'Selections from State Papers, Bombay, regarding the East India Company's Connection with the Persian Gulf, with a Summary of Events, 1600-1800' [‎90r] (179/540)

101
Wo. &C* was not only necessary but quite unavoidable.
If your Wo &c* when you supply the soldiers with arms could spare a
Couple Barrels of fine Gunpowder, and a dozen of Europe Padlocks, as also a
thousand or fifteen hundred Flints they would be very Convenient, these
particulars being very seldom to be got for money in this place.
So long as the Shotters have remained here they have been allow'd two
Shahees a day for their provision, the reason of my detaining the two that
first arrived was the hopes I was in of their proving Serviceable in overseeing
the Bricklayers and Carpenters employed in Building, and now upon their
departure I have advanced each of them five rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. for their Travelling
expences.
I am with the greatest Deference and Respect,
Rt. Worshipful Sir & Sirs,
Your most obedient humble Servant,
FRANCIS WOOD.
Bunderick,
The 3% May 1756.
Return of three shotters.
LXXVII.
From— Francis Wood , Agent for Bunderick, to Alexr. Douglas, Esq ®, Agent fee-
Council, at Gombroon.
Right Wl Sir & Sirs.
Under the 18th Instant I addressed your W^ &ci!, in a letter of advice Wood fean Ms
from Bussorah accompanying Bills of Exchange for four thousand Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. ^ withdraws ed
drawn in favour of i \bram Gee, Esqi, and Captain Niman Lowis, from whom ^ /om ^ an( ^ ar Rig-
I was obliged to take up that sum to provide sundry necessary articles for murder^hL 08
completing the Hon'ble Company's House at Bunderick, but as your Wi KeinfiiT
&c^ have not as yet been acquainted with mv reasons for eoins* to Bussnmh i e8tro y st h e B -i.
j j.* \ t i n i i ^ ' . o a 11 Company's house
(this second time) 1 shall now lay them before you in as few words as the at Bandar %•
circumstances will admit.
The 8^ ultimo a letter from Baron Kniphauson cautioning me to be
aware of the impending danger, for that he himself had at last come to a
Resolution of Chastising the Meer and I might expect Bunderick to be
involved in troubles very suddenly, upon reading this I immediately began to
Consider what other advantage the Dutch could promise themselves from
coming to an open rupture with Meer ITossan than preventing an English
settlement's being established here, but could find none of any weight or im
portance, and recollecting the many low underhand practices they had before
made use of to obtain their ends. I began to suspect, and indeed to be very
much afraid their intentions against me were bad, therefore I judged it advis
able for my own safety to retire from hence for a few days, and return when
the storm was over, rather than to attempt the danger of falling into the hands
of his people, who are more abjects than slaves, and from the slightest hint
would be encouraged to dispatch me, which might have been easily performed
in such a manner that my death could be laid to no particular person, the
want of arms for my people also was some inducement to my taking that step,
as well as the necessity I was in for Timber and Stores to finish the Building,
which I was very anxious to have in a posture of Defence before the Dutch
party in favor of Shaik Ally Mossoom and Meer Manna might come to a
head sufficient to disposses Meer Hassain of the Government, but to my great
concern and disappointment, when I returned (which was the day before