Hamilton’s account of the east indies.

337

c< XIII. When Gaffadean Caun was Governor of Surat , by order of the King,the city was walled, at which time we had a garden near Brampore gate, about whichvve built 34 (hops, {tables for horfes, a fummer-houfe, and feveral other convenientplaces, all firm buildings, which coll: to the amount of 25,000 rupees, when the wallcame near our garden, our buildings were broke down, and our garden fpoiled. Wepetioned the governor for fatisfaction, he promifed to allow us charges out of theKing’s treafury ; but we have not received any fatisfaction. We demand fatisfactionfor the faid charges.

“ XIV. Formerly when our goods came from other parts to Surat , we paid nomore than due cuftom, and {hipped them for Europe , or other places, without any far-ther trouble. Of late years the officers of thofe places, from whence our goodscome, put us to much trouble in demanding the governor’s and officers of Surat ’sreceipts of us, and many times detain our goods on that account, by which their pro-ceedings our fhips fometimes return empty, and fometimes are forced to remain in thecountry, which is a great lot's to the King in his cuftoms, as well as to us. Ourrequeft is, that, for the future, fuch receipts may not be demanded of us, but that wemay have the fame liberty as formerly.

“ XVI. When our goods are in a readinefs, we fend them to the accuftomed placeto be ihopt, with a true invoice of the contents of the bales. Formerly they ufed tomake choice of one or two bales, and if they found them according to invoice, thento {hop and clear the reft without any farther trouble. Of late the cuftomer andofficers, for their intereft, and to delay time, open moft of our goods, which is netonly a great charge to us in repacking our goods, but alfo our goods are damaged.Our defire is, that they may be fhopt and fhipt according to invoice, without anyfarther trouble, as accuftomary.

“ XVI. Our {loops and boats coming from Swally to the cuftom-houfe, the Meer-bar ufed to fearch them, if empty, cleared them, without any farther trouble. . Of lateYears the Meerbar, &c. officers will not clear them in three or four days, which is agreat hindrance to us in the difpatch of our buftnefs. Our defire is, they may be fearchedand cleared as formerly, without delay,

“ XVII. Sometimes merchants that buy our goods, break, plead poverty, that theyhave not wherewithal to pay us, applying ourfelves to the governor and officers forjuftice, and their affiftance, we can have no redrefs. Our deftre is, either that thegovernor, and officers order payment to be made, or to fatisfy us out of the King’scuftoms, that we may be no longer fufferers by his fubjefts.

“ XVIII. Sometimes we fend our brokers or fervants to the governor and officers,as our affairs require, who cannot be admitted without bribing the fervants of faidgovernor and officers. We defire it may be remedied for the future.

“ XIX. Our horfes that come from Perfia, Baffora, and at their arrival we ufed tofend them to our {tables, without farther delay. Of late years at their landing arecarried to the governor, his feal put about their necks, and ourfelves not trufted to ufe° r difpofe of them. Our defire is, that we may either ride them, or difpofe of themas formerly.

“ XX. The governor and officers often fend to us for broad cloth, fword-blades,&c.; in civility we cannot deny them, but when we fend for the money, they deny thepayment, and abufe our fervants, by which we are fufferers. Our defire is,that, for the future, if the governor and officers deftre any goods, they may pay forthem before they carry them away.

VOL VIII.

X X

“ XXI. Goods