Page 181 - Gulf Precis (I-A)_Neat

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W°_ <fec* was not only necessary but quite unavoidable.
If your W°. &c» when you supply the soldiers with arms could spare a
Couple Barrels of fine Gunpowder, and a dozen of Europe Padlocks, as also a
thousand or fifteen hundred Flints thoy would be very Convenient,' these
particulars being very seldom to be got for money in this place.
So long as the Shotters have remained here they have been allow’d two
8hahoes a day for their provision, the reason of my detaining the two that
first nrrivod was the hopes I was in of their proving Serviceable in overseeing
the Bricklayers aud Carpenters employed in Building, and now upon their
departure I have advanced each of them five rupees for their Travelling
expences.
I am with the greatest Deference aud Respect,
Rt. Worshipful Sir & Sirs,
Your most obedient humble Servant,
FRANCIS WOOD.
Bunderick,
The 3i May 1756.
Return of three ehotters.
LXXVII.
From—Francis Wood, Agent for Bunderick, to Alexr. Douglas, Esqi, Agent &c-
Council, at Gombroon.
Right Wi Sir & Sirs.
Under the 18th Instant I addressed your Wt «&ci, in a letter of advice Wood fean his
from Bussorah accompanying Bills of Exchange for four thousand Rupees withdraw?**
drawn in favour of Abram Gee, Esqi, and Captain Niman Lowis, from wnom
I was obliged to take up that sum to provide sundry necessary articles for murdora hia
completing the Hon’ble Company’s House at Bunderick, but as your W % Howein and
&o^ have not as yet been acquainted with my reasons for going to Bussorah coipiny^houw
(this second time) I shall now lay them before you in as few words as theat Bandar
circumstances will admit.
The 8? ultimo a letter from Baron Kniphauson cautioning mo to be
aware of the impending danger, for that he himself had at last come to a
Resolution of Chastising the Meer and I might expect Bunderick to be
involved in troubles very suddenly, upon reading this I immediately began to
Consider what other advantage the Dutch could promise themselves from
coming to an open rupture with Meer Uossan than preventing an English
settlement’s being established here, but could find none of any weight or im­
portance, and recollecting the many low underhand practices they had before
made use of to obtain their ends. I began to suspect, and indeed to be very
muoh afraid their intentions against me were bad, therefore I judged it advis­
able for my own safety to retire from hence for a few days, and return when
the storm was over, rather than to attempt the danger of falling into the bands
of his people, who are more abjeots than slaves, and from the slightest hint
would be encouraged to dispatch me, which might have been easily performed
in such a manner that my death could be laid to no particular person, the
want of arms for my people also was some inducement to my taking that step,
as well as the necessity I was in for Timber and Stores to finish the Building,
which I was very anxious to have in a posture of Defence before the Dutch
party in favor of Shaik Ally Mossoom and Meer Manna might come to a
head sufficient to disposses Meer Hassain of the Government, but to my great
concern and disappointment, when I returned (whioh was the day before