Hamilton’s account of the east indies.

395

That power of executing pirates is fo ftrangely flretched, that if any private traderis injured by the tricks of a governor, and can find no redrefs, if the injured perfou isfo bold as to talk of Lex talionis , he is infallibly declared a pirate.

In anno 1719, I went on a trading voyage to Siam , on the foundation of a treatyof commerce eltablifhed in anno 1684, between King Charles and the King of Siam’s;ambaffador at London ; but, in anno 1718, Mr. Collet lent one Powney his ambaffadorto Siam , with full power to annul the old treaty, and to make a new one detrimentalto all Britifh fubjefts, except thofe employed by Collet bimfelf. It was ftipulated,that all Britilh fubjects that had not Collet’s letter, Ihould be obliged to pay eight percent, new cuftoms, and meafurage for their fhip, which come to about 500I. for afhip of 300 tuns, to fell their cargoes to whom they pleafed, but the money to bepaid into the King’s cafh, that he might deliver goods for it at his own prices, whetherproper for their homeward markets, or no. I coming to Siam , fent my fecond fuper-cargo up to the city, with orders to try the market, and hire an houfe for the ufe ofthe cargo and ourfelves. He could not get a boat to bring him back, before the fhiparrived at Bencock, a caftle about half-way up, where it is cuftomary for all fhips toput their guns alhore, fo then being obliged to proceed with the fhip to the city, Iunderftood the conditions of the new treaty of commerce, which I would, by nomeans, adhere to, but defired leave to be gone again. They ufed many perfuafionsto make me flay, but to no purpofe, unlefs I might trade on the old and lawful treaty.They kept me from the beginning of Auguft to the latter end of December, beforethey would let me go, and then I was obliged to pay meafurage before they partedwith me.

I wrote my grievance to Mr. Collet, complaining ofPowney’s villainous tranfactions,not feeming to know that they were done by Collet’s order, and let fome hints fall ofLex talionis, if I met with Powney conveniently, which fo vexed Mr. Collet, that heformally went to the town-hall, and declared me a rank pirate, though I and my friendscame off with above 3000I. lofs.

I fhould not have been fo particular, but that I faw fome printed papers at London ,in anno 1725, that extolled his piety, charity and juftice in very high encomiums; butit muff have been done by fome mercenary fcribbler that did not know him ; but nowhe is dead, I will fay no more of him.

The black town is inhabited by Gentows, Mahometans and Indian Chriftians, viz.Armenians , and Portugueze, where there are temples and churches for each religion,every one being tolerated; and every one follows his proper employment. It waswalled in towards the land, when governor Pit ruled it. He had fome apprehen-fion, that the Mogul’s generals in Golcondah might, fome time or other, plunder it,fo laying the hazard and danger before the inhabitants, they were either perfuaded orobliged to raife fubfidies to wall their town, except towards the lea and the whitetown.

The two towns are abfolutely governed by the governor Sola, in whofe hands thecommand of the military is lodged ; but all other affairs belonging to the Company,are managed by him and his council, moft part of whom are generally his creatures.And I have been and am acquainted with fome gentlemen, who have been in that poll,as well as fome private gentlemen, who refided at Fort St. George, men of great can-dor and honour, but they feldom continued long favourites at court.

One of the gates of the white town looks towards the fea, and it is, for that reafou,called the fea-gate. The gate-way being pretty fpacious, was formerly the commonexchange, where merchants of all nations reforted about Eleven o’clock, to treat of

3 e 2 ' bufinefs