Indian Antiquary Vol 44

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

Page 34

28
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[FEBRUARY, 1915
sions aboard, therefore would not spare them any. And presently [immediately] after hapned a great Sumatra or Storme,87 which had almost sunok them, but with Gods Providence they got safe there, and embarked at Padom in a Dutch Fly Boat for Batavia; and about 10 deies afterward there came a Pro from Molacca and in the way met with the Ketch Good Hope, and the Noccada [nakhudá, skipper) of the Pro, and some men of his went aboard, and was told by two of the Laskars that the Pilot, George Johnson, had murdered his Master, and they thought he would run away with the Vessell. This news was brought to Padom, and six Dutchmen declared this to us in Acheen, the 13th day of June 1679. And on the 2nd July following the said George Johnson came into the road of Acheen, which John Bugden and Clement Jordan went aboard, and enquired of him where was Mr. Smith, Coates and Gregory. He replyed that Smith had sent them in a Pro, and after that Mr. Smith dyed mad. We asked who was his owner of the Sloope. He answered He knew not, and at 10 a' Clock at night he comes into the River of Acheen, and steales off a Butt of Water in that unseasonable time, without having paid for the Queens Chop, which made the Country people to come and demand of us the reason of his so doing, and under English Colours. Our answer was, we would satisfye them further the next day, which accordingly we did, being in the Morning, John Bugden and Clement Jordan went on Board of our Ketch Sarah and carryed our Arms along with us, well fixt and loden, intending and resolved, as we are the King of Golcondahs Subjects, to seize upon this rogue, George Johnson, and the Vessell, and bring him to Fort St. George, for to answer for the murder he had committed, which upon suspition, and the intelligence we had, could do no less than to Bieze upon the Vessell and that rogue George Johnson; which when we had taken possession, examined the Laskars, which there was two Men that then belonged to the Vessell, declared how Mr. Smith was murdered; which after that we had this confirmation from the two Laskars, we put him into Irons, and therein rotted and dyed the 18th December 1679 in the way from Acheen hither, where we intended for this Place, for to answer for what he had done; of which we writt a Generall to the Governour and Councell from Quedah by Mr. Barnes concerning our proceedings, Copies of which is already delivered to your Wor. ship &c. Councell, and also an Inventory of what we received in the said Ketch, but the charges which we have been at since, we shall deliver also, upon your demand, which we hope will be allowed and accepted of from, Worshipfull Sir &c., Your very humble Servants, CLEMENT JORDAN; JOHN BUGDEN; JOHN HART.
Given under our hands this 24th of December 1679 in Fort St. George."
The hint regarding the refunding of "charges" incurred in bringing the Good Hope to Fort St. George met with no response. Therefore Jordan and his partners again addressed the Council on the 30th December -
Cople of the Papers delivered and signed by Clement Jordan,
John Bugden and John Hart.88 "Worshipfull Gentlemen; we are daily in expectation of an answer to a Declaration given by us already about the murthering of Mr. John Smith, and also of our siezing the Ketch Good Hope in which the murder was done, and also the Person named George Johnson, We were bringing him hither to this place in Irons for Justice, according to our English Laws, but Gods Judgment lay upon him, and he dyed the Eighteenth day of December, three dayes before our arrivall, miserably eaten up with the Pox. Therefore we entreat of your Worship and Councell for to put to a period, and give us what Justice (as we are the King of Englands Subjects) that is our due, and belongs to us in this circumspect.
57 "Sumatra, sudden squalls... which are common in the narrow sea between the Malay Peninsula and the island of Sumatra," Yule and Burnell, Hobson-Jobson, 8. v. Sumatra.
88 Mackenzie MSS., Vol LII, p. 28.