'Selections from State Papers, Bombay, regarding the East India Company's Connection with the Persian Gulf, with a Summary of Events, 1600-1800' [‎66r] (131/540)

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Our Hon ble Masters ship Pelham arrived the 31st March, on whom came
Mr. Peacock to receive the goods left there by Captain Milne and himself the
year before, which before the rece't of our orders they had permitted him
to ship off ; for tho' the Persians think the Northumberland a dear Bargain
they had not given the gentleman any reason to apprehend they expect any
satisfaction from the Hon'ble Company, and as the goods were perishable
they had declared the protests given last year still continued in full force,
they hope their permitting the goods to be shipt off will not be esteemed any
Ban to the Hon'ble Company's receiving what damages may hereafter accrue. F er8i ^ e f pe ? itioQ
mi -p, n , i -i ^ t 0 assist the Imam
J-lie l ersians neet under the Command of Ijetiffah Caun having on board ^ man against
about five thousand men and fifteen hundred horse sailed the 1st April for subjects,
Corjukhoon lying about half way between Gombroon and Muscat. It is
given out that this force is sent at the Imaum's request to reduce his rebell
subjects to his obedience tho' it is thought if they find it practicable they
will make themselves masters of that Port bring the Imaum under subjection
to the King of Persia. Our gentlemen were not called upon for their assist
ance in this expedition, but the Beglerbeggy was so pressing with the Dutch
that they thought proper to lend one of their ships. The advice
mentioned in their last that a parcel of cloth was brought to Carmania by
way of Astracan is confirmed, and if this new trade increases it must cause a WoolleQ cloth
rivalship between our Hon'ble Masters and them who shall sell cheapest byw^of Per8Ia
They have not advice that the parcel of Woolen goods they sent up in Pebruary A8trakaa •
was arrived in Carmnnia, which delay they think is occasioned by the
Chanwardars Beats being seized to carry provisions and necessarys to the
camp before Candahar. The French have this year brought some Broad Cloth
which they sold cheap ; and the Broker Often a local commercial agent in the Gulf who regularly performed duties of intelligence gathering and political representation. being apprehensive he cannot possibly
get off the cloth and perpets lying by him before a ship may arrive from
hence he hopes, we will not send a farther parcel till he has cleard his ware
house. They have one hundred ninety seven loads of wool in the house and
few more on the road, but great numbers of their beasts being been seized
for the Kings service they are obliged to advance money for hiring others to
bring down the wool they hope to be able to purchase only the Red wool
within the limited price, as the Dutch have this season given the like orders
with us; tho' Mr. Savage advises them four or five foreign Merchants were
come to purchase that commodity, being as they judge for the Aleppo Market.
The King having beat the Ophgoons they had retired into the Castle, and he
was then besieging then in Candahar. That the Beglerbeggy arrived at
Gombroon the 13th February having given many fair promises that nobody
should be oppressed or molested which however he very ill kept notwithstand- The
ing the presents made him by all ranks upon his arrival; They deferr'd doing Beglerbeggy
so till they found they should highly disoblige him, and create a certain Gombroon,
impediment to passing the Eogums if they longer delay'd, and considering ^ 0 C eptag O to ^ogum,,
the rank and power they gave him as little as possible which was one hundred
and fifty tomands; They advise that he has since renew'd all the remaining
Bogums except that for the one thousand tomands out of the customs which
he told them they must not except as the same was not consistent with the
King's dignity, and we were amply rewarded for former services and the
utmost they could bring him to grant with all their arguments and persua
sions was a Rogum for one third part of the Customs on the freight brought
by our own ships, wherein they got inserted that at such times they shall have
a person in the Custom house and the Merchants who took freight on cur