Indian Antiquary Vol 61

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

Page 289

JANUARY, 1933 ]
THE SCATTERGOODS AND THE EAST INDIA COMPANY
117
[34]
[20 November 1713.] To the Honbla Edward Harrison Esqr. President for the affairs of the Right Honble. English East India Company on the Coast of Chormandell and West Coast of
Sumatra and Governor of Fort St. George.
Honble. Sir, After a long and tedious passage in the streight of Mallaoca, we did not arrive Canton before the 22d August. We made land on the 2d, judgeing it to be the Islands of St. John, where mett with a violent storme at North and North-east, which drove us back into 19 degrees. It continued three days, in which we lost our long boat and split some sailes and damag'd some of our cotton that was between decks. Thank God it was no worse. We touched at Macooa, when heard that there was two French ships at Wampo from Peru, which made us stay there three or four days to goe in company of the Loyal Bliss and the Concord, a seperate stock ship, which delay made the Ormond arrive before us three or four days, she goeing for Canton directly.
· I ask't the Padrees at Maccoa (Abbott Corderoes companions) if they had any gold to spare. They told me it was all at Canton in Padre Seru's hands. When I came there, Padre Seru told me he had about 20 or 30 shooes. It cost him 5 above touch, and that if I pleased he would let me have it for that price. I thank'd him and told him that I could buy it something cheaper. So the Padres kept their gold to serve your Honour the next voyage.
On our first arrivall at Canton had but an indeferent prospect of makeing a good voyage, all Surratt goods being low, especially cotton; no copper, and sugar at 2t. 8m., tho it fell to 2. 6 a little before we went. The reason that the merchants gave why cotton was so low was the famine that had been there. Rice was sold at 5 tale a pecull but a month before we arrived and everything else in proportionable. All the poor people was up in a mutiny and were for robbing all the Hounghs. The Manderins giveing them rice and makeing all the merchants contributing their quotas kept them quiet.
By our accounts your Honour will see how we sold and bought our goods and do not question after all but shall make a 40 per cent. voyage, except the gentlemen withdraw and sell the ship for a song, which I hope will not happen. By Mr. Raworth your Honour will receive the ballance of your account in gold and a chest of tea marked EH No. 1. I desired Inqua to gett it, telling him it was for your Honour. He told me it should be the best that could be gott and that he would not gett anything by it. So that if it does not give satisfaction, your Honour must blame Inqua. In the chest are four potts, Na. 1, 2, 3, all of a sort, No. 4 something worse.
Your embrodery I spoke to Inqua likewise to gett them done. He told me that no body would work them under 50 tale a peice, the work being so full, so I bespoke but one peice on a sky color, and that could not be finished in our time. I desired Mr. Fenwick to receive it and send it to your Honour by the way of Batavia, which I hope may como safe to your hands.
Your cotch could not put off with our goods, Anqua and Linqua offering us but one tale a pecull, and after a months tryall sold it for 4t. 5m. to Chounqua, takeing other goods in return. And as for your Honours rosumalloes, it was such sad stuff that nobody would give more then 30 tale & pecull, but selling some of our goods with it and takeing goods,