Abstract: Journal of the voyage of the East India Company ship
Blessingfrom Poullambin Point [Palembang, Sumatra, Indonesia] to Surrat [Surat] and England, 1631-33 (dates given are for arrival unless otherwise indicated): left Poullambin Point, 16 August 1631; 28 November 1631 Swalley Hole [Suvali, Surat]; 26 February 1631 [New Style date 26 February 1632], Gombroone [Bandar Abbas]; 8 April 1632, Suvali; July 1632, Morushes [Mauritius]; 12 November 1632, Cape of Good Hope; 10 December 1632, Santaleena [St Helena]; 22 April 1633, the Downs.The ship was at Mauritius from July to October 1632.Inscribed on the front (inner) cover of the volume: 'The Blessing', and 'Name of the Ship does not appear' (folio 2).The journal contains regular dated entries, with navigational readings and notes in the left hand margin.The journal records: navigational information; weather; references to the other ships with which the
Blessingsailed in convoy; and sightings of Dutch ships.The journal employs Old Style (Julian calendar) dates only.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 42; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. The volume includes a sequence of blank pages, ff 30-40, which have not been digitised. Pagination: the file also contains a pagination sequence.
Abstract: Journal of the voyage of the
Blessingfrom England to Surett [Surat], and back, 16 March 1629 [New Style date 16 March 1630] to 30 April 1633. The journal contains daily entries with date and annotations in the margin.The journal records: navigational information; weather; sea conditions; the ballasting, supplying, and provisioning of the ship; the maintenance of the ship; transport of East India Company officers and soldiers; details of the other ships with which the
Blessingsailed in convoy; contact with other British ships; sightings of country ships and other vessels; occasional remarks on encounters with birds, fish, and other marine animals; commodities carried; private trade; deaths of crewmembers; and general remarks.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 97; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.The volume includes a sequence of blank pages, ff 86-95, which have not been digitised.Pagination: the file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
Abstract: This volume consists of a journal kept by Richard Swanley of journeys on board the East India Company ships the
Jonasand the
Lyon[
Lion].The journal contains the following:Daily entries (although there are not entries for every day) mainly recording winds and the weather, and the course and progress of the shipMonthly tables recording the following: day of the month, course, leagues, winds, latitude, longitude, East or West, variation, and Easterly or Westerly (although again there are not entries for every day of the month, and there are not entries for every month).The volume includes Swanley’s journal for a journey from Tilbury to Surratt [Surat] (folios 6 to 24), with Swanley initially serving as Master’s Mate in the
Jonas, commanded by Captain John Weddell. The
Jonasset sail from Tilbury on 17 March 1620 [New Style date 1621], with the
Whaleand the
Dolphin, and was later joined by the
Lyon[
Lion]. Swanley records events including the ship anchoring at St Augustine’s Bay on 23 July 1621, and Swally [Suvali, near the city of Surat] on 26 September 1621, after which the ship anchored at Jasquis [Jask] on 14 November 1621, and Kishme [Qishm] on 23 January 1621 [1622]. The entries in this part of the journal are dated 19 March 1620 [1621] to 27 December 1622.This is followed by Swanley recording that they set sail from Qishm on 4 February 1621 [1622], and that on 7 February 1621 [1622], Swanley joined the
Lionat Combrom [Bandar Abbas, also spelled Combroom in this volume], bound for Surat, with the
Roseand the
Richard, anchoring near the Bar of Surat on 27 February 1621 [1622] (folios 25 to 26). The entries in this part of the journal are dated 4 February 1621 [1622] to 27 February 1621 [1622].Following this, Swanley records the journey from the Port of Swaley [Suvali, near Surat city, also spelled Swalley in this volume] to the Red Sea in the
Lion, accompanied by the
Roseand the
Richard, with five merchants, and back again to Suvali (folios 27 to 36). Swanley records events including leaving the Port of Suvali on 24 March 1621 [1622], Socratore [Socotra] being seen on 2 May 1622, land on the Coast of Arabia being seen on 22 May 1622, and the ship anchoring at Mocha on 9 June 1622. The entries in this part of the journal are dated 14 March 1621 [1622] to 27 December 1622.Swanley then records his journey from Surat to England in the
Jonas, with the
Londonand
Lion(folios 38 to 53). He records setting sail from the Port of Suvali on 18 December 1622, and other events such as the Comoro Islands being seen on 31 January 1622 [1623], and the ship anchoring at St Helena on 8 April 1623. The entries in this part of the journal are dated 18 December 1622 to 22 July 1623.The volume includes some annotations in pencil from a later date.Physical description: Foliation: the main foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the front cover with 1, and terminates at the inside back cover with 56; 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 present in parallel between ff 4-53; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the bottom right corner of the recto side of each folio.
