Hamilton’s account of the east indies.

338

“ XXI. Goods provided at Agra, Amadabant, &c. coming to Baroach , the gover*nor forces us to pay 18 per mill, cuftom, which is contrary to the King’s order, for weought to pay but in one place as the Moors and Banyans. Our defire is to be clearedof that cuftom, that at the arrival of our goods at Surat , they may be fent for outabroad without farther trouble, paying the King his due cuftom. We defire the famegoods {hipped at Baroach , Cambay, &c. that our fhips may not lofe their paffage toEurope .

“ XXII. At the arrival of our European (hips we fend our goods to the Cuftom-houfe, when cleared, carry them to the factory, fometimes we have prefent vend,and fometimes we fend them to other places, as we think convenient, and forour intereft; in cafe we fend our goods to any other place, within the term of fixmonths, then to pay half cuftom for the faid goods, but if kept a full year, then topay full cuftom. Sometimes we fend to Swally more goods than will lade our fhips,the remainder we dare not keep there, for fear of fire or thieves. Our requeft is,that for all fuch goods as have paid cuftom, we may freely bring them to Surat ,keep them there for our next {hipping, and {hip them off without farther trouble ordemands. ,

“ XXIII. Our fervants, Englilh, Gentows, and others, many times we fend up thecountry for the fpeedier difpatching of our affairs. When we fend to them for ouraccounts, being at a diftance and out of our reach, like to Mr. Petit and Mr. Boucher,they go to the governors for protection, by which means we cannot call them to anaccount, to our great lofs, and farther proceedings againft them. Our requeft is, thatwhatever Englilhman, employed in your fervice, without our leave and difcharge, thatthey, with their effects and eftates, be delivered to us, that they may not be protected,but we may proceed againft them, as we think convenient.

“ XXIV. It is near 90 years that we have traded here. At our firft coming, theKing granted us a piece of ground for a bunder to repair our {hips and veffels. Oflate years Meer Naffam hath forced it from us, and made it a garden. We are defti-tute of a place for repairing our veffels, and other conveniences. Our requeft is,that we may have the fame ground as formerly, or forne other near the water fide,fitting our occafions.

“ XXV. Formerly we ufed to pay for each bale of indigo, two and an half ru-pees per bale, without opening it. Of late years the officers open it, valuing it attheir pleafure, damaging the goods, which is a great lofs and charge to us in repackingit. Our defire is, that, for the future, it may not be opened, paying the cuftom asformerly.

“ XXVI. The governor and officers buy of us, for the King’s account, iron, guns,lead, giving us feme money in hand. When they are turned out, and others come,when we demand the remainder, they delay the payment of the money, faying theKing did not want our goods, that we may take them again, fometimes after theyhave kept them one or two years. Our requeft is, that whatever they buy of usfor the King’s account, we may be paid before they take them from us, and what-ever goods we have that the King has no occafion for, we may difpofe of them at ourpleafure.

“ XXVII. As to the ifland of Bombay, it produceth no corn. The Mogul’s fleetoften winters there, which makes provifions fcarce and dear. We are in want of fup-plies from Surat , and other the Mogul’s ports. When we fend to thefe places, thefaid governor and officers will not let us have any without giving them one and one

i 1 fourth