Abstract: Journal of the East India Company ship the
Frederick.The journal covers the ship's voyage from England to Bombay, and its way back towards England, finishing at St Lawrence [Madagascar], between 23 December 1704 and 28 February 1707 [New Style 28 February 1708] (Captain John Wynn).The journal contains daily entries in six columns: H [Hour], Courses, K [Knots], F [Fathoms], Winds etc., and Remarks. When the ship is at anchor the entries consist of remarks only. There are several blank pages in the volume and these appear to coincide with missing entries, which often cover a period of several days.The journal records navigational information; weather; descriptions of the coasts seen during the ship's course; contact with other East India Company ships, Dutch ships, Portuguese ships, and country ships; relations with merchants; commodities carried; provisions carried; and other remarks. Entries are double-dated using both the Julian and Gregorian calendars.Inscribed: 'Recd [Received]: 30 Octo [October] 1707' (folio 2).The ship's route is as follows (dates given are approximate dates of arrival, owing to missing entries above): Gravesend, 23 December 1704 (folio 4); the Downs, 3 January 1704 [New Style date 3 January 1705] (folio 4); Cape [Cape of Good Hope], 7 May 1705 (folio 54); Johana [Anjouan], 25 June 1705 (folio 74); Bombay, 31 July 1705 (folio 90); Gombroon [Bandar-e ʻAbbās], 11 March 1705 [New Style date 11 March 1706] (folio 122); Bombay, 12 April 1706 (folio 133); Surratt [Surat], 30 April 1706 (folio 137); Bombay, 5 May 1706 (folio 142); Madras [Chennai], 6 July 1706 (folio 155); Callcuta [Kolkata], 1 January 1706 [New Style date 1 January 1707].Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 192; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: Journal of the voyage of the East India Company ship
Cadoganfrom England to Suratte [Surat] and Bombay between 17 January 1623 [New Style date 17 January 1624] and 7 April 1726 (Commander John Mill and Will Pricklove).Inscribed: 'No1 An original journal of an intended voyage by Gods permission in the ship Cadogan, burthen 450 tons, carrying 30 guns, and 90 men. Jon Mill Commander bound to the Island of Bombay in the East India on the service of the Hon[ra]ble English East India Company, Anno 1723/4. James Sanders' (folio 1).Marked: 'Recd. [Received] 5o April 1727' (folio 1).The journal contains entries recorded nearly every day in seven columns: H [hour]; Courses; K [knots]; F [fathoms]; Winds; Weather, and [date and remarks]. When the ship is in harbour or close to shore, entries consist of remarks only. Entries are double-dated using both the Old Style and New Style dates.The journal records: navigational information; weather; sea conditions; provisioning (especially the provision of beer, liquor and barrels of jar); ballasting and maintenance of the ship; contact with other British ships, French ships, a Portuguese ship, Dutch ships, and country ships; sightings of other vessels; references to fish and birds encountered; descriptions of the daily life experienced on the ship by the crew, officers and passengers; a reference to the death of commander John Millis (folio 110); references to and descriptions of the coasts sighted during the course; deaths and escapes of crew members; the transportation of soldiers; descriptions of the inhabitants of the places where the ship anchors; punishment; private trade and cargoes; cargoes carried. The journal also includes the following:List of the officers and crew on the
Cadogan, recording: names, stations (positions), place of entry, and whether they had run, had died or had been discharged (folios 1-2)List of passengers from England to Bombay (folio 2)List of soldiers (folio 2)List of ships that sailed out of England in the year 1723 in the service of the East India Company (folio 2).The entries record the ship's arrival at the following places: Gravesend, 17 February 1723 [New Style date 17 February 1724] (folio 5); the Downs, 27 March 1724 (folio 8); Saint Iago [Santiago, Cape Verde], 22 May 1724 (folio 21); Point de Gawle [Point de Galle], 29 September 1724 (folio 52); Anjengo, 26 October 1724 (folio 58); Tellicherry [Thalassery] 10 November 1724 (folio 61); Bombay, 28 November 1724 (folio 65); Tellicherry, 24 December 1724 (folio 69); St George Island, Goa, 20 March 1724 [New Style date 20 March 1725] (folio 78); Bombay, 3 April 1725 (folio 81); Suratte, 19 April 1725 (folio 84); Muscat, 10 July 1725 (folio 105); Gombroon [Bandar-e ʻAbbās], 23 July 1725 (folio 108); Carack Island [Kharg Island], 25 September 1725 (folio 118); Bussorah [Basra], 6 October 1725 (folio 121); Gombroon, 23 February 1725 [New Style date 23 February 1726] (folio 135); Suratte, 18 March 1725 [New Style date 18 March 1726] (folio 140).Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description (used for referencing) commences at f 1, and terminates at f 142; it is part of a larger physical volume of different shelfmarks in which this shelfmark has been given its own separate foliation sequence, i.e. non-consecutive; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: Journal of the voyage of the East India Company ship
Howlandfrom England to Madras (Captain George Cooke), 1707-08. The
Howlandleft the Downs in mid-February 1706/7, and the journal covers the ship's visits to the following destinations (dates are those of arrival): 10 May 1707, Table Bay; 13 July 1707, Madras [Chennai]; 21 September 1707, Rogues River (also written as Roagues River); 1 January 1707/8, Calcutta [Kolkata]; 2 February 1707/8 Rogues River; 26 April 1708, Gombroon [Bandar-e ʻAbbās]; 4 August 1708, Madras; 22 August 1708, Rogues River.The journal consists of daily entries (although not for every day of the voyage), which for most of the volume are formed of six columns: H [Hour], K [Knot], F [Fathoms], Courses, Wind, and a final column recording latitude, meridian distance, departure times, observations of weather and currents, sightings of land or other vessels, and other general remarks. When the ship is at anchor the entries consist of remarks only.The entries are dated, although the text is very faded (as are the column headings), to the point of being illegible in some cases. The journal employs Old Style (Julian calendar) and New Style dates (Gregorian calendar).Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 151; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: Journal of the voyage of the East India Company ship
Britanniafrom England to Gombroon [Bandar-e ʻAbbās] and Bombay [Mumbai], and back (Captain John Sumner), 28 February 1742-6 September 1743 (dates given are for arrival unless otherwise indicated): Lizard Point chosen as point of departure, 2 March 1742 [New Style]; 17 June 1742, Johanna [Anjouan]; 2 August 1742, Bandar Abbas; 4 October 1742, Bombay; 4 December 1742, Tillecherry [Thalassery]; 29 December 1742, Callecutt [Kozhikode]; 3 January 1742 [Old Style]/3 January 1743 [New Style], Thalassery; 12 January [1743], Cochin [Kochi]; 17 January 1743 [New Style], Anjango [Anchuthengo]; 23 January 1743 [New Style], Kochi; 28 January [1743], Kozhikode; 31 January 1743 [New Style], Thalassery; 22 February 1743 [New Style], Anchuthengo; 21 May 1743, St Helena; 6 September 1743, off Portland Bill.The ship was at Bandar-e ʻAbbās from 2 August to 13 September 1742, and at Bombay from 4 October to 15 November 1742.Inscribed: 'This is my Origanall Journall, Jn[John] Somner' (folio 1).Marked: 'Rec. [Received] 14 Octob. [October] 1743' (folio 1).The journal contains daily entries in six columns: Remarks; H [hour]; K [knots]; F [fathoms]; Courses; and [date and remarks]. When the ship is in harbour, or close to shore, entries consist of date and remarks only.The journal records: navigational information; weather; winds; sea conditions; the ballasting, provisioning, and maintenance of the ship; mention of the ships with which the
Britanniasailed in convoy; sightings of other vessels; transport of Company soldiers; and commodities carried.Also included is a description of the boarding of the
Britanniaby HMS
Doveron 4 September 1743, after the
Britannia's crew had offered armed resistance to an attempt at impressment (folio 109). In the engagement that followed, five of the
Britannia's crew were killed (they are named on folios 2-3).The journal also includes a list of the crew of the
Britannia, giving number, names, rank or occupation, and details of those men who had died, run [deserted], or been discharged, with dates, and a list of soldiers aboard (folios 2-3).Dates of entries (where indicated) are mainly New Style (Gregorian calendar); however, some entries are double-dated, giving both Old Style (Julian calendar) and New Style dates.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 110; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: Journal of the voyage of the East India Company ship
