Indian Antiquary Vol 59

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

Page 119

JUNE, 1930 ]
RUSTAMJI MANAK: A NOTABLE PARSI BROKER
107
There was no dearth of candidates for that post, and many oompetitors were prepared to pay even larger sums if by any means they could have superseded him. His position was, therefore, at first one of considerable difficulty ; but, being in the good graces of Sir Nicholas Waite, he was able to withstand his enemies. In a letter written to the Court of Directors on the 30th November, 1700, Sir Nicholas Waite and his Council wrote "The Old Com. pany's servants used many artifices for turning out of our present Broker being the first of the Parsee caste that hath at any time been in such publick employment which being in prejudice to all the Baman caste the Old and Chief managers of all business here hath occasioned a storme of envy from the last, and all those that may propose an advantage for their introduction when in our consciences believe it is your interest for us to suport him, when your honrs. may be assured that we shall certainly have advice of the least ill act he can contrive in your prejudice, and 'tis notorions to all the city that he is the best master of busi. ness with the Governm which could never have been carried with that secregy and expedilion had a Baman been our Broker wch cast being so exasperated have by Vittull Parrack the Old Compa* late Broker (of whom wrote your hon by the Norris) offered Sir Nicholas Waite one hundred thousand rupees to be Broker. Then by the Brother of the Dutch Broker seaventy thousand rupees worth of diamonds in hand and thirty thousand rupees when so declared weh, if the Consul had accepted, tho an estate for any reasonable man your settlem had by that interest purchased by the Old Factory been wh the Embassy totally over throwne which virtue not blinded with Gold or pretious stones can't believe that your honrø. will pass without cognizance for encouragement of such as are faithful and do well when have not reol. anything but what hath been brought to your credit, as a horse the Haroarra since the Norris sailed gave the President valued at Rs. 500 and 4 p:attlasses and 3 p. of Allejahs valued at Rs. 70 reort: from Abdul Goffore who was with Mirza Zaid our Landlord two of the Principall Merchts of this city presented upon your honors account n cloth etc. to the value of —-rups they being our friends and by whose interest have gained is the favour of the great Codgee (Kazi) and Mufty of the King and others at Court and the merchants and others of this city......"
After Sir William Norris' arrival at Surat in December, 1700, Rusta mji Manak was authorised to inform the local Mughal Governor and the other officials that by virtue of his authority the Ambassador had ordered the flag which Sir John Gayer had caused to be hoisted on board the Tavistock to be hauled down. Rustamjî was commissioned by Sir Nicholas Waite to make all the preliminary arrangements connected with the Ambassador's landing, and he lost no time in visiting the latter in company with his chief. This proceeding greatly alarmed the servants of the Old Company who feared that, if Sir Nicholas followed implicitly the advise of Rustamji, it would " cause new troubles in some kind or other." Shortly afterwards at a Council held at the Ambassador's Camp on January 3, 1700, the President and Council recommended their Chief broker Rusta mji as a faithful interpreter to attend his Excellency to the Mughal Court till the farman should have been obtained for the Presidency of Surat. Accordingly Rustamjî accompanied Sir William Norris on his journey to the Mughal Court and was entrusted with a large sum of money for the necessary expenses. He was especially commissioned to superintend the Indian members of the reti. nue; but from the very beginning it appeared that the Ambassador was not favourably impressed by the manner in which Rustamjî performed his work. His dissatisfaction is shown by the following extract from a letter written by Sir William Norris to Sir Nicholas Waite on February 19, 1700-1 -"I refer you to my brother's letter for account of all transactions in our march and in relation to ye behaviour of our Indian retinue, over which I have all along given kustum the authority, but really he has not courage to execute, but suffers ye least of them to dispute his commands, and after he has given them am often 9 See No. 7222, 0, C. 56-II.
9 Surat Factory Records, vol. 99,