Page 47 - INDIANNAVYV1

HISTORY OF THE INDIAN NAYY. 15
the usual formalities. This show of spirit brought the Governor
and his son-in-law, the Custom-master, to Swall}', who pre-
sented it in state on the 11th of December, and congratulated
the English Captain on his victory.
The goods intended for the factory were immediately landed,
and those provided there, received on board. On the 14th the
four galleons appeared again, but anchored at a distance.
Captain Best sailed in the night of the 17th, and was followed
by them for two hours, when they parted company without
firing. Near Cannanore he discovered the southern portion of
the Portuguese fleet, and took a merchant ship from amongst
them, Avhich he sunk, after he had removed the cargo of rice
and sugar. He then continued cruising down the coast until
the end of February, 1G13, when he sailed from Cape Comorin
for Atcheen.
The principal factors left by Captain Best at Surat, were
Aid worth. Canning, Kerridge, and Withington, and A. Starkey
to proceed overland to Enghmd, with advices of the settlement
of the treaty. Canning was sent with the King's letter and
the present, which was of little value, to Agra ; and, encounter-
ing much opposition, was attacked by robbers, who killed some
of his escort, and wounded others, including himself and
another Englishman. He arrived at Agra on the 9th of April,
and was asked by the Mogul whether the present he brought
was sent by the King ; upon which he replied, that it was from
the merchants. He continued in daily dread of poison from
the Portuguese Jesuits, and died on the 29th of May, which
confirmed the suspicion of foul play. Andrew Starkey also
was poisoned somewhere on the way by two friars. Kerridge
was sent from Surat, on the 22nd of June, to supply the place
of Canning at Agra.*
From this date the Company assumed a definite position as
a trading Corporation, recognized by the Great Mogul, and not
as mere interlopers picking up the crumbs of commerce, under
sufferance of their European rivals, the Portuguese.
The Company obtained permission to establish factories not
only at Surat, but at Ahmedabad, Cambay, and Gogo, which
were selected as the best situations.f After these concessions
* Oi-me's " Oriental Fragments," pp. 329-333.
t In the year 1612, the Company came to a resolution to trade in future as a
joint stock corporation only, and a sum of £4-29,000 was raised, wliich the
Directors apportioned out for four voyages. These expeditions wliich sailed in
the four years, 1613-16, and were termed the tenth, eleventh, twelfth, and tliir-
teenth voyages, consisted respectively, the two first of ciglit ships, the third of
sis ships, and the fourth of seven ships, but wlioreas tlic average profits of the pre-
ceding eight voyages, excluding the fourth, wliicli was wholly unfortunate, amounted
to 171 per cent., these four averaged only 87^ per cent.— Bruce, Vol. I., p. 166.
A second new joint stock company was started in 1617-18, with a capital of
£1,600,000, the number of ships being thirty-six, of 100 to 1,000 tons burden.
After the death, in 1616, of Ricliard llakluyt, the first historiographer of the
East India Company, the journals of the East India captains were handed over