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.
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, Alexander Douglas, and occasionally, the Factory's Council members William Nash and Dymoke Lyster, headed the consultations. They recorded the daily activities, the administrative decisions made, letters sent and received, and the significant political and military operations in the region.Among the main details and issues recorded in the diary are the following:The French seizing the East India Company's ship
SpeedwellReports of the country people attacking the FactoryNews of Shaik Rama [Raḥmah bin Maṭar al-Qāsimī, Shaikh of Julfār, also written as Rama and Rammah] of Julfar [Julfār in what is now Ra's al Khaymah, also written as Gulfar] seizing the effects of Moolah Ally Shaw [Mulla Ali Shah] in Ormuse [[Jazīreh-ye Hormoz, Hormuz, Ormuz, also written as Ormus]The enmity between Carem Caun [Karīm Khān Zand, Vakil of Persia, also written as Carim] and Nasseir Caun [Nāṣir Khān Āl Mazkūr, Shaikh of Būshehr, ruled 1162-1203/c 1749-1788]The Imaum [Imam] of Muscat [also written as Muskatt] trying to entice the French ships ashore either at Muscat or BourkaRecords of the activities of French and Dutch vesselsNasseir Caun sending his brother Jaffar Caun [Ja‘afar Khān] to Afseen [Afsin] to build a fort thereRecords of military engagement between Dutch and English shipsCorrespondence with William Hutchinson, Captain of the ship
Godolphinregarding sailing ordersThe Benimine [Banu Mu‘in] and Charrack Arabs' [Al-'Ali, based at Charrack, modern (Bandar) Charak] confrontation with the Haram and Julfar Arabs over the Island of Kishme [Qishm, Qeshm]Records of a battle at Nandervash [Vandavasi or Wandiwash, south-west India] between French and English forcesThe arrival of wool from Cermina [Kerman, also written as Carmenia]Records of letters received from the Linguist (i.e. interpreter) at Carmenia advising on the amount of wool sent and the billsAccounts of damaged cloth delivered out of the Company's warehouseThe Agent visiting the Cutwal [Kutwal from Persian, means the chief of a fort] of Ormuse castleThe engagement between Nasseir Caun’s troops and the Julfar Arabs at Linga [Bandar-e Lengeh]Letters exchanged between the Factory Agent and the President and Governor-in-Council at Bombay, and Council MembersThe President and Governor-in-Council at Bombay, Richard Bourchier resigning from his post, and Charles Crommelin taking overRecords of the work of the Committee of AccountsThe Bombay Council correspondence with the King of Siam regarding ship
Northumberlandwhich had been seized by his peopleLetters exchanged between the Resident at Bussorah [Basra, also written as Bossarah], William Shaw, and the Factory at GombroonRecords of events taking place in Bussorah and Bagdat [Baghdad]William Shaw’s visit to the Bashaw [Pasha] of Bagdat and the good relations paved between the twoThe delivery of packets to the Court of Directors via Aleppo and Stambole [Istanbul].The diary includes records of the arrival and departure of ships, including the
Dragon, the
Welcome, the
Godolphin, the
Swallow, the
Fort William, the
Royal George, the
Duke of Dorset, the
Drake, the
Calcutta, the
Monmouth, the
Roumaniaand the
Fuzeraboony.Ships sailed mainly to and from Gombroon, Bombay, Bussorah, Bengall [Bengal], Surat, Muscat, Bushier [Būshehr], and Ormuse.The diary includes abstracts of the standard account disbursements for each month. These cover the following: table expenses, garrison charges, house repairs, the Afseen Garden, merchandised charges, extraordinary charges, servants' wages, ships' charges, and hospital charges.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 57; 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.Pagination: the file also contains an original pagination sequence.
Abstract: The volume consists of nine entries in the form of diaries, covering the period between November 1728 and July 1737. The diaries contain records of the Gombroon [Bandar-e ʻAbbās] Factory, a trading post where a number of merchants, or factors resided. The Gombroon Factory, along with those at Carmenia [Kerman], and Spahaun [Isfahan, also written as Spahune] were subordinate to the East India Company at Bombay (the Bombay Presidency). While a chief agent and a council of factors ran the Gombroon Factory, only a broker seems to have been placed at the factories in Isfahan and Kerman.The Gombroon Factory's Chief Agents between 1728 and 1737 were John Geekie, John Horne, and William Cockell respectively. When an Agent was absent, one of the Factory's members took over until his return. Gombroon Factory's members at the time included, but were not limited to, William Cordeaux, Edward Clift, William May, Nathaniel Whitewell, Walter Ray, James Smith, Thomas Waters, and James Verelst.The diaries in the volume record the day-to-day consultations taking place at the Factory. The consultations cover the daily activities, administrative decisions made, letters received and sent, visits to and from the Factory, ships arriving and importing goods, as well as list of cargo loaded on to the ships. Copies of the consultations, letter-books, books of accounts and other annual papers were to be prepared and made ready to be dispatched by sail to the Company’s administrative headquarters in the Bombay Presidency.Among the main details and issues recorded in the volume are the following:The trading activities of the Dutch and the French in the regionThe Persian-Afghan disputeThe Persian-Turk [Ottoman] disputeThe Persian-Arab disputeRecords of local disputes taking place in OmanThe arrival of the wool caphila [caravans] from CarmeniaThe appointments of new agents and members at the Gombroon FactoryThe rebellion of an Arab Shaikh called Ahmett Madannah [Shaikh Ahmad Madani, also written as Ahmud and Ahmatt] and that of the Jubarrah [the Jubarah Arabs]The Factory obtaining rogoms [raqams or ruqums, also written in the diary as rogomms: royal grants confirming specific trading privileges] from the Shah of Persia. The rogoms were originally granted to the Factory during the reign of Shah Abass [‘Abbas] the Great.The volume includes records of certain commodities including Kerman wool, sugar candy, rice, rose water, grain, sugar, copper, cardamom, pepper, turmeric, coffee and ginger. Also present are accounts of salaries, payments, and prices of commodities provided in Persian currencies including Tomands [Toman], Mamoodies [Mahmudis], and Shahees [Shahis].In addition, the volume includes the names and trade activities of a number of ships including but not limited to: the
Britannia, the
Queen Carolina, the
Prince George, the
Robert Galley, the
Kissing Peggyand the
Northumberland. It also includes records of Dutch ships such as the
Jacoband the
Castor and Pollux, and French ships such as the
Unionand the
Four Sisters.The volume also includes the names of places where certain events took place, as well as the names of ports where ships were sailing to and from. They include but are not limited to: Gombroon, Spahaun/Spahune, Shyrash [Shiraz], Bunder Bouchier [Bushire], Bassidore [Basidu], Ormuz [Hormuz, also written as Ormuse], and Busarah [Basra, also written as Bussorah].Most of the diaries in the volume include abstracts of the standard account disbursements for each month. These cover the following: house expenses, garrison charges, the Afseen garden, hospital charges, medicines, marine charges, merchandised charges, house furniture, extraordinary charges, stable charges and servants’ wages.Physical description: The foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 390; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. A previous foliation sequence between ff 125-390, which is also circled, has been superseded and therefore crossed out. The foliation sequence does not include the front and back covers.