"ملخّص يحتوي على معلومات بشأن الاتصال الأول لشركة الهند الشرقية مع الجزيرة العربية التركية، طالما أمكن تتبع ذلك من سجلات حكومة بومباي، بالإضافة إلى أسماء العديد من المقيمين البريطانيين والوكلاء السياسيين الذين عُينوا في بغداد والبصرة في الفترة بين ١٦٤٦ و ١٨٤٦ ميلادي، وبمرافقة معلومات أخرى" [ظ‎‎٣‎٦] (٢٢٦/٧٤)

42 PRECIS OF INFORMATION REGARDING CONNECTION OF E. I. COMPY.
half an hour I was agreeably surprized by a boat coming on board, from Moollah
Ally Shaw, with a present of fowls, almonds, &c., and a I'ilot who conducted us
between Kishme and the Main with great skill and safety, of which I gave him a
certificate. As we approached the Persian ship, she politely hoisted her colours."
101. Mr. Price arrived at Bussorab on the 13th May 1763, having'
on his way, in conformity with instructions furnished to him by Govern
ment on his leaving- Bombay, called at Bushire, and concluded an agree
ment with the Sheik for the establishment by the East India Company
of a factory at that place. Mr. Price, in a despatch to the Hon'ble
the Court of Directors, dated the 18th May 1763, gives the following-
account of his proceedings on his first arrival at Bussorah :—
" I an-ived here on the 13th instant, but on account of the change of the Mussaleem, who
came down from Baghdad three days since, and this morning only made his entry
into town, it has hitherto prevented the manner of my reception being settled, which
as affairs are now circumstanced is a very material point, for, from the enquiry I have
made, I find it will be necessary to carry things with a high hand, more especially in
regard to the present Mussaleem, who has the character of an haughty, imperious
man, and a mortal enemy to Christians, so that I have reason to believe my negocia-
tions with him will be attended with difficulty and obstruction."
On the same day that the despatch from which this extract is taken
was written, Mr. Price landed at Bussorah, the Captain Bashaw Mufti
and " Shaw Bunder" having come to meet him.
102. The result of Mr. Price's investigation into the conduct of
Messrs. Shaw and Garden satisfied Government that those gentlemen
had not, as had been previously believed to be the case, been guilty of
dishonesty towards the Hon'ble Company in their transactions at Bus
sorah. The following extract from a letter addressed by the Bombay
Government on the 24th January 1764 to Mr. Price, and to Mr.
Dymoke Lyster, who had assisted the former gentlemen in this enquiry,
contains the decision of Government on this subject:—
"We shall now proceed to reply to the several letters received from the Agent
(Mr. Price) since his arrival at lUissorah, and give you such orders and directions as
appear to us necessary in consequence thereof, as he (Mr. Price) represents he com
mitted no acts of hostility, and we suppose no interruption was given to the trade of
the 1 orte. e approve of the measures he pursued on his arrival (at Bussorah) in not
going to town till some previous measures were settled with the Government, and
though it affords us the utmost satisfaction to find it put out of dispute, that Hadjee
Eusuph is really indebted on account of woollens the sum of Tomans 11,674-53-24,
and that Mr. Price is possessed of his obligation for the same; yet we
must still look upon Messrs. Shaw and Garden as responsible for the balance of
Tomans 11,807-2-10 due to our Hon'ble masters on the 24th March 1762, nor does it
in our opinion the least exculpate those gentlemen for being guilty of a breach of
orders in delivering woollens upon trust, although it clears them from the suspicion
which from the cash account might have been entertained of their having appropriated
that amount to their own use, and which has induced us unanimously to agree to take
off the bar to Mr. Shaw s coming into Council, and to admit him to a seat therein,
conformable to his standing, submitting his conduct as to delivering woollens upon
trust contrary to orders, and the consequence which may ensue therefrom, to the
determination of the Hon ble Company, to whom a full and impartial account of
these transactions will be transmitted as soon as we receive the necessary particulars
from Mr. Price. Mr. Shaw must therefore hold himself in readiness for repairing to
the Presidency accordingly whenever he may think proper, though as his presence at
Bussorah may be essentially necessary for procuring payment of the above money from
Hadjee Eusuph, by which alone there seems to be any prospect of his being enabled
to discharge the above balance due from him and Mr. Garden, we think it behoves
him m such case to stay till it is cleared. For the same reason which has induced us
to be so favourable to Mr. Shaw, we have agreed to take off Mr. Garden's suspension,