Prince Henryfrom England to Persia [Iran] and Bombay, and back (Captain Thomas Best), 20 November 1750-9 December 1752 (dates given are for arrival unless otherwise indicated): left Portsmouth, 20 March 1751; 16 July 1751, Joanna [Anjouan]; 22 August 1751, Gombaroon [Bandar Abbas]; 27 September 1751, Bombay; 29 February 1752, Carwar [Karwar]; 9 March 1752, Tellicherry [Thalassery]; 27 April 1752, Anjengo [Anchuthengo]; 7 August 1752, St Helena; 30 October 1752, the Downs.Note that the date 30 October 1752 above (the date given in the record) is Old Style.Inscribed: 'This is my original Journal, Thos. Best' (folio 2).Marked 'Recd. [Received] 13th. Decr. [December] 1752'.The dates in the journal change to New Style on 20 November 1752.The journal contains daily entries in seven columns: [Date and Remarks], H [Hour], K [Knots], F [Fathoms], Course, Winds and Weather, and Transactions. When the ship is at anchor, the entries consist of remarks only.The journal records: navigational information; weather; contact with British ships; sightings of other vessels; punishments inflicted on crew members and soldiers; the cleaning and maintenance of the ship; the provisioning of the ship, deaths at sea; commodities carried, the firing of gun salutes at Bombay on the occasion of the birthday of King George III (folio 59); transmission of correspondence; and general remarks.The journal also includes: a list of the names of the crew members of the
Prince Henry, 1750, giving number, names, quality [rank or occupation], whether they had been discharged or had run [deserted], whether they had died, and when and where [relating to the two previous columns] (folios 3-4); and a list of soldiers and galley men in the service of the East India Company (passengers), giving number, names, and quality, and stating whether they had been discharged, had run [deserted], had died, etc., with dates (folios 5-6).The record is part of a volume containing three separate log books:
Prince Henry: Journal, 1750-52 (IOR/L/MAR/B/325A);
Prince Henry: Journal 1754-55 (IOR/L/MAR/B/325B); and
Prince Henry: Journal, Benjamin Reynolds, Chief Mate, 1756-58 (IOR/L/MAR/B/325C).Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description (used for referencing) commences at f 1, and terminates at f 128; it is part of a larger physical volume of different shelfmarks in which every shelfmark has been given its own separate foliation sequence, i.e. non-consecutive; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: Journal of the East India Company ship the
Tavistockby Captain Matthew Martin. The journal covers the ship's voyage from England to Bombay and Surratt [Surat] and back, between 16 September 1707 and 18 November 1710.The journal contains daily entries in seven columns: H [Hour], K [Knots], F [Fathoms], Cours [Course], Winds, Weath [Weather] and Remarks. Apart from a few exceptions, when the ship is at anchor the entries consist of remarks only. The journal records the following: navigational information; weather; contact with other East India Company ships, French ships, Dutch ships, and Bangal [Bengal] ships; commodities carried; and general remarks. The journal includes details of personnel, including men who have died or deserted the ship (written as 'run' in the volume).The journal also notes the following: wildlife, horses taken from Gombroon [Bandar-e ʻAbbās] to Bombay (f 60), and different types of cargo on board the ship, including pepper bound for Europe and private cargo. Entries are double-dated using both the Julian and Gregorian calendars.At the front of the journal (folio 4) is the inscription: 'The
TavistockJournall Comencing 1707. My original journall. Matt[thew] Martin [signature]'. The signature of Matthew Martin also appears at the end of the journal (folio 101).The ship's route is as follows (dates given are those of arrival): 3 October 1707, Deptford (f 6); 10 November 1707, Gravesend (f 6); 29 March 1708, the Downs (f 9); 26 August 1708, Cape Bone Esperance [Cape of Good Hope] (f 26); 12 November 1708, Point de Galle (f 37); 30 November 1708, Cochine [Kochi] (f 39); 3 December 1708 Callicutt [Calicut] (f 39); 12 December 1708, Mangulore [Mangalore] (f 39); 24 December 1708, Goa (f 40); 2 January 1708 [New Style date 1709], Bombay (f 41); 22 February 1708 [New Style date 1709], Surratt or Suratt [Surat] (f 43); 20 April 1709, Bombay (f 46); 3 June 1709, Gombroon [Bandar-e ʻAbbās] (f 52); 13 October 1709, Bombay (f 60); 7 November 1709, Suratt (f 61); 2 Jan 1709 [New Style date 1710], Bombay (f 64); 26 February 1709 [New Style date 1710], Anjango [Anjengo] (f 67); 22 June 1710, St Helena (f 85); 3 October 1710, the Downs (f 99).Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 107; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: Journal of the voyage of the East India Company ship
