Abstract: This volume is the Diary and Consultation Book of William Henry Draper, 'Cheif for Affairs of the British Nation in the Gulph of Persia'. The volume contains diary entries and consultations at Gombroon [Bandar-e ‘Abbas], including: the appointment of John Fothringham to take 'Charge of the Warehouse', and William May as Steward, who will also assist St George Pack with the 'Secretary's business'; a remonstrance by the President of Bombay to the Bashaw of Bussorah [Pasha of Basra], and a letter from the Factory at Gombroon to the Court of Directors, delivered by Captain Martin French, on his way to Bussorah; the departure of the Supravisor Thomas Waters for Bombay [Mumbai], and the appointment of Draper as Chief Agent; a letter from John Courtney recommending two 'Mogull' passengers travelling with the
Sallamat Rust, and requesting a convoy between 'Kishmish' [Qeshm] and Bussorah; a report that 'the Arabs [are] fitting out two Large Shipps w[i]th a Design to Cruize'; the instructions of Captain French to levy a duty on 'all Pepper imported at Bussarah'; the return of the Frigate
Britanniaafter escorting the Supravisor to Jasques [Jask]; the letters to Owen Phillipps and the English Factory in Spahaun [Eşfahān], informing them of ‘the Supravisors Departure and the orders he had left behind’, and the Presidency's disapproval of their slackness in securing the release of the personnel at Spahaun; the orders to the commander of the
Britannia, Captain Benson, to cruise between Cape Musseldom and Kishmish; the departure of a ship belonging to the Dutch East India Company for Bussorah carrying over 10,000 Tomans [Tumans]; a report about Prince Sultan Mahomed Mirza [Safavi] and 'Rice Jungie [i.e. Ra'is Jangi] the head of the Balooches' [Mir Abd Allah Khan Baluch] marching towards Gombroon to prevent its takeover by the former Shawbunder Mirzah Zaid Ally [Shahbandar Mirza Zahid ‘Ali Lari]; the news of 'Shaik Jeebarrah [Shaikh Jibarah bin Yasir al-Nasuri] declaring for the "Ophgoon interest" [Ghilza’i Afghans] and joining Mirzah Zaid Ally at Lhor [Lar]'; the orders to Captain Benson to prevent a vessel flying English colours from calling at Bassidore [Basa'idu]; a letter from Shaw Thomas [Shah Tahmasb II Safavi] on his siege of Carmania [Kerman] and intention to take Syde Achmat Caun [Sayyid Ahmad Khan Mar’ashi Safavi] prisoner; the instructions to Benson on any ships he encounters in 'Bassidore Road belonging to Cutch [Kutch] [and] Syndee [Sindh]'; the letters of Shaw Ashroph [Shah Ashraf Ghilza’i] to the Governor of Shyrash [Shiraz]; a letter from the Presidency of Bombay demanding payment from Shaikh Rashid and the suppression of trade at Basa'idu; an exchange of messages between Draper and the Governor of Gombroon; a message from Shaikh Rashid to Draper requesting that the
Britanniacease diverting vessels away from Bassidore; the decision for Draper to take charge of the expedition to Bassidore and the preparation of a 'Memorial' to Shaikh Rashid; the conference between the Factory's linguist [interpreter] and the Governor of Gombroon; the letters from Abde’ Rahman Bashaw [Abd al-Rahman Pasha] and the Kyah of Bussorah to the Supravisor; the refusal of the Governor Mahomed Sally Begg [Muhammad Zal Beg] to hand over half of the customs; the relocation of Mirza Zahid ‘Ali to Sullgar 'a Large village near Lhor'; the arrival of the first Caphilah [qafilah, caravan] from Spahaun since 1722; the imprisonment of the merchant Hossein Begg [Husayn Beg]; the arrival of Sultan Muhammad Mirza Safavi's soldiers; the visit of the Governor of Gombroon to the Dutch Factory; a letter from the 'Cawzy' [i.e. Qazi / Qadi, or Judge] of Gombroon on Sultan Muhammad Mirza's reaction to the Bassidore expedition, and his decision to besiege the Factory at Gombroon; the letter from Draper to the 'most Illustrious Prince Sultan Mahomed Mirzah'; the diversion of the
