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31 THE EARLY FRENCH IN INDIA. chap, place on the Koromandel coast. They therefore deter- ' mined to make it worthy to be the capital of Dutch 1693. India. Their first care was to strengthen its defences. They built new walls, supported by bastions, and rendered it the strongest fortress possessed by an European power in Hindustan. They endeavoured also to cement their relations with the natives, and to establish with them the same cordial intercourse which had existed with the French. It was an end towards which they strove that as in their wars with the Portuguese they had permanently retained the fortified places they had taken from them in India, so, after this contest with the French, peace when it came might once more confirm to them the possession of their Eastern gains. Meanwhile, Martin and his companions had arrived in France. The reception they met with was en- couraging. The Minister and the Directors were equally pleased to honour a man who had effected so much with so little. The King himself conferred upon him the dignity of Chevalier of the order of St. Lazare. On the other hand, his description of Pondichery and its advantages imparted vitality and excitement to Directors who had had to experience nothing but losses. They began for the first time to appreciate the importance of the place which they had hitherto so neglected, and which, owiug to that neglect, had been lost to them. Just then, however, nothing could be done. France was fighting single-handed against Spain, Germany, England, and Holland; and of these England and Holland were her successful rivals in the Indies. There was nothing for it but to wait for peace. Peace at last came. On September 21,* 1697, the treaty of Ryswick was signed. One of the articles of that treaty engaged that there should be a mutual ♦All dates given in this volume are according to the new style.