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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[JUNE, 1928
It is not generally realized that England was one Roe started on his memorable embassy. Roe left of the last of the European countries to have inter- England in March, 1615, and arrived in Surat in course with India and the East : but, once started, 1 September of that year; he sailed from India in that intercourse developed with remarkable rapidity. February, 1619, on his voyage back. His doing The first Englishman known to have set foot on were recorded in a journal and in numerous lettere indian soil was Father Thomas Stevens, who, join to the Company, and to private individuals. It is ing the Jesuits, landed at Goa in 1578, and worked regrettable that only one volume of these papers there till his death in 1619. The next Englishmento is known to be now extant, comprising the diary visit India were Newbery, Fitch and others who and letters to the 11th February 1617 and some started on & commercial mission, in behalf of the further letters to the 9th October 1617. Purchae Turkey Company, in 1583 by the overland route carries on the narrative from sources not at pre. (via Aleppo, Basra and Ormuz). They bore a letter sent available to the 22nd January 1618. For the of introduction to the Mughal emperor from Queen
remaining year of Roe's stay in India the editor Elizabeth ; but, although Newbery, Fitch and has had to depend upon his lettere and such inforLeeds visited Fathpur Sikri, where Akbar then mation 88 can be gathered from contemporary (1585) was holding his court, we do not know whe- documents. ther it was ever delivered. John Mildenhall, in
One of the most valuable contents of this volume his first commercial expedition (also 010 Aleppo in the facaimile reproduction of William Baffin's and Persia) to India during the years 1603-05, had
famous map of the Mughal's dominions published an audience of Akbar, and posed-80 far as we
in 1619, which is probably the earliest map of these know, without authority-888 messenger from Queen
regions over printed in England. Sir William has Elizabeth. Mildenhall tells us that he requested
added an instructive note on this map, in which in her behalf friendship and the same privileges of
he pertinently calls attention to the exceptional trade as the Portuguese had; and he appears to
credit attached to it by subsequent cartographers. have given the emperor in the presence of Jahangir,
We find numerous errors contained therein reprothen Prince Salim) to understand that the queen
duced on maps published in various parts of Europe intended to depute an ambassador to his court.
for nigh a century and a half thereafter. As reHe says that after much trouble, due to the ob.
gards Rce's geographical account of the Mughal's struction of the Portuguese Jesuits, he got all his
territories, which has been printed as an appendix, demands granted " signed to my owne content.
we must feel astonishment that it should be so frement and (as I hope) to the profit of my nation."
quently inaccurate, and so often irreconciliable Unfortunately no cupy of the alleged grant has
with Baffin's map, which we are told incorporates come down to us. The first English vessel that
Roe's inquiries. The names of important provinanchored on the coast of India was the Hector, with
ces such as Allahabad and Oudh, and even Ajmer William Hawking in command, which reached
(at the capital of which Roe had spent 11 months) Suwali in August 1608. Hawkins carried a letter
are omitted; while petty states like Chamba, from King James to the emperor, asking for liberty
Pathankot, Siba and Jaswan, and 'sarkdrs, or disof trade and reasonable privileges. Ho arrived at
tricts, like Chitor, Bikaner, Sorath, Narwar, and Agra in April, 1809, and remained at Jahangir's court till November 1611. At first he was received
Sambhal, are named among the "kingdoms and with much show of favour, but his influence waned,
provinces": although the Ain-i-Akbari, with its
detailed account of the provinces, districts and and JahAngir finally refused permission for the
madls, has been completed twenty years previously, English to establish a factory at Surat. It was Captain Best's victories over the Portuguese ships
and Roe says he took the names "out of the King's in November December, 1612, that first enabled the English to settle there. It is from that year that
The introduction contains a masterly historical the Company's trade with India may be said to review of the events of the period concerned, and a have taken root (though an agency had been planted
connected account of Roe's movements and occuat Masulipatam a year before). During the next pations, 60 essential for anybody who wishes to two years three different factors were sent from
understand the constant allusions to persons and Surat to the Mughal's court, two of them bearing incidents in Roe's text, which is often obecure, letters from King James, to look after the Company's and to keep the thread of the narrative in his grasp. interests, but to little effect. Meanwhile Best had The notes, which have been thoroughly revised, are gone home, and his optimistic view of the prospects apposite and sucuinct, and call for scarcely any of trade roused the Directors to greater activity. further correction. Tho index is full; the work of A finer fleet was prepared, and it was decided that the prese, characteristically excellent. This is a an Ambassador would be best suited to treat with book which, with its companion volume Early "Great Mogul” in respect of their privileges, and Travels in India, 1683-1619 should be on the shel to counteract plots of the Jesuits. But two or ves of all students of the history of the three years, then, had passed since our factors had
period. set up at Masulipatam and Surat when Sir Thomas
C. E. A. W.O.