Fatteramania[Fath’-i Rahmani] and two other vessels from Bassidore; the mission of Rice Jungie's son to arrest Muhammad Zal Beg and besiege the Factory; the instructions to Cordeaux on the defence of Gombroon; an order from Sultan Muhammad Mirza to Muhammad Zal Beg to apprehend the merchants from Spahaun; the demands of the Grand Seigniour [Ottoman Sultan Ahmed III] from Shah Ashraf Ghilza’i, calling on him to surrender 'Casbin [Qazvin], Guilpagon [Gulpaygan?], & Sava [Savah]', return the 'Artillery, Money, Tents, & goods' captured from Gürcü Ahmed Pasha, and mint coins in the Sultan's name acknowledging him as the 'Emperour of the Muslemen'; the letters of Shaikh Rashid and the 'Principal Merchants at Bassidore'; a letter dispatched by Mirza Zahid Ali to Draper from Congo [Kong]; a letter from Shaikh Rashid thanking Draper for recalling his ships from Bassidore; the refusal of Captain Benson to comply with Draper's instructions; the arrival of the
Fame,
Fort St George,
Salamanderand a ship belonging to the 'Emamum' [Imam] at Mocha; the advices to the Court of Directors carried by a 'Moors [i.e. Arabs'] Grabb' to Bussorah; the orders to Captain Phillip Peers, Commander of the
Bengall[Bengal] Galley, to proceed to Lhoft [Laft]; the arrival of the Harrison with the Bashaw of Bussorah’s answer to the President's remonstrance; a letter from Sultan Muhammad Mirza to Draper appointing him Shahbandar of Gombroon; a letter from Draper to Abde Rahman Basahaw [Abd al-Rahman Pasha], Governor of Bussorah; the arrival of the
Wakefieldunder the command of Captain Thomas Dixon; the instructions of the Chief Agent to Captain Peers and Captain Benson for a cruise to Bassidore, Asilo [Asaluyah], Charack [Charak], Bunder Bourchier [Bandar-i Bushihr] and other ports; the duel fought between Fotheringham and Draper outside the Factory in Gombroon; the declaration of Draper to Sergeant William Sharp, Sergeant Thomas Boyden and the military; the depositions of Sharp and Boyden concerning the duel and Cordeaux's appeal to the soldiers; the letter from Draper to French in Bussorah, ordering him to return at the 'very first opportunity'; the arrest of Cordeux by a 'file of Musqueteers'; and the breakup of Sultan Muhammad Mirza's camp, and his march to join Mir Abd Allah Khan Baluch.Physical description: The foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 86; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: The volume is in the form of a diary, which contains records of consultations at the Gombroon [Bandar-e ʻAbbās] Factory. The Chief Agent, Eaton Dodsworth, and the Factory's Council members Robert Weldon, followed by William Elton, headed the consultations. They recorded the daily activities, the administrative decisions made, letters sent and received, as well as visits to and from the Factory.Among the main details and issues recorded in the diary are the following:Records of the activities of 'Moor' [i.e. Arab] and Dutch vesselsNews of the death of Robert Weldon on 22 December 1708Records of traded commodities such as wool, almonds, wood, rice, cotton, lamp oyle [oil], glass pearl [probably glass beads], and horsesRelations with local Persian shawbunder [shahbander], governors, and merchantsRecords of letters exchanged with the Agent and Council of the English Factory at Spahaun [Eṣfahān, also written as Spahaune] providing information on the state of affairs, invoices, trade, relations with local Persian and Armenian merchants, and robbery casesRecords of letters and invoices received from Carmania [Kerman] and Shyrath [Shiraz, also written as Shyrass].The diary includes records of the arrival and departure of ships, including the
