Page 76 - Early English Adventurers in the Middle East_Neat

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76 EARLY ENGLISH ADVENTURERS IN THE EAST

Originally a Court physician, he had successfully treated
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I the Emperor for some disease from which he was suffering.
Out of gratitude for the relief afforded Jehangir had
nominated the fortunate practitioner to the lucrative
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oversight of government business at Surat under the title
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of Makarrab Khan, which, roughly translated, means
Lord of my Health. The newly appointed governor, after
the manner of his time, used his position for his personal
aggrandizement. A scarcely veiled form of blackmail
was imposed upon all who came within the area of his
' government for purposes of trade. His exactions were
:;!l only circumscribed by the limitations imposed by the
poverty of his victims or their capacity for resisting his
rapacious demands.
To such a man as Makarrab Khan the visit of the English
ship was a welcome addition to the customary sources of
!« plunder, which had become restricted by the operation of
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his oppressive system. He prepared without unnecessary
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delay to turn the opportunity to account. Goods which
the Englishmen contrived to smuggle ashore in spite of the
Portuguese were overhauled by the governor, and all
articles that took his fancy were appropriated on the illu­
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sory understanding that they would be paid for in some
remote and ill-defined future. The process was repeated
; until a period was reached when, as Hawkins put it, his
temporary place of residence was “ swept clean ” of all
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articles of value. As soon as this had been done, and it
had been made clear that there would be no further
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supplies to annex, the governor, “ little by little ” (says
Hawkins), “ degraded me of his good looks.” Meantime, the
Hector had resumed her voyage to Bantam in view of
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. the uselessness of prolonging her stay at the Western

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