Greenwichfrom England to Bombay, and back (Captain Richard Kyrby [Kirby], later John Barnes, formerly Chief Mate), 1719-22 (dates given are for arrival unless otherwise indicated): left Spithead, 1 April 1720; 29 April 1720, St. Jago [Santiago, Cape Verde]; 26 July 1720, Joanna [Anjouan]; 3 September 1720, Bombay; 10 October 1720, Surratt [Surat]; 12 November 1720, Bombay; 21 December 1720, Carrwarr [Karwar]; 31 January 1721, Callicutt [Calicut]; 26 February 1721, Karwar; 17 March 1721, Bombay; 31 May 1721, Gombroon [Bandar Abbas]; 21 October 1721, Bombay; 1 December 1721, Chowl [Chaul]; 6 December 1721, Bombay; 27 January 1722, Cochin; 2 April 1722, Cape Boon Esperance [Cape of Good Hope]; 5 May 1722, St. Helena.The journal contains daily entries in seven columns: [Latitude by Observation, Latitude by Account, and Meridian Distance from a stated location], [Remarks], H [Hour], K [Knots], F [Fathoms], Course, and Winds. When the ship is at anchor, or near coast, the entries consist of remarks only.The journal records: navigational information; weather; details of the English and country ships with which the
Greenwichsailed in convoy; contact with other Company, and His Majesty's ships; sightings of other vessels; deaths on board ship; desertions from the ship; the provisioning of the ship; commodities carried; and general remarks.The journal also records an attack by pirates at Anjouan on 8 August 1720 (folio 31), and the report of the death from fever of Captain Kirby at Bandar Abbas, 29 August 1721 (folio 70).Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 129; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves.
Abstract: The journal of the ship
Godolphinby Collingwood Roddam, Second Mate. The journal contains:The daily entries for the voyage from Blackwall to Gravesend (26 March 1759), the Downs (21 April 1759), Portsmouth (24 April 1759), La Palma (17 May 1759), Cap Lagulias [Cape Agulhas] (31 July 1759), Mohilla [Mohéli] (27 August 1759), Comero [Comoros] (31 August 1759), and Bombay [Mumbai] (26 September 1759)The entries for the voyage from Bombay to Muscatt [Muscat] (28 January 1760) and Gombroon [Bandar-e ʻAbbās] (February 1760)The entries for the voyage from Gombroon to Muscatt (7 April 1760) and Bombay (17 April 1760)The entries for the voyage from Bombay to Tillichery [Thalassery] (24 May 1760), Point de Galle (2 June 1760), Pullicatt [Pulicat] (12 June 1760) and Madrass [Madras, i.e. Chennai] (17 June 1760)The entries for the voyage from Madrass to Barrabulla (23 July 1760), Kedgeree [Khejuri] (26 July 1760) and Culpee [Kulpi] (28 July 1760)The entries for the voyage from Bengal to Madrass (13 February 1761), Socattra [Socotra] (28 March 1761), Babelmandel Island [Jazirat Mayyun] (2 April 1761) and Al-Mocha (3 April 1761)The entries for the voyage from Al-Mocha to Jblazcker Island [Jabal Zuqar] (28 April 1761) and Judda [Jeddah] (8 May 1761)The entries for the voyage from Judda to Jblazcker Island (16 August 1761), Mocha (17 August 1761) and Bombay (8 September 1761)The entries for the voyage from Bombay to Tillicherry (25 November 1761), Cape Commerene [Kanniyākumāri] (3 December 1761), Point de Galle (7 December 1761), Massulapatam [Machilipatnam] (21 January 1762) and Keedgeree [Khejuri] (20 February 1762)The entries for the voyage from Bengal to St Helena (15 February 1763), Plymouth Sound (10 June 1763), the Downs (3 July 1763), and Blackwall (17 July 1763).The daily entries by Roddam record that the 'Imaum (or King)' of Oman [Sultan Ahmad bin Sa’id Al Bu Sa’id] was honoured with an eleven-gun salute on his visit to, and departure from the
