'Selections from State Papers, Bombay, regarding the East India Company's Connection with the Persian Gulf, with a Summary of Events, 1600-1800' [‎136r] (271/540)

193
reply to the proposal he was told that We were ready to assist them with Selling
off everything in the Company's Name, and would Send a Company's Servant to
be Present at the Out Cry provided they would deliver to Us the Hogcotts
but could not Accept the Houses & in the manner the Mussaleem During the eighteenth century this was the third most powerful official in Ottoman Iraq (after the Pasha and the Kiya). The title was given specifically to the Governor of Basra. wanted,
As to the Hogcotts they must be first delived to us otherwise ^we know very
well it will be extremly difficult to find Purchasers, nor can we|Engage the
HiL Companys' Name & Credit in such an Affair without Seeing Strict
Justice done, all which ^Ve represented to the iMussaleem & have frequently
ent to him for the Hugetts but somehow or other he always Evades Sending
hem to Us alledging they are Old & few or none remaining, & that when we can
get Purchasers he will Grant them a Certificate in the Grand Si r 5 Name which
will he Sayes Answer the purpose better than the Hugcotts &c where
fore everything is at a stand again though We are constantly pressing Him, as
also the Mombassy on the Subject, and shall continue to Exert ourselves all
that is possible this way till such Time as we may receive Your Hon_i
Directions concerning affairs in general, we shall pursue such a Conduct as
may appear necessary in the Occasion consistent with your Orders.
It is with much Concern We have to advise Your HonJL that on the 18th The Kaab seize the
and 19th Ult ° r the Chaub with Six Gallivatts attacked the Sally & took her & wniLm! 1 Fort
afterwards took the Hon'ble Companys' Yatck as they were both coming this
Eiver from Bushere, after which they Saw the Eort William which Ship perceiv
ing they had taken the Sally Stood back immediately, but the Pilott unfortu
nately running a her ground on the Barr they pursued and took her likewise.
On this unlucky Occasion We immediately applyed to the Mussaleem During the eighteenth century this was the third most powerful official in Ottoman Iraq (after the Pasha and the Kiya). The title was given specifically to the Governor of Basra. for his
Assistance in getting them released, representing to him that as We traded here
under bis Protection & the Chaub was a Subject of the Grand Sigil we could
not make any Application to the Chaub but through his means, when he assured
Us he would do all that laid in his power to comply with our request, and
directly dispatch d a Chokadar with a Letter to the Chaub accompanv'd by one
from the Agent for this purpose, but tho' Several Letters have passed on this
occasion he will not release them pretending that he has Demands on the
Hon'ble Company, arising in the time of Messrs. Shaw & Price as presented
in his Letter now transmitted for the Meera on the Lands belonging to Maygell
& Dates taken from his Subjects. The agent having called upon Mr. Garden to
reply to these allegations of the Chaub, enclosed Your Hon ^ &c ^-will receive
Copy thereof, whereby it appears they are entirely without foundation. We shall
therefore continue our applications to this Government to obtain the Discharge
of the Ships, but are apprehensive it will not be attended with any Sucess
unless a Marine Eorce is sent to oblige the Chaub to deliver them up &, is what
the Government here has very pressingly desired We would apply to Your
Hon-ji. for, declaring that they will March against him by Land if we will
agree to Attack him by Water and prevent his escaping with his Gallivatts.
Enclosed is a letter from he Massaleem to the Hon'ble the President on this
Subject & another expected from the Bashaw An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. will be forwarded as soon as it
arrives, wherein they propose that We shall receive a half of everything that is
taken from the Chaub exclusive of the ships now in his Possession, which
entirely belongs to Us ; And as it is not possible for them alone to do anything
against him. We request Your Hon^. will send Us such a part of the Marine
as You Judge will best answer this purpose, for unless we can bring him to
some Terms it will Scarce be possible for any Merchant Ships to proceed up this
Hiver and beg leave to recommend that it should consist of two at least of the