Abstract: Journal of the East India Company ship,
Red Dragon(Captain William Keeling), kept by John Hearne and William Finche. The journal covers the ship's voyage from England to Sierra Leona [Sierra Leone], Madagascar, and Zokatora [Socotra]. The ship's passage from Zokatora to Bantam [Banten] is not covered by the journal. Dates of landing are as follows: 15 April 1607, Plymouth; 6 August 1607, Sierra Leona; 18 December 1607, Saldania [Saldanha]; 19 February 1608, St Augustine Bay, Madagascar; 21 April 1608, Zokatora.The journal consists of almost daily entries with information such as course, winds, weather, navigational data, land sightings, and other general remarks. When the ship is at anchor the entries tend to be longer, with details of geography, people encountered, trade, and other miscellaneous information. The margin contains names of the deceased and, written in a different hand and probably made a later date, notes on the main text. Throughout the volume there are small pen sketches of islands and coastlines observed on the voyage (folios 6, 8, 16, 19, 23, 24, 25).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 47; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. The volume includes a sequence of blank pages, ff 34-46, which have not been digitised.
Abstract: Journal of the voyage of the East India Company ship the
Discoveryfrom England to Surat, Persia [Iran] and Java (Captain John Vian), 7 April 1626 to 14 November 1628. The
Discoverydeparted from the Downs on 16 April 1626, and the journal covers the ship's visits to the following destinations (dates are those of the arrival, and both Old Style and New Style dates are given): 30 July 1626, Johanna [Anjouan]; 15 October 1626, Bombay [Mumbai]; 24 October 1626, Suratt [Surat]; 18 January 1626/7, Gomoroone [Bandar-e ʻAbbās]; March 1626/7, Surratt; 27 May 1627, Battavia [Jakarta]; October 1627, Surratt; 12 May 1628, Cape [of Good Hope]; 15 June 1628, St Hellena [Saint Helena]; 25 October 1628, Downs.The Journal consists of daily entries covering navigational information, winds, weather, contact with other East India Company ships and English men-of-war, sightings of other vessels, deaths of crewmembers, commodities carried, and general remarks.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 69; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.Pagination: the file also contains an original printed pagination sequence.
