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32 to be delivered to his chief. It would seem that the wife of the chief tasted these cordials, and insisted upon obtaining more. The storming of Pondichery being recognised as difficult, the chief determined to proceed by way of negotiation. The result was that Dumas made him a present of thirty bottles in addition, and he, withdrawing all his demands, returned to Western India.

In the interval Pondichery had received other visitors, among them Safdar Alí, son and successor of the late Nuwáb. This chief was so impressed by the conduct of M. Dumas, that on the departure of the Maráthás he increased the French territory by the cession of land bringing a yearly revenue of 10,000 rupees. The Subáhdár of the Deccan, the representative of the Mughal in Southern India, marked his appreciation of the conduct of M. Dumas by transmitting to him a letter of thanks and a dress of honour. Safdar Alí, besides the territory referred to, sent him the armour of his deceased father, richly adorned with gold and precious stones, together with three elephants, several horses, many swords and jewelled weapons, and a letter of honour. The King of Delhi himself, Muhammad Sháh, conferred upon him the title of Nuwáb; the rank of Commander of 4,500 horse, 2,000 of whom he was to be allowed to keep about his person in times of peace, without being at charge for their maintenance. Dumas, always eager for the interests of France, and conscious how much the natives were impressed by the possession of such dignities, asked,