That is very far from being our position here.

We are, I can assure you, only here on sufferance.

You can have no idea of the power of some of these native sovereigns of India.

The Mahrattas, who live beyond the mountains you see on the horizon, could pour down such hosts of armed men that, if they combined against us, no resistance that we could offer would be likely to be successful.

And yet they are but one among a score of warlike peoples.
"So long as we do not attempt to proselytize, and are content to appear as merchants and traders, no general feeling exists against our residence here.