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.

Source: Tamil Nadu NCERT