Page 130 - Arabian Studies (I)

114 A rabian Studies l

(e) Referring to the transfer from the Prince William to the Prince
of Wales of the twenty-two soldiers
We have put [them] on board the Prince of Wales Galley, the
Surgeon demanding fourty lour Spanish Dollars for his care of
them in the Passage, we paid it to him, and send your Honours his
receipt for the Same.
(J) Referring to the necessity to pay 2,500 Spanish dollars to
Faqih Ahmad
. . . I hope our Hon’blc Masters will take it into consideration as
well as call them to an Account for all their exactions and
impositions, which if they find we sit quiet under, we may expect
they will be constantly repeated, as well as their Demands
increased.

6 July
The Prince William sails for England.

7 July to 8 August
Little of interest occurs in the following month. Mr. Dickinson
meticulously records the comings and goings of East India Com­
pany’s ships and those of other trading nations. On August, he goes
to the Governor’s house to settle the Company’s account. A quarrel
develops once again in respect of a present for the Imam. Finally, the
2,500 Spanish dollars imposition is deducted, in return for which the
Governor states that the 600 bales custom exemption will not apply
in future unless the Imam receives a present equal in value.

9 August

The Governor sends a message to say that he wished to borrow 5,000
Spanish dollars, to be set against customs duties for the following
year. On refusing this request, Mr. Dickinson is not permitted to
board his ship. The demand is lowered to 2,500 Spanish dollars. Mr.
Dickinson finally feels forced to pay.
A letter is sent to Mr. Dickinson’s Indian assistants, who are to
remain in Mocha:
To Bursotan Wullubchun Jockercy Rajepole (Purusottam Vallab-
chand JaykarjT Rajpal?) and Ratchy Runchor (RanjI Rancod?).
We having left in your hands the sum of One hundred Thousand
Spanish Dollars to be invested in Coffee for Account of the
Hon’ble Company, and as we are in hopes thro’ the great quantity
of rains that have lately fallen the price will be considerably
cheaper when the new crop comes in, therefore we do not limit