Godolphinwhile the ship was anchored at Muscat on 3 February 1759 (folio 48). Roddam also mentions transporting the new Governor, Henry Vansittart, to his post at Bengal, where Vansittart was met by East India Company councillors aboard a yacht and conveyed to Fort William on 25 July 1760 (folio 67).The journal contains daily entries in six columns: H [Hour], Courses, K [Knots], F [Fathoms], Winds, and Transactions, Week Day and Calendar Date. The entries consist of remarks only when the ship is at anchor. The journal provides navigational information, notes on the sightings of other vessels, and other observations made during the course of the voyages. It also notes the presence of Bengal merchants, Bombay merchants, and Armenian merchants at ports between the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.Physical description: The foliation sequence for this description (used for referencing) commences at f 1, and terminates at f 193; it is part of a larger physical volume of different shelfmarks in which every shelfmark has been given its own separate foliation sequence, i.e. non-consecutive; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: This volume consists of a journal (log book) of a voyage to Madras [Chennai] and Bengal in the East India Company ship
Dartmouth, recorded by the Captain of the ship Thomas Beckford.The journal entries are dated 14 October 1710 to 17 August 1713.The inscriptions on folio 2 of the journal state that the journal was received on 16 September 1713 and laid before the Court of Directors of the East India Company on 18 September 1713.The journal records the ship sailing for Gravesend on 19 November 1710. Following this, the ship anchored in the Downes [Downs] on 22 December 1710, at Spithead on 3 January 1710, Stokes Bay on 4 January 1710, and Spithead again on 26 January 1710.The journal entries subsequently record the ship anchoring in the following places (both Old Style and New Style dates are given in the journal entries): the Cape of Good Hope (24 April to 13 May 1711), Fort St George [Madras] (10 to 20 July 1711), Fort St David (10 to 12 August 1711), Fort St George (14 August to 6 September 1711), Rogues River [Muri Ganga, also known as Channel Creek or the Baratala River] (25 September 1711, leaving Bengal 28 January 1711/12), Anjango [Anchuthengu] (15 to 17 February to 1711/12), Gombroon [Bandar Abbas] (28 March to 28 June 1712), Fort St George (7 to 16 August 1712), Table Bay (18 January to 31 March 1712/13), and Texel (9 August 1713). The ship reached the Thames Estuary on 17 August 1713.Daily entries for when the ship was at sea from 28 January 1711 onwards consist of tables recording the following: navigational measurements of latitude by account and departure (from the meridian), hours (H), knots (K), fathoms (F), courses, winds, and remarks. The remarks mostly relate to the following: the wind and other weather and sea conditions; ships with which the
Dartmouthwas sailing in company, and sightings of other ships; actions performed by the crew; and measurements of the course of the ship and bearings of land.Entries for when the ship was at Fort St George, Fort St David, and Anjango record information including: weather conditions, treasure and goods being unloaded from the ship and sent ashore, the Captain and merchants from the ship going ashore, provisions and other cargo being received on board the ship, actions performed by the crew, and the arrival and departure of other ships. There are no daily entries for the dates when the ship was at anchor in the other places listed above, other than entries for the arrival and departure dates.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 133; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: Journal of the voyage of the East India Company ship
Drakefrom England to Calcutta [Kolkata, India], February 1728 [New Style date 1729]-August 1729, from Calcutta to Bombay [Mumbai, India], January 1729 [New Style date 1730]-May 1730, from Bombay to Surat, India, October 1730, from Surat to Gombroon [Bandar Abbas, Iran] and back, November 1730-April 1731, from Surat to Calcutta, May-June 1731, and from Calcutta to England, January 1731 [New Style date 1732]-August 1732 (Captain John Houghton).The journal consists of daily entries of information on navigation, winds, weather, and general observations. Some of the entries written in port include details of the loading and unloading of cargo and provisions.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence for this description (used for referencing) commences at f 1, and terminates at f 100; it is part of a larger physical volume of different shelfmarks in which this shelfmark has been given its own separate foliation sequence, i.e. non-consecutive; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: Two volumes in one slipcase containing a collection of letters and enclosures dispatched from Gombroon [Bandar-e ʻAbbas] Factory to ‘the Court of Directors for affairs of the United Company of Merchants of England Trading to the East Indies’. Almost every letter includes the date it was received overland via Aleppo and Marseilles. At some point these letters were assigned numbers from 2386 to 2486, in red (turned to purplish) ink. Any missing numbers in between indicate that the letter is missing. The letters cover a variety of issues and topics including:Accounts received from the East India Company (EIC)’s Factories at Spahaun [Esfahan, also written as Spahaune] and Carmenia [Kerman also written as Carmania], and checked at GombroonRecords of
