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 HE SUCCESSFULLY NEGOTIATES WITH SfVAJI. 25 more than Martin. As, then, he noticed the periodical CH j AP " increase of his manufactories, he felt that he had need • of more numerous defenders than the few Europeans who formed his party. He accordingly, in 1676, applied to his friend Sher Khan Lodi, for permission to entertain some native soldiers for the purposes of defence. Sher Khan willingly assented, and made over to him three hundred of his own men. Martin used these men not only as soldiers, but colonists. He gave each a piece of land, and encouraged them to build houses, and to employ themselves profitably in the manufacture of tissues and other articles for export. For some time everything went on well, and the settlement continued to increase in prosperity. But in the seventeenth century peace and tranquillity were rare in India ; and the turn of Pondichery came at last. In 1676, Sivaji, having in the four preceding years pos- sessed himself of many places on the Malabar coast, and been crowned King of the Marathas, proceeded to Golkonda, and, after having made an alliance with its ruler for the protection of his own territories during his absence, poured like a torrent on the Karnatik. In May, 1677, he passed by Madras, then occupied by the English, and appeared before Jinji, regarded as inac- cessible. Jinji, however, surrendered, owing, it is stated, to a previous understanding with the comman- der. Proceeding further south, he was met by Martin's friend, Sher Khan, at the head of live thousand horse, but Sher Khan was defeated and taken prisoner. Sivaji then invested Vellur, took Arni, and threatened to overwhelm the settlement established by the French, on the ground of their being dependents of his enemy Sher Khan. The situation was critical. Martin's three hundred soldier-workmen were powerless in such an emer- gency, even supported by the entire European com- munity. Resistance, therefore, was out of the ques-