ABSTRACT
In many respects, the Arabian seas might be seen as a frontier where one was always encircled by foes. Peace treaties and bilateral diplomatic relations between European states were of limited avail there. Instead, European states might have armed collisions, whereas they were allies in Europe. The settlements in Malabar were, according to van Rheede in 1670, won and held by the sword and by the sword alone:
One is at the frontier here and is never assured against the cunning of white and other nations and does not know when they will implement some devious plot or it may be too late and time runs too short for sending relief. 1
