'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' [‎17v] (36/226)

4 PRECIS OF INFORMATION REGARDING CONNECTION OF E. I. COMPY.
10. The above extracts shew that previous to the year 1630 the
Hon'ble East India Company had not only established factories at
Surat, which was the principal station, to which all the others were
subordinate, and at Agra, Ahmedabad, Broach, Brodera, Cambay, and
Masulipatam, but also at Gombroon, now generally called Bunder Abbass,
at the entrance of the Persian Crulf, and also in 1 ersia, the factors
stationed in that country being, as would appear from subsequent extracts,
which will be given in this Summary, subordinate to the Chief in Coun
cil of the Factory An East India Company trading post. at Gombroon, who again were subordinate to the
Factory An East India Company trading post. at Surat.
11. In a minute recorded by Mr. Francis Warden, when a member
of this Government, dated the 8th October 1824, the following brief
account is given of the circumstances under which a factory An East India Company trading post. was first
established by the Hon'ble East India Company at Bussorah
" In order that we might retire to some situation in the Gulf, where we might be
beyond the reach of the oppressions which our factories experienced in the kingdom of
Persia, we established a factory An East India Company trading post. at Bussorah in 1639-40, when we obtained a license
from the Turkish Bashaw An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. to land our goods under more favourable circumstances
than any other European nations enjoyed."
Unfortunately there are no records in existence in the possession of
this Government for the period intervening between the years 16-30 and
1645. It is therefore impossible to ascertain from what source
Mr. Warden obtained the above information. It is however evident from
the following letter, dated the 1st December 1645, which was addressed
by two joint factors at Bussorah to the Chief in Council at Surat,* that
the East India Company had, previous to the latter date, a factory An East India Company trading post. at
Bussorah. This letter is to the following effect:—
" Worshipful and our much respected friends!
" Since Mr. Cranmer and Company's friends leaving Bussorah, little or nothing
hath happened, only we have made sale of a small quantity of the Company's goods to
the amount of Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. 81,96,850. The markets are so bad, and buyers so few, that we
doubt the major part of our Hon'ble employers' goods will be remaining till the
beginning of next monsoon.
" The Pattamar we despatched the 26th October, with those letters directed to our
Hon'ble employers, which we hope are safe arrived with the Consul, to whom we wrote
a few lines to desire him to send them forward by the first conveyance. The Dutch
have made sale of their whole magazine of goods, which amounts not to more than
35 or 36 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. at most, they paying customs Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. 2,275. The trumpeter, which
run away from the Endeavour 20 days after her departure from hence, we had notice
of his ranging the streets of Bussorah, when myself and William Weale, looking out for
him, found him in the house of one who some three years past was servant to our
Hon'ble employers, but now a merchant. We have prevailed with the Dutch that he
might take his passage on them to Gombroon, where they are to deliver him into the
hands of Mr. Haynes, who will take further orders for his voyaging towards you. By
two Padres, who lately arrived here, we came to understand the Prince of Orange
is dead, and that the young Prince, his son, hath made peace with the King of Spain;
that the lower Dutch" assisted our King,t and that he had gained a great victory over
the Parliament's force, and was marching to London.
» Note .—Being seventeen years previous to the Island of Bombay being ceded by
Portugal to the crown of England as part of the dowry of the Infanta Catherine on her
marriage with His Majesty Charles II., and 22 years previous to Bombay being made over
by the King to the East India Company,
f King Charles the 1st.