rogoms[raqams or ruqums: royal grants confirming specific trading privileges], and
talligaws[ta‘liqas: official orders] granted or to be granted to the EIC’s establishments in Persia [Iran]. Examples of authentic translated copies of
rogomscan be found in folios 25, 28, 89, 182 and 188Records of the EIC’s servants in Persia covering their names, stations, positions, date of commencing in the service, salaries, death, misbehaviours, complaints, and investigationsProposal to settle a Factory at Mushat [Mashhad]The activities of local Arab, Armenian, Ballooches [Baluch] and Persian merchants in the regionRecords of Dutch, French, Portuguese and Russian [written as muscovite] activities in the regionThe status of the wool trade at CarmeniaLists of woollen goods proper for Persian marketLists of commodities traded with including: broadcloth, sugar candy, spices, copper, iron, cotton, nuts, dates, coffee, silk, and riceThe rebellion of the Arabs and the agwaans [Afghans?] led by ‘the noted pyrate’ Shaik Ahmud Medannah [Shaikh Aḥmad Madanī, also written as Medanna]The Ophgoon [Afghan]-Persian warsThe Persian-Ottoman [Turks] warsBritish-Persian relationsBritish-Ottoman relationsDispute between the Arabs and the Bashaw of Bussorah [Pāshā of Basra]Reports of the Arabs plundering British shipsRecords of the accession of, three months old, Abbas III after the imprisonment of his father by Tahmasp Qoli Khan [Ṭahmāsb Qulī Khān, i.e. Nādir Shāh, Shāh of Persia 1732-1747]Dutch seizing the vessels of Shaik Russhett [Shaikh Rāshid al-Qāsimī, also written as Rachid] at Bassidore [Basidu, also written as Bassidoore]Persian navy assisting the Hoveyza Arabs [Huwayza Arabs of Khuzistan, also written as Havizah] in their siege of BussorahNews of the Hoola [Hawala/ Huwala] Arabs revolting against the PersianThe Imaum of Muscat [Imam of Muscat, also written as Muscatt] asking for Persian help against his rebellious subjectsNādir Shāh claiming himself the master of Muscat and Julfar [also written as Julphar]Nādir Shāh's invasion of the Mogull Empire [Mughal]Detailed accounts of the state of affairs and inland military operations in a number of provinces in Persia and the names of local governors and generals involved.The volumes contain records of letters from the Resident at Bussorah covering: the relations with Ottoman officials, letters from the British Consul at Aleppo, the state of affairs in the region, and the status of the EIC’s trade at Bussorah.The volumes include detailed reports of the state of the Company’s trade in Persia covering the following: shipping; goods from Europe or India; investments; the Factory’s accounts and charges; customs and revenues; the trade in Persia in general and any transactions with the Persian Government; buildings and fortifications; and the EIC’s covenant servants, soldiers, and their accounts.The volumes also include lists recording the arrival and departure of ships, their names, staff, tons, guns, from where, when sailed, and where bound. Among the recorded ships are the
Victoria, the
Success, the
Tellicherry, the
Fame, the
Prince George, the
Queen Carolina, the
Britannia[also written as
Brittania], the
Drake, the
Robert, the
Prince of Wales, the
Richmond, the
Jenny, and the
Wilmington. Ships sailed mainly to and from Gombroon, Bombay [Mumbai], Surat [also written as Suratt], Bengall [Bengal], Bassidore, Bussorah, Boucheir [Bushehr], Mocha, Mallabar Coast [Malabar], Madrass [Madras, i.e. Chennai], Muscat, and China.The volumes include some duplications, and some faded letters/enclosures.Physical description: Foliation: This file consists of two physical volumes. The foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at f 1 of volume one (ff 1-153) and terminates at f 284 of volume two (ff 154-284); these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is also present in parallel; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves.
