'Precis Containing Information in regard to the First Connection of the Hon'ble East India Company with Turkish Arabia, as far as the Same Can Be Traced from the Records of the Bombay Government, together with the Names of the Several British Residents and Political Agents Who Have Been Stationed at Bagdad [Baghdad] and Bussorah [Basra] between A.D. 1646 and 1846, accompanied by Other Information' [‎19r] (39/226)

WITH TURKISH ARABIA A term used by the British officials to describe the territory roughly corresponding to, but not coextensive with, modern-day Iraq under the control of the Ottoman Empire. —1646 TO 1846. 7
17. ^ The next document on the records of Government, in which
mention is made of Bussorah, or the East India Company^ " Agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. in
Persia," occurs in the following extract from the proceedings' of the
Chief in Council at Surat, dated the 21st January 1661:— 0
" Thc A S enc y of Persia, through the death of Mr. Foster and the return of agent
Buckendg, being unfurnished with a person qualified for so eminent an employinent,
we have made choice of Mr. Richard Cradock to succeed and of Mr. George Cranmer
to be his second, and Mr. William Kolt, a young man well deserving to" 5 accompany
them, and be employed as the said Mr. Cradock shall find him capable. A consider
able quantity of Scinda goods being returned hither from Persia and JBussora as impro
per lor those markets, we conclude it most for the benefit of our employers to send
them to the market of Mocha."
The following Commission was
" at the same time issued by the Chief in Council at Surat to Mr. Kichard Cradock
appointing him the Hon'ble East India Company's Agent in Persia. We beins suffi'
ciently experienced of your abilities in the despatch of our masters' affairs in those
employments you have been put upon, have now concluded and appointed you Atrent
in Persia, death having deprived us of those friends we sent thither the last year we
also order Mr. George Cranmer your second, and to keep the accounts yourself having
constant inspection into them that there may be no mistake, nor delay as the' former
years have produced nothing but promises—no performances ; that we are ignorant of
those passages most necessary to be known, which irregular course "we desire
tor the future you will prevent to be practised; this we have hinted first, because of so
much concernment, it being three years almost, since we received any account, though
Mr. Mower, who is at this time (we know nothing to the contrary) there resident, and
fiat n hut little of our masters business to hinder the accomplishing of the *
which is so material, and though Mr. Flower may expect the quality of second vet for
this mam reason and some other, we confer it on Mr. George Cranmer, he to succeed
as third, or leave Persia for Surat.
" We shall now come to acquaint you with what is needful, in order to the answering
of our Hon ble employers desires and our expectation. The Hopewell, we havinj
full laden with freight goods, the great cabin is reserved for your &c. accommodation
therefore desire your repair on board upon receipt of these, hoping in a month's time
it will please God to arrive you safe to the Port of Gombroon, upon which give notice
unto Mr. Mower, requiring his repair aboard unto you, informing you how affairs
stand, and that he return to inform the Governor Shawbunder and' officers of the
own of your arrival, and in what quality; that as accustomary they may give vou a
respective reception, which done, their visit will follow, their custom being to be punc
tual in ceremonies, which by you must be returned, and will be soon passed over In
the meantime, you may be unlading the ship of her freight goods, and if a considerable
freight or Bengala and Merchlepatam is procurable, to clear her at Oemus and send
her thither ; we say a considerable freight, that is more than can be probably procured
for burat, which we would not have less valued than 300 tomaunds, if she proceeds
to those parts ; but if she return hither, you need not make her clean but dispeed her
with what freight procurable so soon as possible, and hope in ten days she may be
despatched; you must not forget a large proportion of wine and some fruit. In her we
shall expect a portion of customs so much as you can persuade the Shawbunder to part
with ; the practice of the Persians for these many years hath been still to cut off as
much of the Hon ble Company s due as they could persuade our friends there to rest
silent with, for which reason and many other not here mentioned, the Hon'ble Companv
reso ved of another course to betaken with them besides fair words, which yet hath not
been put in practice, yet they fear what they deserve and hope, is being civilly uro-ed
and the advantage made use of may cause them to comply, and beget a more open
hand than formerly, so that we shall not expect less than one thousand tomaunds
though got what you can ; four hundred or more on this ship we desire you to return'
Kobert Manly we have now entertained into wages in the Company's service at si*
tomaunds salary yearly; he hath been a constant servant in the house, and now we
send mm to wait on you, he being not only furnished with language enough that
qualifies him for employment as Interpreter, but experience in trading with the Khan,
* This word cannot be deciphered.