Indian Antiquary Vol 43

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 73

MAY, 1914)
FIRST COMMERCIAL MISSION TO PATNA
69
DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE FIRST ENGLISH COMMERCIAL MISSION TO PATNA, 1620-1621. EDITED BY SIR R. C. TEMPLE, BART.
Prefatory note. [I have recently edited volume II, of the Travels of Peter Mundy, 1608-1667, for the Hakluyt Society. This volume covers the years 1628-1634 while Peter Mundy was travelling to and from India in the interests of the English East India Company of that date.
He spent part of the year 1632 in a commercial expedition to Patna, and as he made several references to the previous commercial mission of Messrs. Robert Hughes and John Parker to that place in 1620-1621, I had reason to examine the whole of the proceedings of those two men while there.
In Appendix D of my volume on Peter Mundy's Journals, I have given a brief account of the work of Hughes and Parker and in Foster's English Factories (1618-1621) there is a concise account of their doings. But in the course of my enquiries I had to collect together and edit all the original documents left behind, relating to the time spent by Hughes and Parker in Patna. They are of considerable value, as illustrating the kind of work the pioneers of British enterprise in India had to do, the manner in which they set about it, the conditions under which they lived, and the qualities required of such men. It is therefore worth while to reproduce the original correspondence in this Journal
Hughes and Parker are exhibited to us as typical commercial pioneers, level-headed bargainers, quick to perceive where trading possibilities lay; brave, imperturbable, venturesome men, loyal to their employers ; men whom neither difficulties nor dangers daunted.
Incidentally, the interesting fact came to light that even in those days the value of the subsequent great trade in Bengal (tasar, tussore) silks was foreseen and that much trouble was taken to introduce them into European markets. Among other things, Hughes tried to send talking mainās to England in 1620. In a letter to his superiors at Agra he writes of "a cupell of pratlinge birds called mynnas, which we have bought to be sent to the Company and intreate you carre may bee taken for theire convayence to Surratt."]
Robert Hughes to the Surat Factory. Patna 19 July 169) Lovinge Frends, Mr. Kerridge ette. After longe expectation and no cirtayne newes of Mr. Younge and his companies aproche neare Agra (the yeare spendinge so fast), it was thought needfull to dispeede mee for Puttana, and havinge accorded upon a computed some of monnyes for some presant investment, with bills of exchange for 4,000 rupees], I departed Agra the 5th June and thankes bee to God) arived here in safitye the 3rd presant, havinge bine on the waye 29 dayes, in which I outran 300 Jehanger courses [Jahangiri kos.] Presantlye upon my arivall I procured acceptance of my exchanges, and hope of good payment, theire date beinge expiered; of whose currant performance, when received, I shall advise to Agra.
I have since my comeinge vizited the Governor Muckrob Con [Mukarrab Khân), whoe scemes wonderous plesant for our arivall here, and was as inquisitive to knowe what goods I had brought with mee; wherunto I as exactlye answared that at presant I had nothinge, but that what futurlye should come fitinge his circare (sarkár, government, establishment]
Ata Consultation held in Surat on the 22nd Jan. 1620, it was decided that John Young should "Basist Mr. Hughes in Hogreporepatamia (Hajipur Patna) or where else the ambertees are made." Foster English Factories in India, 1618-1621, pp. 182, 191.