Abstract: This bundle consists of summaries, and partial transcripts, of secret letters received from both the Governor General of India (22 September 1856, Numbers 41-44) and the Government of Bombay (30 September and 3 October 1856, Numbers 71 and 74-76). The amount of detail for each entry therefore varies.The despatches from the Governor General (folios 55-68) cover the following topics: the submission of the Bussa Kheyl Afreedes [Khel Afridi] to the British authorities; operations against Karens led by Min Soung; an offer by Eesa Khan [Isa Khan Bardorani, Minister-regent of Herat] to hold Herat on behalf of Britain in return for military aid against Persia; obstacles in sending a British Indian force, or British officers, to aid Herat; Futteh Khan's report on his mission to Afghanistan carrying the Anglo-Afghan Treaty of Friendship (1855); discussion over the composition of a military expedition to be sent against Persia; and arrangements for sending the expedition from Bombay.The section from Bombay (folios 69-79) is concerned with the supply of British arms, ammunition, and finance for Dost Mahomed [Dost Mohammad Khan, Amir of Afghanistan]; preparations by Dost Mahomed to return from Candahar [Kandahar] to Cabool [Kabul]; Persian attacks against Herat; information on Bushire; the survey of Perim island in the Red Sea by Lieutenant Lamb; and recommendations for the occupation of the island for the establishment of naval forces and navigational aids.Physical description: 1 item (25 folios)
Abstract: The file contains correspondence and other papers received by the Residency in the Persian Gulf during 1840. The principal correspondents are Commodore George Barnes Brucks, Commanding the Naval Squadron in the Persian Gulf, Commander Anthony H Nott of the Honourable Company’s Brigantine
Tigris, and Captain Atkins Hamerton, Political Agent at Muscat from May 1840.Key subjects covered by the correspondence are:Captain Hamerton’s reconnaissance to Bryeemee [Al Buraymī] in January 1840. This includes diary entries for the period 27 November 1839 to 6 January 1840, covering Hamerton’s preparations for his trip at Sharjah (folios 1-10), and a report on Hamerton’s trip to Sharjah, Al Buraymī and Saha [Sohar?], containing descriptions of Al Buraymī, its fort, defences, population, resources, communications (folios 28-39);Discussions between British officials and naval officers relating to the mooring of vessels in the Bushire roads, the recruitment of pilots at Karrack [Jazīreh-ye Khārk] and rates of pay for pilots;Affairs and incidents at Bahrain (spelt Bahrein throughout) and the Arab coast, reported by Brucks;Correspondence from Hamerton, now in his post as Consul and Political Agent at Muscat, on proposals for cooperation between the British fleet in the Persian Gulf, and the Imam of Muscat’s [Sa‘id bin Sulṭān] fleet, including a description of the Sa‘id bin Sulṭān’s fleet (folios 48-51);Correspondence relating to the slave trade in the Persian Gulf, including ‘reports of guard’, forwarded by Commander Nott of the
Tigris, containing details of the slave found on vessels flying under the Muscat or Arab flag, with details of the numbers of slaves found, gender and age, their origins, price, the duty paid on them, and profits made from the slave trade at Muscat, Bushire and Bussorah [Basra] (folios 80, 86-90, 100-06).Physical description: Foliation: There is a foliation sequence, which is circled in pencil, in the top right corner of the recto of each folio. It begins on the first folio after the front cover, on number 1, and ends on the last folio before the back cover, on number 109. Foliation anomalies: f 3 is followed by f 3A; f 8 is followed by f 8A; f 44 is followed by f 44A; f 82 is followed by f 82A.Pagination: There is an incomplete pagination sequence, which is written in ink, in the top right corners of the rectos and in the top left corners of the versos.
Abstract: This file concerns the conclusion of the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation with the Sultan of Muscat, Sayyid Fayṣal bin Turkī Āl Bū Sa‘īd on 19 March 1891. The new treaty was modelled on a recently concluded treaty with Zanzibar. It superseded the Treaty of Commerce of May 1839 and its main purpose was to shut out French interests and influence in Muscat.Correspondence in the volume is between the British Political Resident in the Persian Gulf at Bushire and the Political Agent at Muscat, as well as British officials in the Foreign Department of the Government of India, the Foreign Office and at Zanzibar. There are also copies of correspondence from the Sultan of Muscat.The file has an index on folio 2A. Subjects within the file include: the exclusion of Cape of Good Hope from the Treaty (folios 88, 94); importation of arms and ammunition (folio 37); the expiration of the Treaty (folios 108, 112-114); British protection for Goanese subjects under the Treaty (folios 144-148, 154-156); modifications to the Treaty (folios 119-120); accession to Natal (folios 88, 94); accession to Newfoundland (folios 95-96); draft of the Treaty (folios 8-17, 22-31); draft protocol (folios 74-77); accession to Queensland (folios 95-96); draft of Revised Treaty (1904-1905) (folios 138-170); Separate Declaration by Sultan as to non-cession of his dominions (folios 54-57, 61-62); treaty executed but not-ratified (folios 49-53); Zanzibar Commercial Treaty (1886) (folios 18-21, 40-48).Physical description: Foliation: Foliation numbers are circled in pencil, in the top right corner of the recto of each folio. They begins on the title page, on number 1B, and end on the last folio of writing, on number 170. The file contains the following foliation amendments: folios 1A-B; folios 2A-C; folios 4A-B; folios 78A-B; folios 79A-B.
