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JUNE, 1914)
FIRST COMMERCIAL MISSION TO PATNA
105
us which beeinge allmost spent before the first mo [nyes) came, and haveinge formerly both amply and frequently advized of the seasons for transporte of goods hence, which if before the raynes must be the latest in Maye, and if after, it is not to bee expected that caryage can possibly be gotten untill October, here beeinge noe other convayance to Agra but by carts, which by reason of the rottenes of the wayes in the season of the raynes passeth nott. And what of our provisions in the first season was ready, wee gave Conveyance to... and with the first opportunity will proceed with the complete transporte of our full investments which will be (at the soonest) about the fine of th' ensewinge month.
In our lynnen Investments we have endeavoured to follow the honble. Companys and your orders, whereunto we have unyted our owne experyence and Judgments, haveinge with noe little labour and toyle at present attayned to the provizion of 475 Corges or 9500 pces. upwards of the ads. wherof are all at or under two rup. nett the pce., as bought browne from the loome, and are the desired breadthes, to say, the second sorte generally knowne by the name of Jafferchanes [zafar-khani], which both for length and breadth will parallel, if nott exceed, your narrowe Barroch baftaes. The remaynder are fyner, broader, and hyer, pryzed, to say, from all pryzes from two to six rup. the peece, samples wherof, as well browne, white and starched. we intended to have sent you undemanded, whereby you may guesse at our penyworths [profit], and accordingly resolve or desist from further provizions thereof.
In regard you have called us away from hence with what convenient speede may possible, of force hath caused the lettinge fall of our silke provizions, especyallye for the cleeringe and gatheringe up of our rests with the silkewynders, soe that we shall not much exceed what we have allready dispeeded to Agra, neither have we met with any more sahans since we advized you of the 12 corges last bought.
Some Lignum Alloes we have provyded for tryall in England, of severall sorts and pryzes, from 2 to 10 rups. the seare of 33 pices wt. in all to the valew of aboute 400 rups., and now are lookinge out for musters of what other commodities which in our judgments these parts may affoard fittinge either England or Persia, for provizion whereof John Parker is now in Puttana, unto whose postscript I partly referr you, my selfe haveinge bene here in Lackhoare allmost these 6 weekes to fynish these provizions and gather up our cloth at the washers, which this month I hope will be all come in, and packt ready to transporte.
Mr. Biddulphe lately advized us to mak provizion of the gumlacke mentioned in your list, which we conceave (considderinge the great freight from hence) will cost itts worth in Agra ; notwithstanding, some wee will provyde, though butt for a future tryall. The best is worth at present 4 rups, nett per md., and the Caryage from hence to Agra will be half soe inuch more, whereof we have advizecl to Agra to th' end they may provyde the greatest part there. The Amber beads sould Mockrobchan [Mukarrab Khân] at soe good rates was more by Accydent then through any great esteeme they are in these parts, which those we received there, as many more from Agra, which for want of vent yett lyeth by, beeing in the Bazar worth nott above 8 or 9 rups, the sere of 14 pices, which by reportes they are better worth in Agra, which hitherto hath caused theire detention in hopes of a better markett, but now we shall endeavour to put them off at pryce Current, rather then Cary them back.
Att my first cominge into these parts, Among the sondry other Commodities, I enquyred after the vent and esteeme of currall [coral], but could not learne it to bee a commodity worth the transporte from Suratt, it not vendinge in any great quantity nor the valew
