Diary and Consultations of Mr Alexander Douglas, Agent of the East India Company at Gombroon [Bandar-e ʻAbbās] in the Persian Gulf, commencing 4 August 1756 and ending 31 July 1757.
- Holding institution:
- British Library. India Office Records and Private Papers
- Data provider:
- Qatar National Library
- Title:
- Diary and Consultations of Mr Alexander Douglas, Agent of the East India Company at Gombroon [Bandar-e ʻAbbās] in the Persian Gulf, commencing 4 August 1756 and ending 31 July 1757.
- Date:
- 1756/1757
- Description:
- Abstract: The volume is in the form of a diary recorded by Alexander Douglas, Chief Agent of Gombroon [Bandar-e ʻAbbās] Factory. The Agent recorded the letters sent and received, the daily activities, the administrative decisions made, as well as the significant political and military operations in the region.Among the main details and issues recorded in the diary are the following:Records of the East India Company's (EIC's) cash, staff salaries, and invoicesRecords of letters to commanders of the EIC's ships along with sailing ordersRecords of letters exchanged with William Shaw, Resident at Bussorah [Basra, also written as Bussora] reporting on the situation at Bussorah, Bagdat [Baghdad, also written as Bagdad], and AleppoReports received from the Roman Catholick [Catholic] missionaries at Spahaun [Eṣfahān] about Hossan Caun Cadjar [Moḥammad Ḥasan Khān Qājār] imposing tax on the Christian inhabitants thereNews of Hossan Caun appointing Nasseir Caun [Nāsir Khān Āl Mazkūr, ruled 1162-1203/c 1749-1788] as the Beglerbeggy [Beglerbegi/ Beylerbeyi is Turkish and Azeri for Governor-General] of Farse [Fars]News of Sharroock Caun [Shāhrokh Mīrzā Afshār, c 1734-1796, Governor of Kerman] besieging Hodjeabaud [Haji Abad], marching towards Hamataboud [Ahmadabad], and dispatching officers to regulate financial affairs with Moolah Ally Shaw [Mulla Ali Shah, fl 1740-1760, the Governor of Gombroon]News of Shaik Rama of Julfar's forces [Raḥmah bin Maṭar al-Qāsimī, Shaikh of Julfār] proceeding to Tarree [Bandar Tahiri] to attack Shaik Hattem [Shaikh Hatim bin Jubbarah al-Nasuri]Reports of Ahmed Shaw [Ahmad Shah Afghan Dorrani, also known as Ahmad Shah Abdali ruled 1747-1772] appointing his son as the ruler of Cashemire [Kashmir], Lahor [Lahore] and other places, and demanding that the Mogul Emperor pay him taxReports on the situation at various cities including Shyrash [Shiraz], Tyharroun [Tehhran], and Astrabaud [Astarabad]The enmity between Hossan Caun and Azad Caun [Āzād Khān Ghilza'ī, d 1782, Beglerbeg of Azarbāijān]The arrival of wool from Carmenia [Kerman]Records of letters received from the Linguist (i.e. interpreter) at Carmenia advising on the amount of wool sent and the billsRecords of letters exchanged with Francis Wood, the Resident at Bunderick [Bandar-e-Rīg] reporting on the situation at Bunderick and Carack [also written Carrack, Bandar-e Chārak]News of Moolah Ally Shaw seizing one of the Factory's brokers and sending him to Ormuse [Jazīreh-ye Hormoz, Hormuz, Ormuz]News of Nasseir Caun regaining control of several places that were taken by the ArabsRecords of the activities of French and Dutch vesselsRecords of traded commodities such as coffee, sugar, candy, iron, spices, lead, tin, horse covering, carpets and cushionsNews of Carem Caun [Karīm Khān Zand, Vakil of Persia] marching towards Bushire [Būshehr, also written as Bourchier], Bunderick, and BussorahReports of the state of affairs in Bengal [also written as Bengall]The enmity between Nasseir Caun and Carem CaunNarrative of the loss of the PhoenixsloopReports of the British retaking Calcutta [Kolkata] by forceNews of Sharrook Caun getting married.The diary includes records of letters exchanged between the Factory Agent and the President and Governor-in-Council of Bombay (Richard Bourchier) and the rest of the Council members. These include a copy of sundry paragraphs of the Company's commands on the ship Portfieldrelated to the Factory (folios 39-44); the possibility of making an English settlement at Bahreen [Bahrain]; regulations of trade and customs in China, Mocha, Juddah [Jeddah], Batavia [Jakarta], Malacca, Cylon [Ceylon, i.e. Sri Lanka], Mallabar [Malabar] Coast, Sumatra and other places; the possibility of establishing a charity school at Gombroon; and the situation of affairs between Britain and France.The diary includes records of the arrival and departure of ships, including the Dragon, the Warrenketch, the Success, the Neptunegalley, the Swallow, the Drake, the Hopewell, the Prince George, the Futtee Doulet[Fath al-Dawla], the Fezraboony[Fayz Rabbani], the Pasteronia, the Alli Rooka, the Bridgewater, and the Viper.The ships sailed mainly to and from Gombroon, Bombay [Mumbai], Bussorah, Bunderick, Bengal, Surat, Muscat, Madrass [Madras, i.e. Chennai], Cochin [Kochi], Tellicherry [Thalassery], and England.The diary includes abstracts of the standard account disbursements for each month. These cover the following: table expenses, garrison charges, the Afseen [Afsin] Garden, merchandised charges, extraordinary charges, stable charges, servants' wages, ships' charges, and factory repairs.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 88; 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 cover, nor does it include the leading flyleaf.
- Language:
- English
- Type:
- Archival file
- Type (Narrower):
- Other Texts
- Type (Broader):
- Text
- Subject:
- Wool trade
Administration
Visits
Ships - Geographic region:
- البصرة
بندر جارك
بندر ريق
شيراز
هرمز
جلفار
يزد
أصفهان - Rights:
- رخصة حكومة مفتوحة
- Identifier:
- 81055/vdc_100000001251.0x000367_ar
81055/vdc_100000001251.0x000367_en
IOR/G/29/10
IOR/G/29/10