Abstract: Journal of the voyage of the
Rooke(also spelled
Rook), from England to Suratt [Surat] and China (Captain George Symons, also spelled Simmonds and Simmons), 1699-1702. The
Rookewas at Gumberoon (also referred to as Bunderrabassa) [Bandar Abbas] from 12-29 December 1701.The Journal consists of daily entries recording navigational information, winds, weather, contact with English ships, sightings of other vessels, and general remarks.The Journal includes a sketch of the ship in the harbour at Maderas [Madeira] (folio 4), a report of an incident of piracy (folio 6), the report that a crewmember had apparently drowned himself (folio 13), sketches of seabirds and whales (folios 14-15), a sketch of the ship in a storm (folio 16), a sketch of a Maldive boat (folio 25), a sketch of the ship at Quylon [Quilon] (folio 27), sketches of coastline, a sketch of the ship at Carwarr [Karwar] (folio 29), a sketch of the ship at Goa (folio 30), a descriptive account entitled 'Some Descriptions of the Kingdom of China' (folios 48-49), and a description of Bandar Abbas (folios 80-81).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 87; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio. The volume includes a sequence of blank pages, ff 88-125, which have not been digitised.
Abstract: Journal of the voyage of the East India Company ship
Royal Jamesby Richard Monck from England to Surratt [Surat, also written in the journal as Surrat], and back to England between 27 March 1624 and 12 October 1626 (Captains John Weddell and Richard Swanley). The journal employs Old Style (Julian) dates only.The journal consists of tables of entries recording navigational information under the following column headings: dayes [days], course, leagues, departures, longitude, E or W, variations wendes [winds] and in addition general remarks. The journal mentions contact with other East India Company ships (i.e.
Blessing, William), contact with Dutch East India Company ships, and contact with Duch [Dutch] fleet and Portuguese fleet. It also mentions carried goods. The entries contain some drawings of faces on folio 14. In addition, the journal contains consultations on the
Royal Jamestaken during 1624 (folios 38-51).The journal mentions the fact that from Surratt the ship went to Gombroone [Bandar-e ʻAbbās, also written in the journal as Gumborone, Gambroon, Gombroone, and Comorund], where Commander John Weddell joined a Hollande [Dutch] fleet to fight the Portuguese fleet. The entry gives a brief account of the battle, which lasted for several days, and mentions the total number of deaths and injuries in the English fleet (folios 7-10).The ship's route is as follows (dates given are for arrival unless otherwise indicated): Downs, 27 March 1624 (folio 2); Cape of Good Hope, 17 July 1624 (folio 4); St Larrince [St Lawrence, i.e. Madagascar], 21 August 1624 (folio 4); Mohelia [Moheli, Comoros], 31 August 1624 (folio 4); Surratt, 12 October 1624 (folio 6); Land of Persia, 21 December 1624 (folio 8); Gombroone , 28 December 1624 (folio 9); Java, 5 June 1625 (folio 13); Bantum [Bantem], 6 August 1625 (folio 16); Gombroone, 18 November 1625 (folio 16); Swally [Suvali], 12 April 1626 (folio 18); Cape [Cape of Good Hope], 8 July 1626 (folio 21); Santta Lena [Saint Helena], 6 August 1626 (folio 21).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 52; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto side of each folio.Pagination: the file also contains an original pagination sequence.The volume includes a sequence of blank pages, ff 23-36, which have not been digitised
Abstract: Journal of the voyage of the East India Company ship
Marthafrom Bumbay [Bombay/Mumbai] to England, 1702-03 (dates given are for arrival unless otherwise indicated): left Bombay, 7 May 1702; 19 June 1702, Mauritius; 8 November 1702, St Hellena [Saint Helena]; 25 November 1703, Asenshon [Ascension]; 29 December 1702, Berbadoes [Barbados]; 14 April 1703, Ereefe [Erith].The
