Page 136 - Arabiab Studies (IV)

126 Arabian Studies IV
written on the back hereof. In this voyage she shall not
carry any prohibited goods, viz. steel, iron, lead, tobacco,
ginger, cinnamon of Ceylon, or other goods prohibited by
his majesty’s regulations. And conforming hereto, the said
terada shall make her voyage without let or hindrance of
any generals, captains, or any of the fleets or ships
whatever of his majesty she may happen to meet with. This
licence shall be in force for one whole year, in going and
returning; and if expired, shall continue in force till the
completion of her voyage.
Given at the Castle of Muscat, this 16th November 1611.
Written by Antonio de Peitas, notary of the said factory,
etc.
Sealed and signed by Antonio Pereira
[The certificate on the back was thus:]
Registered in the book of Certificates, folio xxxii, ct sequ,
Signed Ant. Peitas.
1614 First reference in East India Company records. This and
subsequent references are listed chronologically as:
DANVERS, F. C., introd., Letters received by the East India
Company from its servants in the East, 6 vols, London,
1896-1902.
FOSTER, William, The English Factories in India, 13 vols,
Oxford, 1906-27.
BRUCE, John, Annals of the Hon’ble East India Company,
London, 1810.
Letters, ii, 172. Down ton tells London that Mischet is a little
port of Portugalls on the coast.
1616 Purchas, iv, 307. The Portuguese ‘have small trade here, a
Fort, where they awe the Natives by land and sea, not
suffering them but by their licence what, and how much,
under paine of confiscation, which they practice thorow all
the Indies, where they are strong’.
1617 HERBERT, Sir Thomas, Some Ye ares Travels into Africa,
Asia, London, 1638, 109. He wonders if Muscat was the
Raamah mentioned by Ezekiel for certainly it had a larger
population in the past. He told a picturesque story of a
spiteful Eunuch who betrayed it to the Portuguese. Later
‘Jack, a Portugall’ betrayed it to the Turks. Peribcg put troops
there but on his way home ‘heares of its revolt and the
slaughter of his silly Garrison, the Newes so mazing him, that
he goes to Mecha and turns religious’. The town is ‘seated on
a plain, yet armed or propt with two rising advantagious
Mountains; a ditche and parapet drawne from one hill to the
other so inviron her that she seems inaccessible: the Castle is
large and defensive, fill’d with men, and stored with great
Ordnance: little else is worthy of our observation.’
Letters, vi, 197. Joseph Salbancke was captured by the