Indian Antiquary Vol 59

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

Page 155

JULY, 1930 ]
RUSTAMJI MANAK: A NOTABLE PARSI BROKER
141
given in favour of the latter by the Court of Directors, they nevertheless maintained that they had acted in the Company's interest. In despair the factors complained that their point of view had received very little consideration from the Court and that it would reflect on their reputation.18
In reviewing Rustamji's connection with the Company it is difficult to agree with Mr. George Briggs, who in his book, The Parsis, tentatively described the broker as "the quinteesence of mischief." There are also other writers whose estimate of Rustamji's character is not altogether fair and accurate. They based their statements only on despatches sent by the Company's servants at Surat and Bombay. The latter were Rustamji's enemies and they misrepresented his actions to the Court of Directors. The position occupied by Rustamji proved a difficult one, for the factors were unable to dispense with his services and he had therefore unlimited power over the entire trade of the Company, which led at times to abuses of his responsibility. On the other hand the circumstances and environment of that period must be taken into account. Rustamji had dealings with the local merchants and Mughal officials who were in the habit of giving presents in money for services rendered. He was a shrewd and hard-headed man of business, who thoroughly understood how to deal with his clients and how to profit from opportunities of increasing his own assets. He, therefore, indulged at times in practices which practically amounted to bribery and corruption. Perhaps the best summary of his character and business acumen may be found in an unsigned document, entitled " Observations on Surat," without date or year, preserved in the India Office. It was written by an unknown writer, evidently after the termination of Sir William Norris' Embassy, who compared the Old Company's broker Venwallidas with Rustamji and consi. dered the former to be "a sorry lying flatering dissembling pittyfull covetous fearful person," whereas the latter seemed to him "a bold spirited person, hath abundance of friends at Court, a great many he made when he went with the Ambassador and I believe served the New Company with all his might and seldom or never undertook anything but performed."19 He also alludes to the fact that Rustamji had considerable influence with the Mughal Governor at Surat and that the Old and New Company's servants from various settlements were obliged to employ him as their broker, otherwise their trading would be obstructed. The writer further adds that it was "believed by all that the last embargo laid upon all merchan. dize of both Old and New Comp goods in Suratt was occasioned by him."30 In the same writer's opinion Rustamji's services were indispensable on account of his ability to get any business entrusted to him speedily accomplished.
Note-A completo account of Rustamji Mânak's connection with the New English East
India Company is under preparation by tho present writer.
is See Bombay Letters, vol. I.A. 19 See O. C. 56–IV, pp. 406-7. 20 Ibid., p. 408.