Marthawas at Mauritius from 19 June to 7 September 1702, and at Barbados from 29 December 1702 to 2 February 1702 [New Style date 2 February 1703].The journal was compiled by Samuel Goodman (described as Cap [Captain] of the
Martha, alongside the captains of the other ships with which the
Marthasailed in convoy, on folio 33).The journal is a continuation of the journal of the voyage of the
Marthafrom England to Bombay, 1700-02 (IOR/L/MAR/A/CXLVI).The journal contains regular entries, in seven columns (where indicated): [date (and occasional remarks)]; [remarks]; H [hour]; K [knots]; F [fathoms]; C [courses]; W [winds]. When the ship is in harbour, the entries consist of date and remarks only.The journal records: navigational information; winds; weather; sea conditions; sightings of other vessels; the names of the ships with which the
Marthasailed in convoy; the decision to sail for Barbados because of war with France and Spain (folio 33); entries marked 'sik', with no other information, indicating that Goodman was sick at the time (folios 51-54); and the removal of the corpse of the ship's original Captain [Thomas] Raynes [Raines], on arrival at Erith (folio 62).The journal also includes two sketches of coastline: folio 12, and folio 15 (Mauritius).From 2 February 1702/03, the journal employs Old Style (Julian calendar) dates, but from 8 February 1702/03 it is double-dated, with both the Old Style and New Style (Gregorian calendar) date.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1, and terminates at the last folio with 62; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located at the top middle of the recto side of each folio.Condition: the volume is extensively damaged at the edges, with consequent minor losses of text and navigational data.
Abstract: There is an original title on the front cover of the volume, but it is largely illegible; the title is taken from the rebound spine of the volume.Journal of the voyage of the
Mary(referred to as the 'Marie') from England to Surratt [Surat] (Captain James Slade), 1636-40: 14 April 1636, the Downes [Downs]; 12 July 1636, Cape Bonesperance [Cape of Good Hope]; 6 August 1636, Augusteene Bay [St Augustine's Bay]; 26 August 1636, Johanna [Anjouan]; 4 October 1636, Surat; 25 December 1636, Gombroone [Bandar Abbas]; 28 January 1637, Surat; 21 March 1637, Bandar Abbas; 26 April 1637, Surat; 18 May-13 September 1637, Bombay; 30 November 1637, St. Thomaye [St Thomé]; 16 January 1638, Pullecatt [Pulicat]; 31 January 1638, Callicutt [Calicut]; 12 February 1638, Goa; 4 March 1638, Surat; 14 May 1638, Moka [Mocha]; 23 August 1638, Aden; 24 September 1638, Surat; 5 May 1639, Cape Bonesperance [Cape of Good Hope]; forced back to St Augustine's Bay (arrives 3 July 1639); 29 December 1639, Downs.The Journal was kept by William Bayley. The
Marywas at Bandar Abbas from 25 to 26 December 1636, and 21 March to 11 April 1637, and at Mocha and Aden, between May and August 1638.The Journal contains daily entries recording navigational information, winds, weather, details of punishments inflicted on members of the crew for various offences, deaths of crewmembers, the provisioning of the ship, and general remarks.Physical description: Foliation: the foliation sequence (used for referencing) commences at the first folio with 1 and terminates at the last folio with 95; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the middle top 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.Condition: the volume has suffered considerable damage at the edges of each folio, with consequent loss of the ends of many lines of text on the right-hand sides of the rectos, and the partial and complete loss of many entries in the left-hand margins of the versos.