India, the
Winsor, the
Takavelly,
Luhesme[
Lakshmi] ketch, the
Elizabeth, the
George, the
Gavestock, the
Princes Sophia, the
Gilbert, and the
Mamoade[
Mahmudi?].The ships sailed mainly to and from Gombroon, Bombay [Mumbai], Bussora [Basra], Bangall [Bengal], Madrass [Madras, i.e. Chennai], Surat [also written as Suratt], Batavia [Jakarta], Cochin [Kochi], Ceylone [Sri Lanka], Tulachareene [Thalassery], and Mocha.In addition, the diary includes monthly records of the accounts of the East India Company's facilities in Persia covering the following: house expenses, house provisions, petty expenses, stable charges, table expenses, merchandised charges, extraordinary charges, servants' wages, and ships' charges.The diary was received on board the
Tankervilleon 17 September 1712.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 22; 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: This volume is the Diary and Consultation Book of Thomas Waters, 'Supravisor' of the East India Company's activities in Persia and the Persian Gulf. The volume contains diary entries and consultations held at Gombroon [Bandar-e ʻAbbās] including: a consultation with William Henry Draper and John Fothringham, following the arrival of the
Fort St GeorgeGalley, about the ‘utmost disorder’ prevailing in the Company’s business; the arrival of a vessel supposedly belonging to the Imaum of Muscatt [Imam of Muscat, Muhammad bin Nasir al-Ghafiri], under the command of Noquedah Shaik Mahmud Ben Jessas [Nakhuda Shaikh Mahmud bin Jassas], the instructions provided to Captain Walley Echelin to keep the
Fort St Georgein a ‘posture of Defence’, and a request from the Governor of Gombroon for the Galley to prevent a ‘Moor Ship' from being captured by Nakhuda bin Jassas; the ‘advices’ to be carried by the
Futtacadarin[Futuh al-Qadirin] to the Presidency of Bombay, and those to Owen Phillipps at Spahaun [Isfahan] on the remittance of the ‘whole Amo[un]t of their Arrears’; a proposal for William Cordeaux to be ‘call’d in to take his place at the [Gombroon] Board, the balance due to Kessourjee [the] Broker [Kisurji Dallal Hindi], ‘remains of goods in Warehouses belonging to the H[onourable] Comp[any]’, ‘Publick Papers & Registers being now dispos’d in good Order’, and the ‘Rogums [Ruqum or Raqams: royal grants confirming specific trading privileges] found among the old Papers in the Office’; a List of ‘Rogums granted [to] the Hon[oura]ble East India Company by the Kings of Persia’ (1635-1714); The List of ‘Authentick Coppys’ of Ruqum granted to the Company by the Kings of Persia (1677-1726); the Register of ‘Sundry Books and Papers remaining in the Factory at Gombroon’, including the ‘Gombroon Journalls & Ledgers’ (1700-25), ‘Spahaun Journalls and Ledgers’ (1700-07/8, 1716-20, 1721-22), ‘Bussorah [Basra] Journalls & Legers’ (1723-25), ‘Gombroon Consultations & Diarys’ (1698-1726), ‘Spahaun Consultations & Diarys’ (1712-22), ‘Bussorah Consultations & Diarys’ (1723-24), ‘Letters Inwards & Outwards’ (1616-1726), ‘Invoice & Freight Books’ (1705-26), and ‘Broker’s Acco[un]ts with H[onourable] Company’ (1722-26); the perceived decline of Gombroon and diversion of its trade to Bassidore [Basa‘idu], ‘occasion’d through the Artifices and Crafty management of Shaik Rachide’ [Shaikh Rashid bin Matar al-Qasimi]; the Prince Sultan Mahmud Mirza [Sultan Muhammad Mirza Safavi’s] design of ‘raising forces against the Ophgoons’ [Afghans]; a request from the