24 THE EARLY FRENCH IN INDIA. chap, prudence. In those days India supplied Europe with L piece-goods, and it was to the opening of a trade in 1675 this commodity that the attention of the little colony was at first directed. So successful were their efforts that in about two years after their arrival, Martin wrote to the Company that he would be able to send them an annual supply to the value of 1,000,000 livres or more. He added a full description of the place ; stated that he considered it as well adapted as any other on the coast for the purpose of a French settlement ; that the roadstead in front of it, which prevented the near ap- proach of men-of-war, rendered it secure against any sudden attack ; that it was fairly sheltered from the monsoon ; that it was healthy and well situated for commercial purposes. This report, and the intelligence which accompanied it, so different from the accounts which the fall of St. Thome had led them to expect, were received with the greatest satisfaction by the Directors. It must not be imagined that the colonists were entirely free from troubles and alarms. Pondichery was, in fact, founded and nutured amid the clash of arms and the clamour of falling kingdoms. The Sul- tanat of Bijapur from which the ground on which it was built had been obtained, ceased iu 1676 to be ranked as an independent sovereignty. Twelve months later, Golkonda, which had assisted in the expulsion of the French from St. Thome, had itself fallen a prey to the insatiable ambition of Aurangzeb. At the same time, the enemy of all established authorities — Sivaji — was engaged in levying contributions wherever he could obtain them, in annexing towns and provinces, and in laying the foundation of that predatory power which his successors carried to so great a height. In such a time, the only chance of safety, especially for a community comparatively rich, was to be well armed, and well capable of offering resistance. None felt this
