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.

Content

The volume is in the form of a diary recorded by Alexander Douglas, Chief Agent of Gombroon [Bandar-e ʻAbbās] Factory An East India Company trading post. . 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 invoices
• Records of letters to commanders of the EIC's ships along with sailing orders
• Records 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 Aleppo
• Reports received from the Roman Catholick [Catholic] missionaries at Spahaun [Eṣfahān] about Hossan Caun Cadjar [Moḥammad Ḥasan Khān Qājār] imposing tax on the Christian inhabitants there
• News 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 One of the ruling families of the United Arab Emirates; also used to refer to a confederation of seafaring Arabs led by the Qāsimī tribe from Ras al Khaima. , 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 tax
• Reports 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 bills
• Records 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 An East India Company trading post. '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 Arabs
• Records of the activities of French and Dutch vessels
• Records of traded commodities such as coffee, sugar, candy, iron, spices, lead, tin, horse covering, carpets and cushions
• News of Carem Caun [Karīm Khān Zand, Vakil Elected representative or attorney, acting in legal matters such as contracting marriage, inheritance, or business; a high-ranking legal official; could also refer to a custodian or administrator. of Persia] marching towards Bushire [Būshehr, also written as Bourchier], Bunderick, and Bussorah
• Reports of the state of affairs in Bengal [also written as Bengall]
• The enmity between Nasseir Caun and Carem Caun
• Narrative of the loss of the Phoenix sloop
• Reports of the British retaking Calcutta [Kolkata] by force
• News of Sharrook Caun getting married.

The diary includes records of letters exchanged between the Factory An East India Company trading post. 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 Portfield related to the Factory An East India Company trading post. (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 Warren ketch, the Success , the Neptune galley, 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 An East India Company trading post. repairs.

Extent and format

1 volume (87 folios)

Arrangement

The volume includes one diary that includes a table of contents (folios 2 verso The back of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'v'. - 4 recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. ) recording the main events and their sequence in the diary. The diary itself is numbered 1-161, which corresponds to folios 5-85. The papers are arranged in chronological order from the front to the rear of the diary.

Physical characteristics

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 The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. The foliation sequence does not include the front cover, nor does it include the leading flyleaf.

Written in

English in Latin script

Type

Archival file

Access & Reference

Original held at

British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity.

Access conditions

Unrestricted

Archive reference

IOR/G/29/10

History of this record

Date(s)

4 Aug 1756-31 Jul 1757 (CE, Gregorian)

Subjects

Wool tradeAdministrationVisitsShips

Places

BussorahCharrackBunderickShyrashOrmusJulfarYazdSpahaunCermina

People & organisations

Shaikh of BushireResidentShaikh of JulfārBeglerbeg of AzarbāijānResidentGovernor of Bandar AbbasRuler of the Afghan EmpireGovernor of KermanChief Factory AgentKarīm Khān Zand

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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., British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/G/29/10, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/node/9578> [accessed 7 July 2024]

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