Supravisor to Shaikh Rashid to return the ‘Tranky’ hired by Cordeaux; the revolt of the Province of Jarroon [Jahrum] and closure of the trade routes to Shyrash [Shiraz]; a report from Lhor [Lar] that the Ophgoons had made ‘two attempts on the Turks lying before Spahaun’; the news that Shaw Achmat [Shah Ahmad Khan Mar‘ashi Safavi] has ‘got a few forces together’; the return of Mirza Zeid Alley [Mirza Zahid ‘Ali Lari] as Shawbunder [Shahbandar] of Gombroon; the delayed departure of the Galley for the ‘Mocha Service’; the request of William Brewer to the Supravisor for permission to return to Bombay with the Galley; the charges against Captain Forbes and the ‘withdrawal’ of the English Factory from Bussorah as related in the 'Bussorah Diary'; the delivery by Isaac Houssaye of the ‘Books of Acco[un]ts [and] Papers of Publick Registers’ and the ‘Invoice of Treasure’ on board the
Victoria; the presentation by the Dutch East India Company of the ‘Bills drawn by the Gentlemen at Spahaun’; a letter from Dr Arthur Forbes to the Supravisor on the ‘Chest of Physick’ that came by the Galley; the demand of Governor Mirza Mahmud Salley Beg [Mirza Muhammad Zal Beg] from the Supravisor, on behalf of Sultan Mahmud Mirza, of goods belonging to Mirza Zeid Alley; the charges brought by Isaac Houssaye and William May against Captain Martin French; the departure of the
Good Neighbourunder the command of Master James Ford for Bombay, and the present sent to 'Cojee Salim [Haji Salim] Governor of a Village in ye Road to Carmania’; the arrival of the Brigantine
Princecommanded by Master John Garland from Bengall [Bengal]; the reports that Shaw Ashoph(e) [Shah Ashraf Ghilza’i] had ‘intirely routed’ the Turks outside Isfahan; the answer of Martin French to the charges of Houssaye and May; the march of Shaw Thomas [Shah Tahmasb II Safavi] against Shaw Achmat with 30,000 men; the order for the suspension of Martin French and his removal as ‘one of ye Councill in the Gulph’; a report from the Noquedah of a ‘Small Dingee’ about an English ship cast away off Muscatt Harbour; the arrival of the Tellicherry Grab with a ‘Gruff Cargoe & a few Bengall Peice Goods’; the dispatch of letters to Mr Williamson, Mr Veitch and Captain West with the Frigate
Deane;a letter from the Governor of Lhor conveying ‘ye regard he has for the English Nation’, and enclosing a letter by ‘Shah Ashophe from Spahaun relating to the Engagement he had with the Turks’; the permission for French to travel to Bussorah to signal resentment at the ‘ill usage’ of the Company; the arrival of the boatswain of the
Marygold, confirming the news about the English ship cast away at Muscatt; the ‘Gen[era]l advices’ passed on to the
Ballsby the
Britanniaat a meeting near Bombay; the arrival of the
Britanniaunder Captain John Benson, after having captured a Grab from Muscatt, making it necessary to induce ‘ye Imaum to believe We are not Aggressors & prevent any ill Consequences’; a remonstrance with ‘Abde Rahman Bashaw [Abd al-Rahman Pasha] of Bussorah’; the withdrawal of protection from Cossum the Wool Merchant [Qasim Beg Tajir Kermani]; the remonstrance with Mahomet Eman Caun, Athamdoulet [Muhammad Amin Khan, I’timad al-Dawlah]; a resolution requiring Houssaye’s compliance with an order for the repayment of 150,100 Shahis; a letter from the Supravisor to the Imaum of Muscatt, ‘concerning his Vessels [
Futtehoyand
Sabahoy Cayree, i.e.
Fattahiand
Sabahal-Khayri]’, and the arrival of the
Jamesunder command of Captain Bizell [Charles Bissell] en route to Bussorah.Physical description: The foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 43; 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.