display; and it was always the Company's practice to retain officers and
men in their service up to any age. On one occasion we find Boone writing
to the Directors that 'it would not do to disgust the men too much.'
Miserable as was their pay of sixteen laris[9] a month, we find them
complaining to the Council that Midford had kept back two laris a month
from each man. To which Midford replied that he never received nor took
any more profit from the soldiers than what other officers did, all
through the island of Bombay; with which answer the Council was apparently
satisfied. The real grievance of the men appears to have been that Midford,
not being a military officer, was not entitled to make the deduction. The
Directors were careful in enjoining that powder was not to be wasted at
exercise; "but sometimes the men must be used to firing, lest in time of
action they should start at the noise or the recoil of their arms." To
bring such officers and men into the field was to invite disaster.
Soldiers are not made by dressing men in uniform and putting muskets into
their hands.

[Illustration: Map]


[1] According to the Company's instructions in 1675, writers were to
receive no salary at all for the first five years, and after that £10
a year. In 1699 the Court of Directors settled the salaries of
merchants at £60, factors at £40, and writers at £20 per annum (Bruce);
but in 1716 the salaries were as above stated.

[2] The London Company and the English East India Company were amalgamated
in 1708.

[3] 1674.