Portuguese

Meanwhile in Daman, Portuguese mercenaries were getting ready to aid the Qutbs in winning against the Marathas. The Portuguese had already made a deal with the Mughals on managing the port of Surat. 

It was an important landmark for the Portuguese as it would allow them to travel a lesser distance as their sea route from Cape of Good Hope required the ships to hug the horn of Africa, which made the European ships come to Surat first then move down to Daman, Goa, and Cochin. 

The Portuguese had eyed the riches of the port city of Surat for a long time. They wanted the port in their palms, siphoning all the wealth of the land back home. 

The mercenaries of the Portuguese used muskets for their missions and were highly trained individuals in warfare. 

It was a disciplined group used for operations by Portugal for taking over smaller kingdoms.