Indian Antiquary Vol 61

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

Page 332

160
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ NOVEMBER, 1932
towards making their owners satisfaction for the innumerable hardships and impositions they receiv'd from the Mandarines there, who fore'd them off the shoor, and protected the merchants that
had a considerable part of the stock remaining in their hands." (6) Some of the other particulars" of the story are to be found in the Fort St. George Consultations of 1716. On 16 February the captain and supercargoes of the Ann were examined
"Why they have ventur'd upon so bold and unusual an enterprize as bringing away a loaden junk with them from the harbour of Amoy. They answer'd that after having been detained the whole year round and suffer'd innumerable hardships and impositions, they were at last fore'd out of the harbour by the government, without a possibility of obtaining justice for a great part of their stock remaining in the hands of the merchants that were impos'd upon them by the Manderines, and had no remedy lot but by righting themselves in the manner they have done." On 23 February they produced :
"A narrative of the barbarous treatment they receiv'd in Amoy from the merchants imposed upon them by the Government, and from the Government themselves, to the truth of which they offer their oaths, together with the evidence of a Christian linguist entertain'd in their service who was bred under the missionarys in China, and employ'd upon all occasions between them and the Mandarincs. To the said narrative thoy likewise annex a stated account of the roal damages to the owners by the foresaid usage, amounting to pagodas 26070, 31 fanama, 18 cash."
At the same time the owners of the Ann supported the claims of the supercargoes. The Council agreed to defer the consideration of "this important affair" until the arrival of the Dartmouth from Canton. Mean. while, it was ordered that the cargo of the junk should be landed and properly protected.
On 9 and 19 April drafts of letters to be sent to Batavia and Malacca were approved. These advised the commanders of any ships bound to China, that might touch at those ports, of the treatment received by the Ann in 1715.
On 29 August the Madras Council reported the affair to the Court of Directors. The letter, of which only a summarized version survives (Coast and Bay Abstracts, II. 52-54), is quoted, as stated above (with slight omissions), by Dr. Morse and is again reproduced here for the sake of continuity in the story -
"Have had a great deal of trouble by an unhappy accident at Amoy.
"The Anne, formerly the Sherborn, went to Amoy anno 1714 with 60,000 pagodas stock and upwards: had the Mandarines promise of free trade : the ship Cambridge traded also on this they ap. pointed their own creatures only to deal with both ships.
"The Cambridge with much ado got away in time to save her passage to Bombay, after bearing many civil impositions and leaving 4 or 5,000 tale behind, which the Chineses promis'd to make good and the Annes supra cargo's were to receive.
"The Anne though by contract was to be dispatcht in season. yet was kept all the year round and suffered many great abuses, and though the Vico Roy of the province order'd the merchants should clear accounts and dispatch her, yet the Mandarines, partners with the merchants, drove the supra cargoes from the shore and the ship out of the inner harbour, though the merchants ow'd them 26,000 tales, besides other damages.
"On this the Anne detain'd a laden junk bound for Batavia hoping thereby to get justice.
"The Tituck [? Tsung-tuk) promis'd by & messenger that satisfaction should be given, which waiting for, 40 war junks of men and 40 boats with combustible stuff came to destroy them, which & China massenger discover'd through fear of being destroy'd thereby. The Anne with difficulty got under sail, cutting her cable, and tow'd off the junk too far for the fire boats to follow, then came to an anchor in hopes of an accommodation, but the war junks beginning to fire at them, were forced to put to sos; and both the Anne and junk arriv'd at Madras 14th February.
"This disaster concerns them on account of the Companys trade to China, for as to that from Madras, better to forbear, considering what they have suffer'd for so many years. The Jesuits, who best know China, say this must turn to the benefit of the Europeana trado when the Emperour knew it, as he will, and will punish the Mandarines.
"Have endeavour'd to prevent ill consequences to the trade of Canton and advised the whole of the Companys ships at Batevia. Believe the Mandarines of one province will not mind what is done in another. Have sent a French gentleman well skill'd in the Mandarine language to Macao to concert with the English ships how to carry on the trade.
"Have wrote to Loanqua and Anqua at Canton about this affair, that have sold the junks cargo because perishable, but have kept an account to restore when receive satisfaction.
"Will do all they can to prevent prejudice to the Company; the damage to the merchants is pagodas 26,070 : 31:18, of which one half to the President."