Explanation: The French traders arrived in Madagascar (in Africa) in 1602. Though the French colonized Madagascar, they had to abandon it in 1674, excepting a small coastal trading post.

• Berber, a French agent in India obtained a firman [a royal command or authorization] on September 4, 1666, from Aurangzeb and the first French factory was established at Surat in December 1668, much against the opposition of the Dutch.
• Pondicherry in 1673 was a small fishing village. Francis Martin who became the Governor of Pondicherry later had spent four years in Madagascar before arriving in Surat. He made Pondicherry the strategic centre of French settlements in India.

Source: NCERT