Indian Antiquary Vol 61

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

Page 304

132
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
In addition to the goods he shipped on his own account at Surat, Bombay and Madras, Scattergood planned to have a further consignment ready to take in at Malacca through the means of his agents, John de Matt, probably a half-caste Portuguese, and the "Captain China. man" already mentioned in Document No. 42.
[48]
[MAY, 1932
[June 1714]
Senr. John de Matt,
I desire you to make up accounts with the Captain China man Chan Younqua, as his vessells comes in from abroad, and whatever is my share of goods, receive, and hire some good goedown and put them up, first weighing them and racking. Pray doe me justice in the accounts and do not let the Captain Chinaman put you [of]f with delays, but immeadiatly make up accounts and receive my share and keep it on one side. The canes that you and Captain Chinaman are to give us, pray see that they do not want in their length and gett them in as soon as possible that we may not be put of with delays. As you receive the cane[s], lock them up in a goedown.
All sorts of goods that you can gett cheap that is fitt for China, buy up for my account and keep them ready weighed of and racked in a goedown and I will be answerable for their cost.
Captain Hurst will be here from Junkselone. I have recommended him to you and China Captain to assist him in what he shall want to buy. The China Captain has promised me [to] buy up all the canes that he can gett both long of 32 inches and short of 29 and tells me that I shall have them as they cost, which put on board Captain Hurst, and when I come from China shall make up accounts.
[Unsigned]
Of the accounts belonging to this period, those dealing with Scattergood's own concerns are the more interesting. On the 29th May there was a sale of his goods, including "woomens stockings, China silk, paper gold," pieces of silk and "China bandaza" (? Span. bandeja, salver, tray; or possibly for bandana.' These were purchaseed in small quantities by numerous buyers and realized 243 pagodas. Then there are accounts with the Chetti brothers giving particulars of their investments in the Amity. On 3 June there was another sale of Scattergood's investment consisting of piece-goods from China and Surat-atlas (satin), a "rich sash" velvet, bird's eye, taffeta and damask-all sold in small lots, amounting to 402 pagodas.
There are also receipts for goods carried to China for private individuals, to be sold in Canton, and silver to be exchanged there for gold.
As on the two previous occasions of his voyages to China Scattergood left minute instructions with his wife, with whom was now associated John Maubert, acting as his attorneys. The following document should be compared with No. 32 in order to form an estimate of the increase in Scattergood's investments between May 1713 and June 1714.
[49]
[- June 1714] ACCOUNT OF WHAT MONEY I HAVE ABROAD AND WHAT I OWE, WITH PROPER INSTRUCTIONS TO EACH VOYAGE, TO MY WIFE AND MR. MAUBERT MY ATTORNIES IN MY ABSENCE, vizi.
N 1. [In] Mr. Mauberts hands a parcell of rubies as per invoice Muttaball under me
375. - 68. 18
306. 18