither to the profit nor honour ofthat Eaft India Company. In anno 1695, Captain Evory, a pirate, difturbed the tradean d tranquillity of the town with four fmall Ihips, taking one of the Mogul’s ffiips,with a great booty in filver and gold, and a Mahometan lady, as I obferved before onthe commerce of the Red Sea and the ifland of Madagafcar. And fince that time,this city has felt many convulfions in its trade.

In anno 1705, when Aurengzeb began to be crazy with old age, the circumjacentRajahs, with an united force of fourfcore thoufand horfe, came and befieged Surat ,aa d plundered all the villages in the plain country ; but having no artillery, they could^.° but little harm to the city itfelf, befides ftraitening it a little for provifions, but the£ n y having their river and fea open, that difficulty was removed by plentiful fuppliesbrought them from Guzerat,

Ihefe freebooters go under the general appellation of Gennims, but they are com-Pplhd of the aforementioned Warrels, Coulies, Raffpouts, Patanners, and Gracias,rhefe Gracias were formerly the landed men of this country, and, upon their fubmif-* 0n to Ecbar, the then Emperor of Mogul, articled to have the ground rents paid tohem, and their pofterity ; but the nabobs often defraud them, and they, to put the

s s 2 governors