Abstract: Two volumes containing a collection of letters and enclosures dispatched from Gombroon [Bandar-e ʻAbbas, also written as Gomroon] Factory to ‘the Court of Directors for affairs of the United Company of Merchants of England Trading to the East Indies’. Almost every letter includes the date it was received overland, and the name of the ship it was received from. At some point these letters were assigned numbers from 2287 to 2385, in red (turned to purplish) ink. Any missing numbers in between indicate that the letter is missing. The letters cover a variety of issues and topics including:Reports on the activities of local Arab, Armenian, Ballooches [Baluch] and Persian [Iranian] merchants in the regionRecords of rogoms [raqams or ruqums, also written as rogomms: royal grants confirming specific trading privileges], and talligaws [ta‘liqa/ta‘lika: official order] granted or to be granted to the East India Company’s (EIC) establishments in Persia [Iran]The status of the wool trade at Carmenia [Kerman, also written as Carmania]Names of commodities traded with including: broadcloth, sugar candy, spices, copper, iron, cotton, coffee, wine, silk, pearl, wool, and riceRecords of the EIC’s servants in Persia covering their names, job titles, salaries, death, misbehaviours, complaints, and investigationsAccounts of Dutch, French, Portuguese and Russian [written as muscovite] activities in the regionAccounts of the Ophgoon [Afghan]-Persian war, covering details of the Ophgoons’ siege of Spahaun [Esfahan, also written as Spahaune] and Shyrash [Shiraz, also written as Shyrass], and their execution of members of the Safavid royal family, and state officialsRecords of famine, cannibalism and plague in PersiaAccounts from Spahaun and Carmenia factories, checked at GombroonGifts presented to Persian, Afghan and Ottoman officialsAfghan-British relationsThe Afghan-Ottoman warsThe Persian-Russian warsThe siege of Ormuz [Jazīreh-ye Hormoz, Iran] castle by the MuscatisCustoms imposed on English ships by Shaik Rachid at Bassidore [Shaikh Rashid al-Qasimi of Basidu, also written as Rachide, and Rushett]The dispute between the Factory officials and the Shawbunder [Shahbandar] of Gombroon over customsThe Shawbunder of Gombroon being assisted by the Arabs in his attempts to protect the port from the augwauns’ [Afghans’?] attacksA complaint about Cossum [Qasim], the wool merchant at CarmeniaCommunications with the Immaum of Muscat [Imam of Muscat, also written as Imaum of Muscatt].The volumes include detailed accounts of the state of affairs and inland military operations in a number of provinces in Persia including Tabreez [Tabriz], Hamadoon [Hamadan], Casbin [Qazvin], Tyroon [Tehran], and Yazd. Among the local governors and generals involved in the operations are Amanoolah Caun [Amanullah Khan, the Vizier of Esfahan, also written as Aumaunoolah and Amaunoolah], Mahomett Syed Sultan [Muhammad Sayyid Sultan, Governor of Gombroon], Mahmud Moman Caun [Mahmud Mu'min Khan, the Great Chancellor of the Kingdom of Persia], Alhamadaulet [E‘temad al-Dawla, Grand Vizier of Persia, also written as Athamadowlet], Shaw Sultan Hussain of Spahaun [Shah Sultan Husain Safavid], Shaw Mahmud [Shah Mahmud Hotak or Gilzi, Afghan Ruler of Gilzi dynasty], and Shaw Ashroff Sultan [Shah Ashraf Hotak or Gilzi, Afghan military commander, also written as Ashroph].The volumes contain records of letters from the Resident at Bussorah [Basra, also written as Bussorrah] covering the following: relations with Ottoman officials; letters received from the British Consull [Consul] at Allepo [Aleppo, also written as Alleppo]; the state of affairs in the region; the EIC’s sales and lists of goods; and communications with local merchants at Bagdatt [Baghdad] and Bussorah and lists of their names.The volumes also include detailed reports of the state of the Company’s trade in Persia covering the following: shipping; goods from and for Europe; the Factory’s accounts; customs and revenues; the trade of Persia in general; the EIC’s cash and exchanges; the private trade liberty and grievances of the EIC’s covenant servants.The volumes include records of the arrival and departure of ships, including the
Syria, the
Greenwich, the
Phillipps[
Phillips], the
Prince Frederick, the
Britannia[also written as
Brittania], the
Marigold, the
Margarett, the
Deane, the
Duke of York, and the
Alleppo[
Aleppo]. Ships sailed mainly to and from Gombroon, Bombay [Mumbai], Surat [also written as Surratt], Bengall [Bengal], Bussorah, Boucheir [Bushehr], Cochin, Mocha, and Muscat.The volumes include some duplications, and some faded letters/enclosures.Physical description: Foliation: this file consists of two physical volumes. The foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at f 1 of volume one (ff 1-131) and terminates at f 266 of volume two (ff 132-266); these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. An additional foliation sequence is also intermittently present in parallel between ff 225-266; these numbers are also written in pencil, but are not circled. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers, nor does it include the leading and ending flyleaves. The file contains four foliation anomalies: f 20a, f 20b, f 176a and f 176b.