Hamilton’s account of the east indies.

335

Chap. XVIIL— Continues the Ob/ervations on the Affairs of Bombay , with the Articlesexhibited by Mr . Child , in order to embroil the Company's Affairs with the Mogul andhis Subjects,

THE Company having fuch a number of great fhips on their hands, were obliged-'to fend them abroad; but having no flock to employ them, ordered the general andchiefs of their factories in India to borrow what fums they could on the Company’scredit, from the Indian merchants, to lade their fhips home, which accordingly theydid, and what they could not lade home, they were to employ by freights in India .And I faw a letter from the governor of the Company in England, intimating, thatwhen they had got as much credit of the Mogul’s fubjects as they could, then theywould pick quarrels with the creditors, and put a general flop to their trade, whichwas accordingly done; for in 1686 and 1687, the Surat merchants traded brifkly byfea to Mocha, Perfia, and Baffora, to the weft ward, and to Bengal, Atcheen, Malacca ,and Stain, to the eaftward. The general granting paffes to all who required them, then,about the latter end of the year 1687, he laid down a complaint and grievance beforethe governor of Surat , and demanded redrefs and fatisfaction. The articles of hisgrievances I faw in a printed copy, and were as follows, in 35 articles.

“ I. Laft year a fnip of Molah Abdel Gafoar’s coming from Juddah, in her returnmet with two Danifh pirates, who made a prize of her. The news coming to Surat ,the faid Molah Abdel Gafoar, by perfuafions of Meir Nazam, and other merchants^made their complaints to Sababat Caun (then governor), and other officers of Surat ,faying, the Engliffi belonging to Surat had taken his ffiip, at the fame time fending hisattorney to court, to complain to the King, who ordered the governor, &c. officers ofSurat , to enquire into it, and to do juftice accordingly. In this affair, by bribery, anddifgracing me to the King and his lubjects, as alfo the Dutch, French , and other na-tions, making them believe it to be true, for which difgrace I am not able to trade inthefe parts ; but I hope the difgrace will light on him, that hereafter no fuch fcandalmay be put on me, or any other, we having traded here thefe eighty or ninety years,but never before accufed as robbers, but daily enriched the port of Surat .

“ II. The complaints of Mulah Abdel Gafoar have been much to my prejudice, byFeafon I could not clear my money out of the cuftom-houfe, nor fhip my goods forEurope , which were feized and hundred, which hath made me leave the port andtrading, and retire to Bombay. I have by me 30 or 40 lacks of rupees in money andgoods in a readinefs; if you pleafe to fend any body, you may be certified of the truth.Confider the lofs I am at in the ufe of my money, damage of my goods, and detainingmy fhips a year. I defire your anfwer.

“ III. Mulah Abdel Gafoar’s difgracing me, makes people afraid to truft me, mycredit being loft by his falfe reports, having 12 fhips laden with goods, which I de-igned to have fent to Surat, there to have provided goods, and relad'e for Europe ; butbis difgracing me is the occafion of the great charges I am at, my fhips wintering inthefe parts, and my goods lying on my hands, we merchants trading for profit, whichhindrance hath not only been a great lofs to the King in his cuftoms, but to me, which® muff; anfwer to my mailers.

“ IV. Mr. Petit and Mr. Boucher being indebted to the Company feveral funis ofmoney, I would have called them to account for the fame ; but they, like traitors, wentto the governor Cortalab Caun for protection. As for Mr. Petit he is dead and gone

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