22 THE EARLY FRENCH IN INDIA. chap. Galle. Now, though reduced in numbers, they were
- " animated by the best spirit, and they were under the
1074 immediate direction of a man who never knew what it was to be discouraged. Such was the energy of their defence, that, finding, at the expiration of some weeks, how little had been accomplished towards the reduction of the place, the Dutch resolved to land a considerable body of men to co-operate with the Golkonda army. By this means they were enabled to subject the garrison to a strict blockade. These proceedings were effectual. Unable to procure fresh supplies, and having consumed their last stores, the French were compelled to sur- render. The conditions granted to them were favour- able ; for they were allowed to march out with all the honours of war, and to proceed in whatever direction they might perfer.* If it had been the object of the Dutch to expel the French from India, they had much reason to complain of the agents who granted a capitu- lation containing such a clause. But these had little idea, in all probability, of the use that would be made of it. To a small but resolute minority of the French gar- rison, this capitulation, if a blow, was a blow which they had expected, and for which they were prepared. Having been allowed to choose their own destination, they at once selected the territory which they had pur- chased north of the Kolrun. Thither, accordingly, marched some sixty of them, under the orders of Francis Martin, and there they arrived in the month of April, 1674. They had everything to do, and their resources were at a very low ebb. The remainder, who constituted a large majority, determined to return at once in the ships that remained to them to Surat. Amongst those who adopted this course were the two Directors, Messrs. Lahaye and Baron.t
- Annates des Provinces Unies, t It would appear that both La-
vol. ii. haye and Baron visited the plot of
