Indian Antiquary Vol 58

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 80

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[-APRIL, 1929
the representatives of the Mughal Governor of Surat-under the auspices of the Portuguese Captain-General, John de Sequira de Faria. The envoys were given detailed instructions by the President and Council of Bombay, under date 29th May, 1689. In these they were told that the Portuguese were much concerned regarding the Company's dispute with the Mughal and his subjects, inasmuch as there seemed great danger of losing their own territories, and that they had been requested by the Nawab to send two or three Englishmen to Daman to treat with him. The President and his Council furnished the three delegates with a copy of the requests they had made about a year and a half ago and delivered to Mukhtar Khân. The substance of the whole document was that Child and his Council were willing to deliver up the ships, money and goods belonging to the Mughal's subjects on condition that the demande of the English should be complied with regarding money and goods seized at Surat by Mukhtar Khån, and that English prisoners should be set at liberty: further that a phirmaund should be granted to the English enabling them to enjoy free trade in all parts of the Imperial dominions, subject only to a two per cent. custom duty at Surat, and that they should enjoy their ancient privileges in all other places. On these terms Child and his Council empowered Weldon and his colleagues to negotiate with the Nawab. All transactions with Mukhtar Khan were to be drawn up in writing and the document properly signed and sealed. Weldon and his colleagues were given directions for their journey to Bassein and Daman, and furnished with letters of introduction to the Governor of the latter city and other Portuguese officials. They were instructed to be civil and to hear all that the Portuguese desired to say, but were forbidden to make any concessions likely to be prejudicial to the interests of their [English] King and country: to maintain that there could not be peace until the Sidhi should be removed with all his forces from the island of Bombay and the several other demands complied with: and to point out that Mukhtar Khân had broken his promises and basely deceived them. They were asked to keep a diary of all their proceedings, and to write daily reporting progress : warned that the Nawab might insist on Weldon and others aocompanying him to Surat, but were advised not to agree till they should be satisfied that it could be done safely. If the Emperor should prove unwilling to make peace, realiance was to be placed wholly on the farman already granted. The envoys were furnished with a certain amount of money and directed that in the event of their encountering any English fugitives they should help them to secure their liberty".
Armed with those instructions the envoys left Bombay for Daman on May 29, 1689. They arrived at Bassein on the 31st of the month and were received with every civility by the Portuguese Governor, Dom Philippo de Souza, who expressed strong sentiments of good will to the English nation. After a few days they continued their journey to Daman, escorted by ten soldiers, and arrived there on the 7th of June. They immediately announced their arrival to the Portuguese Captain-General, who was not then in residence. They were, however, well received in person by the Governor, Manoell Taverres de Gama. Later on they delivered Child's letter to the Captain-General, who informed them that the Sidhi had asked for more forces to enable him to subjugate Bombay and that Mukhtar Khan had joined forces with him in the hope of being able either to drive out the English or to compel them to make a treaty. To this they replied that the English eagerly desired Portuguese assistance, as the interests of both nations were closely allied. They told the Captain-General of their intention to make an honourable peace with the Governor of Surat, and declared that if the proposal should be rejected the English were "resolved to dye with our swords in our hands rether then submitt to any thing dishonorable." The Portuguese Captain-General agreed that the English should not do anything contrary to the national honour.' He had himself little faith in Mukhtar Khan's integrity and was doubtful whether the latter really wished peace at all. The envoys' arrival was immediately notified to Mukhtar Khan by
6 A royal commission or mandato ; a farmdn. 7 Son No. 6870 of 0.C. 48., I.O.