38' N. and has
good anchorage in 5-1/2 or 6 fathoms.
The 28th August, we set sail from thence, directing our course for the
coast of Persia, coasting along the oceanic shore of Arabia; it being
our chiefest object to set the lord ambassador on shore, as, by reason
of the news we had received at the Cape of Good Hope, our expectations
of trade at Surat, Dabul, and all other parts thereabouts, were
frustrated. The 2d September, we sailed close beside an island on the
coast of Arabia, called Macyra, in lat. 20 deg. 30' N. And on the 4th of
that month we passed the eastermost point of Arabia, called Cape
Rassalgat, in lat. 22 deg. 34' N.[111]
[Footnote 111: This Cape is in lat. 23 deg. N. and long. 58 deg. 45'E. from
Greenwich. - E.]
* * * * *
Note. - In explanation of the disappointment of trade at Surat, &c.
there is the following marginal note in the Pilgrims, vol. I. p.
490. - "These news at the Cape were, Captain Hawkins coming away in
disgust, as denied leave to trade; the English being often wronged by
the Mogul, in frequent breach of promise, as already shewn; for which
they forced a trade in the Red Sea on the Mogul subjects. Which
afterwards procured the privileges granted to Captain Best, as already
related, lest the Moguls should have the sea shut up to them, and all
their trade stopt. They were the more induced to grant these privileges
to the English, on seeing them able to withstand the Portuguese, whose
marine force had held the Guzerat people under maritime subjection, and
made them afraid to trade with the English." - Purch.
Sec.2. Proceedings on the Coast of Persia, and Treachery of the Baloches.
Having crossed the gulf from Cape Rasalgat, on the 10th September we got
sight of the coast of Persia, in the lat. of 25 deg. 10' N. When some seven
leagues from the land, we sent our skiff ashore to make enquiry
concerning the country, and to seek out some convenient place in which
to land his lordship, having Sir Thomas Powell, with two of the
ambassador's Persian attendants, and Albertus, our own linguist, that
we might be able to converse with the natives. They came to a little
village called Tesseque,[112] where they spoke with some camel-drivers
and other country-people; from whom they learnt that the country was
called Getche Macquerona [Mekran], and the inhabitants Baloches, all
living under the government of a king, named Melik Mirza, whose chief
residence was some five or six days journey from thence, at a port named
Guadal. They were farther informed, that all the country of Mekran
paid tribute yearly to the king of Persia. When informed of our purpose
to land the ambassador, they told us that, by means of Melik Mirza,
his lordship might have a safe conveyance in nine days to Kermshir, in
the province of Kerman; and from thence might travel in eleven days
more to Ispahan in Persia.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 123 of 474
Words from 63964 to 64478
of 247546
