43 
1671 ] of the Island Dauphine , &c. 
belonging to the Mogul. Tis the first town of Asia, & one 
of the largest commercial Towns of the world. Tis a 
little larger than Orleans, & as much or more populous 
than Paris, in proportion to its greatness. There are all 
sorts of Nations here, who profess their Religion freely. 
This town is strong enough, being well surrounded with, 
good walls & fortifications; there’s a good & strong 
Citadel, in which there’s a Governor & strong Garrison. 
Nevertheless this Town has been several times plundered by 
the said Savagy, for whom the pillaging is render’d very 
easy, for the Inhabitants, on hearing it said that Savagy is 
coming to see them, betake themselves to flight, & abandon 
the Town, carrying with them what they can ; and it is 
impossible to find people more cowardly than these Indians 
there, since at the very name of Savagy they tremble, & 
by their flight leave the Town a prey to him. This Savagy 
has not more than from ten to twelve thousand men, so 
that, if the Soldiers & Inhabitants of Surat had a little 
courage, the defeat of Savagy & his Troops would be easy 
for them. 
Savagy has acquir’d inestimable booty in the plunder -Surat has 
ings which he has made of this Town, where are some very times e ° £ 
rich Merchants, & particularly some Baignans, who are the Savagy. by 
richest Merchants of the world. I shall say something 
afterwards of the Religion of these Baignans. In the last 
sack that Savagy made in this Town, there was found 
in one house alone of a Banian twenty-two pounds of 
large, fine pearls, besides other jewellery & costly mer¬ 
chandise. 
The Company of France has its Hotel & Office in the 
said town, which they call the Lodge of the French, but 
Savagy does not touch anything belonging to Frenchmen, 
having peace with them, & being their friend. There 
were, nevertheless, some of his Troops who wish’d to 
enter into the Lodge, & demanded a sum of money. They 
