Page 126 - Arabian Studies (I)
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110                                               Arabian Studies l

                   We arc informed the Emaum certainly goes upon the intended
                   Expedition, and that right speedily, his Son’s Artillery and
                   Baggage being already sent out of Sinan [San‘a’]. If this induced
                   the Merchants to send their coffee to market to turn it into
                   money, as it most likely it will, we hope you will have the
                   opportunity of buying cheaper. . .


                 24 and 25 May
                 After a further two days’ hard negotiations, to no avail, and fearing
                 to allow delay in the departure of the Prince William, Mr. Dickinson
                 reluctantly accedes to the Governor’s blackmail. He pays the 2,500
                 Spanish dollars now demanded from the Company.


                26 May
                 On 26 May, 150 bales of coffee are loaded on the Prince William.
                   A letter is received from Mr. Hanys, the substance of which Mr.
                 Dickinson includes in his Diary. . .
                   He had got the Camel fellow imprisoned whose Bales came short,
                   and as to the Coffee Trees we ordered him to procure, he believes
                   it impracticable, the Government having formerly fined one of our
                   Banians Five hundred Spanish Dollars for attempting to get some,
                   but if we desire it, he will get some Coffee Seed which the planters
                   make use of for raising young trees which he believes will answer
                   the same purpose. That the same Day arrived Twenty Camels, and
                   the Day before Forty and if it continues to come in that manner,
                   he hopes soon to finish the Investment.
                   Taking stock at Mocha, Mr. Dickinson confesses to a deceitful
                stratagem:
                   We have made our Banians speak to the weighers, and desire them
                   to show us how far their Dexterity extends, which they have given
                   us a specimen of in the above Coffee, in which we find we have
                   grained above Three and a half per cent at the Sale, tho’ the
                   manner of doing it is not very commendable, for it is done by
                   giving the weighers a small Sum of money, and keeping them
                   constantly supplied with Liquors, for which they have given us so
                   great an overweight, and for a small Trifle wronged the owners of
                   the Coffee of a considerable Sum.
                27 to 30 May

                On 30 May, Mr. Dickinson receives from Mr. Hanys a reply to his
                letter of the 23rd. Mr. Hanys confirms he will send lists of camel
                drivers’ names but if he were to weigh every bale
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