Page 122 - Arabian Studies (I)

106 Arabian Studies l

sonic of the new Companys erected in Europe . . . may send ships
here, therefore we ought not to neglect the present time, but
purchase as it is to be got, that the Hodge Feast was early this
year, and we shall have the Banians and Turks soon down from
Juddah. which will hinder the Price from falling at the end of the
Season.

19 to 23 April
On 23 April, Mr. Dickinson, having now acquired 1,170 bales of
coffee, takes the opportunity provided by a visiting ship making an
onwards pilgrimage to Jeddah for the ‘Hajj Feast’, to write to the
Directors of the East India Company in England, by way of Messrs.
Cooke and Company in Cairo. Having reported on current coffee
prices and his transactions to date, Mr. Dickinson gives information
as to the French business and the presence in Mocha roadstead of a
Dutch ship arrived from Batavia on 25 March.
They have not yet bought any Coffee, nor do I believe they will,
except the price comes within their limitation, where there is very
little Probability of its doing this Season.

Mr. Dickinson then goes on to report the arrivals and departures of
ships at Mocha and to assure the Directors that relations between
himself and the Governor of Mocha are cordial.

24 to 26 April
By 26 April, 1,210 bales of coffee await shipment at Mocha. Mr.
Hanys has reported from Bait al-Faqlh that joint purchasing with the
French continues and that they are the only two in market, at least
until after theHaji.
On the afternoon of the 26th, the Prince of Wales galley arrives at
Mocha from Bombay, with it a letter for Mr. Dickinson from his
superiors of the East India Company. The letter merely confirms
previous instructions as to the provision of coffee for the expected
ship.

27 to 29 April
On Sunday, 29 April, the Prince William (Captain Beresford) arrives
from Great Britain,6 in company with the Royal Phillip from France.
A letter is sent ashore to Mr. Dickinson, the contents of which are
passed almost immediately to Mr. Hanys in Bait al-Faqlh: