Indian Antiquary Vol 58

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

Page 81

APRIL 1929
GEORGE WELDON AND ABRAHAM NAVARRO
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the Captain-General, who asked the former to send down representatives to negotiate with them. The Captain-General also suggested that as there was with the Nawab a Mr. Georgee, a Christian (formerly in the Emperor's service, and a person of great discretion and power), he might be very helpful to the English in the matter of negotiation. Unfortunately, however, the suggestion was not acted on, Mr. Georgee not being sent after all. The envoys were constantly in correspondence with the authorities at Bombay and Surat concerning their progress, and held several conferences with the Captain-General as to the course to be adopted to secure peace and deliver cortain Englishmen" from their Irons." While at Daman they met with a "ffrenchman and a Dutch man that left the Mogulls service and had then been 16 days from the Camp, who gave us an account, that there were many Europians in the Kings Service, who did dayly desert him, finding his intentions not good against the Christians." The envoys also learnt that there was no English representative at the Court; but that the Dutch had one in the person of Seg. Bocherus'. Amongst other information they learnt that Prince Sultan 'Azam Shah, third son of Aurangzeb, was encamped at Poona and the Emperor himself only a few miles away from that place.
In the meanwhile, Sir John Child and his Council wrote to the Directors in England on June 7, 1689, saying that they had endeavoured to make peace with the Mughal and his subjects, but had not yet been able to effect it. They declared they could acquire some of the Portuguese possessions, but it was doubtful if these could be retained against the forces of the Mughal, who would soon be invading Raja Ram's country10 and all the Portuguese possessions would, in consequence, probably fall into his hands. Child further assured the Directors that the Council would, as directed, observe the utmost caution towards both the Dutch and the French. The following passage is a clear indication of the policy pursued by Child and his colleagues
“We are unwilling enough to part with anything that we have taken, but as we might see absolute necessity require it for your Interest, and your Hon", may be assured that the Mogull is a Potent Prince and doth not at all value Trade, and his Subjects not so poor on this side [of] India we are sure as you are pleased to think, we heartily wish the Wars with him and his subjects well over."11
After considerable delay the Nawab Mukhtar Khan's representatives Qazî Ibrahîm and Mîr Nazim, together with several merchants, arrived at Daman with full power to negotiate a treaty of peace. At the very outset of the negotiation the Captain-General told the English on the authority of Qazî Ibrahîm that "if by any meanes, we (English) could yett beat the Siddy off the Island it would conduce very much to an advantageous and Honourable conclution of all affairs of our Side, for the Nabob and he were soe great Enemyes, that nothing could be more acceptable to him then such newse."13 The same opinion was afterwards expressed in a letter from George Weldon to the Company stating that Mukhtår Khân would have envied the glory of the Sidhi if the latter had taken Bombay13. The above facts are indicative of the jealousy existing amongst the higher officials of the Mughal.
The English envoys met Mukhtar's representatives at the Portuguese Captain-General's house to discuss the matters at issue. They declared themselves willing to deliver up all the ships, money and goods they had wrongfully taken from the Mughal's subjects. At the same time they represented that the damage done to their own property in Bombay was very great and that the Sidhi was entirely responsible for it. It was clear that the
8 P. 11 of Sloans MS. 1910, British Museum.
• Alexander Hamilton stated in his book, A New Account of the East Indien, vol. I, p. 228, that there was at that time a Dutch representative of the name of Baroon at the Mughal Court. There spems some confusion between the two names.
10 Raja Ram, who had succeeded his brother, Sambhujf, was at that time being constantly pursued by the Mughal. After many exploits he retired to Jinji. 11 Soo No. 5671 of 0.0. 48, LO..
13 P. 12 of Sloane MS. 1910. B.M. u Soo No. 5738 of 0.C. 48, L.O.