portion received by Charles II. with the infanta of Portugal, and in
1662 the Bombay regiment of Europeans was raised to defend it. In 1668
the island was granted to the Company, and the regiment at the same
time transferred to them. In 1708 Bombay became a presidency, but it
did not play so important a part as the others in the early extension
of British power, and its forces were not so rapidly developed. It is
said, however, to have been the first to discipline native troops, and
Bombay sepoys were sent to Madras in 1747, and took part in the battle
of Plassey in 1757. In 1772 the Bombay army consisted of 2500
Europeans and 3500 sepoys, but in 1794, in consequence of the
struggles with the Mahratta power, the native troops had been
increased to 24,000.