vied with each other in getting Europeans into their service, so that none but the most wretched would stay to serve the Company.  At the best they 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 island of Bombay; with which answer the Council was apparently satisfied.  The real grievance of the men appears to have been that Midford, not being a military officer, was not entitled to make the deduction.  The Directors were careful in enjoining that powder was not to be wasted at exercise; “but sometimes the men must be used to firing, lest in time of action they should start at the noise or the recoil of their arms.”  To bring such officers and men into the field was to invite disaster.  Soldiers are not made by dressing men in uniform and putting muskets into their hands.

[Illustration:  Map]

[1] According to the Company’s instructions in 1675, writers were to
    receive no salary at all for the first five years, and after that L10
    a year.  In 1699 the Court of Directors settled the salaries of
    merchants at L60, factors at L40, and writers at L20 per annum (Bruce);
    but in 1716 the salaries were as above stated.

[2] The London Company and the English East India Company were amalgamated
    in 1708.

[3] 1674.

[4] It was afterwards re-established, and again abolished in Boone’s time.

[5] Bombay was subordinate to the Surat factory till 1685.

[6] Four years after returning to England, Keigwin was given the command
    of a frigate.  In 1690 he accompanied the expedition against the French
    in the West Indies, and fell at the head of his men in the assault of
    Basseterre, St. Christopher’s.—­Dic.  Nat.  Bio.

[7] Hansard, 1754.

[8] The first General Order issued by the Commander-in-Chief in Madras was
    dated the 22nd November, 1772.

[9] The lari was the well-known hook money of the Persian Gulf.  It was
    worth about sixpence.

CHAPTER VI

EXPEDITION AGAINST KENNERY

Sivajee’s occupation of Kennery—­A naval action—­Minchin and Keigwin—­Bombay threatened—­The Seedee intervenes—­Conajee Angria occupies Kennery—­Boone sails with the expedition—­Manuel de Castro—­Futile proceedings—­Force landed and repulsed—­Second landing—­Manuel de Castro’s treachery—­Gideon Russell—­Bad behaviour of two captains—­Defeat—­Attack abandoned—­The St. George—­The Phram—­Manuel de Castro punished—­Bombay wall completed—­Angria makes overtures for peace—­Boone outwitted.