Page 120 - Arabian Studies (I)

104 Arabian Studies l

A brief courtesy call was made on FaqTh ‘Abdullah, the Deputy
and son of the Governor of Mocha, the Governor himself being
absent in San‘a. This done, the Company’s factory was visited.
We found in the factory six hundred and sixty bales of
Beetlefuckcc (Bait al-Faqlh) coffee being part of a Thousand
thirty Eight Bales purchased there before our Arrival by our
Banians (Hindu merchants), on Account of our Hon’ble Masters
who had remitted Sixty Thousand Spanish Dollars to carry on the
investment. The Price of Coffee at Bcetlefuckec by the last Prices
was at a Hundred Twenty Six to One hundred and thirty Spanish
Dollars the Bahar. The French Second being gone up there some
time ago to carry on their Investment.

2 to 4 April
During the next three days eighty-six bales arrived in Mocha from
Bait al-Faqlh and, aided by his assistant, Mr. John Hanys, Mr.
Dickinson ‘began to weigh off and examine the Coffee purchased by
our Banians, which we found to be good and hold out in weight as
usual’. Mr. Dickinson had in the factory a Sergeant and twelve men
to assist in weighing off the coffee; also two or three sailors who
guarded the coffee during its transportation from shore to ship.

5 April

Mr. Hanys set out for Bait al-Faqlh to buy more coffee. With him he
took instructions from his superior:

You are hereby ordered to proceed to Beetlefuckee to carry on
the Investment of Coffee for the Ships our Hon’ble Masters design
hither this season, and as the Ship commonly sent here is one of
the largest the Company has (the Prince William), it will be
requisite to secure as far as Three Thousand Five hundred Bales by
the time she arrives, and as it is not unlikely but we may have Two
ships to provide for, and the French assure us they shall have a
large ship directly from France, besides which they are to load
that from Pondicherry now in the Road, and there being a
considerable Demand from Juddah, therefore there is little
Appearance that Coffee will be cheaper, lose no opportunity in
purchasing as it comes to Market, and you may agree with the
French to buy together or separately as you shall find it Conducive
to the Company’s Interest. But take care in all your Purchases that
the Coffee is good, dry, clean and well garbled, and on your arrival
inspect the Custom House Weights, that our Hon’ble Masters may
be no sufferers in that Article.