Page 12 - Gulf Precis (I-A)_Neat

[ IV ]

III—1618—1622.—This period is occupied by tho missions of Barker
and Monox to tho Court of Shah Abbas. They could obtain
for tho East India Company hardly anything beyond tho grants
given to Connook, though thoy were backed up with all the
assistance that Sir Thomas Roc could command. The wily Per­
sian monarch by grand promises entrapped them into an agree­
ment to assist the Persian in tho capture of Ormuz from the
Portuguese. This important ovent gave a death blow to tho
Portuguese supremacy in Persian Gulf and paved tho way for
the establishment of tho British and Dutch as rival commercial
powers in tho Gulf.
Period IV, 1623—1629,—During this period was opened the East India
Company’s factory at Gombroon, which was the centre of British enterprise in
the Gulf until 1763.
Shah Abbas deputed Sir Robert Sherley and a Persian Ambassador to
King James. In response King James sent Sir Dodmore Cotton with Sir
Robert Sherley to the Shah.
Sir Dodmore Cotton’s Embassy from King James to the Shah ended
abortively owing to bis death in Persia in almost abject poverty, neglected
and uncared for as he had been from the beginningby the East Iudia Company.
The project of this Embassy was opposed by the East India Company, who
had more confidence in their own Agent Burt than in Sir Dodmore Cotton, a
friend of Sir Robert Sherley. We find in modern times a parallel of this case
in Sir Harfard Jones’ Embassy from King George III to the Shah iu opposition
to Sir Malcolm’s mission to Persia on behalf of the Governor-General of India.
Period V, 1629—1642.—This corresponds with the reign of Shah Safi, a
King who was a liberal patron of foreign enterprise in the country. But the
London East India Company’s affairs suffered much from the intrigues of the
Dutch and the rival enterprise of Courten’s association. To protect the trade
from both these rivals the Company sought a more secure port and found it in
Basrah in Turkish Arabia.
Period VI, 1643—1657.—During this period the London East India
Company had to carry on a severe struggle with the Dutch, who become the
predominant power in the Gulf. The civil war in England ending in regicide
was deftly made use by the Dutch to lower the prestige of the English in
Persia.
Period VII, 1657—1681.—The wars in Europe, the embarrassments in
Persia and the obstructive tactics of Persian authorities, contributed to depress
the English trade to such an extent that the Court determined in 1663 to with­
draw their factories from Persia, leavnig only a few servants at Gombroon for
the purpose of collecting their moiety of .customs.
The exertions however of Mr. Rolt appointed agent in Persia in 1668
under the advice of Gerald Aungier, the able President at Surat, helped to
revive our trade with Persia.
Period V1U, 1681—1698.—A new plan of trade was now tried with a
view to bring about commercial intercourse between the Gulfs of Persia and
Arabia. It was determined to send an armed expedition for the purpose o
enforcing our privileges. Though the expedition was diverted in order to que
rebellion in Bombay, tho vigorous measures taken to check the Dutch intrigue