Indian Antiquary Vol 61

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

Page 298

126
MHE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[MARCH, 1932
to Governor Harrison in the same strain, bewailing the low prices then current and the difficulty of obtai, ing adequate assistance: "I am here allmost hurried off my leggs, the time being short, haveing no body to assist me but Mr. Harrison, whom I keep tightly to business ; the place being very hott and business lyeing so far asunder makes my fatt corspe (sic, corpse) molt finely, but not my respects and duty, which I shall allways retain to your Honours person and service."
At the same time Scattergood wrote to Phipps telling him that he could not reach Bombav before 20 April" by reason that our cotton cannot come down much before that time," and urging him to have everything roady " that we may not tarry long in Bombay." He adds that dollars are very scarce and doar; however, I bought some, but how to run them I . cannot tell." This remark shows that Scattergood, like other traders of his day, was not above evading the regulations which forbade dealing in bullion without express permission from the Company. He was to experience the same difficulty in shipping silver from England on the Bonita some three years later.
While busying himself with the Amity and her cargo and posing as an overworked individual, Scattergood yet found time to set on foot private adventures on his own account. It appears that he and Captain Berriman, with whom he had made his last voyage to China, had become joint owners, with her master, Captain William Hurst, of the Katherine and that it was proposed to fit the ship in Bengal and send her to Junkceylon for tin and "Heysan" and it is not improbable that it was for this purpose that Scattergood secured the recipe " To care Hysom" and the "Description of the Island Junkzelcne" already printed on pp. 76 and 103. The Katherine arrived at Fort St. George from Fort St. David (Cuddalore) on 4 April 1714 and sailed to Bengal on the 12th of the month (Fort St. George Diary), but we hear very little more in the Papers of Captain Hurst and his experiences at Junkceylon.
[42.]
[Surat, April 1714.) Captain Hurst, Sir,
Captain Berryman, you and I being concern'd each 1/3d of ship Katherine(1) and stock, which is 5000 pags., and you proposing to go to Bengall, there to fitt said ship very well with all things wanting, as small arms, guns, &ct., and there to lay out the stock in such goods as are proper for Junkceylone,(%) we recommend you to go out from Bengal very early. Be sure to put your ship in good posture of defence, for which reason you must carry with you a few Europeans and all the Lascars Portuguese, for you know there are abundance of rogues about Junkceylone, so that you must be always upon your guard and keep good look out.
When you come to Junkceylone, you must sell your goods for tin and gett of that como. dity as much as you can.
There is a sort of fish which is like a large horse leach, called by the Portugues : Sam Suca de Mar and by the Chinese Heysan.(3) They generally live upon rocks, and great quantities are to be had near Popperah.() The Chinese cure these and send them to China. The way to cure them [is] as per directions delivered you.(6)
You will, I presume, meet with a great many China men at Junkceylone that can give you very good directions about them and will cure them for a small maiter. Be sure to see them very well dried before you pack them up. You must take notice that the black sort, which are small, ar, doi le the price that the white are. This sort you must gott as much