VIZAGAPATAM
In May 1698, however, another and friendlier Seer Lascar ('Fakera' or 'Pakerla Khan,' apparently Fakir-ulláh Khán) was appointed, and the prospect looked brighter. In February 1700 this potentate 'did our Chief great Honour, Setting him on his own Pallakeen, comeing to his house to Vissit him, and giveing him a rich suite of cloths, an Elephant, and two Horses, and making all demonstrations of love possible.' In the next month he was succeeded by a new Seer Lascar who tried to impose new taxes and thus kindled yet another revolt by the local Rájas. The latter defeated his troops on every occasion, burnt and plundered most of the country, shut the Seer Lascar up in Chicacole and threatened to attack that place, captured Kasimkóta and plundered the Dutch at Bimlipatam. Peace at length ensued and the people returned from the woods in which they had taken refuge; but in 1702 the flames broke out again and the Faujdar had to pay the Rájas a lakh of rupees to keep quiet.
'Rustundill Khan' was soon afterwards reappointed as Seer Lascar and showed symptoms of again giving the factory trouble. The Madras authorities said nothing about withdrawal this time,but sent to Vizagapatam twelve Portuguese and six English soldiers and fifteen candies of powder. The Seer Lascar came and camped in the Company's garden at Vizagapatam with 40,000 men and the factory had an anxious time. But at length judicious presents softened his heart and he granted a cowle for the place. Mr. Holcombe died in May 1705, after having been Chief for thirteen exciting years, and lies buried in the old cemetery at Vizagapatam which is usually erroneously called 'the Dutch cemetery.' He was succeeded by Mr. Stephen Trewen, Who died within a year and was followed by Mr. Francis Hastings, afterwards provisional Governor of Madras.
In this Chief's time serious trouble occurred with Fakir-ulláh Khán, who had been reappointed Seer Lascar. About 1698 Mr. Holcombe had rashly borrowed 44,000 pagodas of Fakírulláh, then Seer Lascar, and lent it to Ananda Rázu, chief of Vizianagram, and Páyaka Rao of Páyakaraopeta (p. 312). At the time of his death (notwithstanding several threatening letters from Fakír-ulláh, who warned him that his money was 'like bread as hard as iron, and so not easily digested' and would be recovered by fair means or foul), Mr. Holcombe still owed 6,500 pagodas of the principal, while with interest the debt amounted to over 20,000 pagodas. Mr. Holcombe had still more rashly affixed the Company's seal to his bond, and Fakír-ulláh accordingly called upon the Chief and Council to pay up the amount.
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