already reached Pent, a place about 25 miles distant. At once there was a general exodus and the town was changed from a busy port into the death-like quiet of a desert. The Turkish, English and French
merchants abandoned their factories." But the Dutch, 52 men in all, with flags flying and drums beating proceeded from their ship to their factory. This was their belated imitation of the English demonstration
of January 1664, when " the English president, at the head of some 200 men, had marched through the town, declaring that he meant to withstand Shivaji with this handful of men !" (Dutch Records, Trans.,
Vol. 29, letter No. 763 and Vol. 27, No. 719.)
At the end of November, and again about 10th December, 1670, the alarm was revived; and the European merchants met together to concert means of guarding their respective interests. The landward defences of Swally were strengthened by adding a breastwork on the north side of the choultry, and the entrance to the harbour or "hole" was guarded by stationing a ship there. The English used to remove their money and goods from Surat to this place at every such alarm.
In June 1672 the success of the Maratha forces under Moro Pant in the Koli State of Ramnagar, on the way to Surat, kept the city in constant terror for a long time. The Maratha general openly demanded chauth from Surat, threatening a visitation if the governor refused payment. There was the same panic again in February and October 1672, September
