He Also Advised Me To Make A
Present To His Sister, Queen Noormahal, And She Would Prevail Upon The
King To Give Me Money.
To this I replied, that I wished only for the
good usage of my countrymen.
He then carried me to the king, to whom I
presented the inventory translated into Persian, and was graciously
received. He asked me if the arras were a present, to which I answered
in the affirmative, as the prince was by, lest it might be seized. In
conclusion, the king said he would take a considerable quantity of our
cloths and other commodities, desiring me to cause them to be brought up
speedily, and directed Asaph Khan to make out an order for their free
passage in the prince's name. I was well pleased with the success of
this day; for though I knew that there was no faith to be placed in
these barbarians, yet I was sure Asaph Khan would deal truly in this, as
he was to help himself, and durst not betray me, lest he should miss the
pearl, neither could I suspect him afterwards, as he could not betray my
secret without discovering his own falsehood to the prince.
Sec.8. Asaph Khan protects the English for hope of Gain, as also
Noormahal. - Arrival of Mr Steel. - Danger to the Public from private
Trade. - Stirs about a fort.
On the 12th October, according to his promise, Asaph Khan carried me
along with him to visit the prince, and introduced me into his private
apartment, when I presented ham with a small Chinese gold chain in a
china cup. He used me indifferently, but Asaph Khan persuaded him to
alter his course towards us, representing that he gained yearly by us a
lack of rupees, and that as our trade increased every year, it would in
time bring him greater profit; but that if we were harshly used, we
would be enforced to quit both Surat and the country, from which great
inconveniences might arise. We were in some measure his subjects, and
if, from desire of procuring rarities, he used us ill, we would
necessarily strive to the utmost to conceal all we brought from his
knowledge; but if he gave us that liberty and encouragement which was
fitting, we would then use our endeavours to bring every thing to him.
He represented, that my only study was to give content to his highness,
and to procure his favour and protection, and therefore that he ought to
receive me honourably when I came to visit him, and according to my
quality, which would give satisfaction to my nation, and encourage me to
serve him. Finally, be moved his highness to give me a firmaun for our
present use, which he easily obtained, with a promise of all manner of
satisfaction. The prince accordingly gave immediate orders to his
secretary to draw it up in every point to our content, and to write a
letter to the governor recommending it to his attention; adding, that I
should at all times have any other letters I desired.
It is thus easy to be seen what base and unworthy men I have to deal
with. For the sordid hope only of buying some toys, Asaph Khan has
become so reconciled to me as to betray his son-in-law, and is
obsequious even to flattery. The ground of all his friendship is his
desire to purchase the gold taken in the prize, and some other knacks;
for which purpose he desires to send down one of his servants, which I
could not deny without losing him, after having so long laboured to gain
his favour; neither was this any disadvantage to us, as his payment is
secure, and will save us much trouble and charge in selling elsewhere,
especially the wine and other luggage that is apt to spoil in carriage.
For this purpose he obtained an order from the prince under false
pretences, and wrote himself in our favour to the governor of Surat,
doing us all manner of kindness. There is a necessity for his
friendship, as his word is a law in this empire, and therefore I did not
choose to seem to notice his unworthiness. I hope by this procedure to
win him to our advantage, or at least to make our present good use of
him. On this occasion I moved him to procure us a firmaun for trade with
Bengal, which he has promised, though he would never before hearken to
that request. He likewise now prosecutes our debtors as if they were his
own; and in passing the residence of the cutwall on his elephant, he
called upon him to command dispatch, which was a most unusual favour.
Upon this Groo was immediately imprisoned, and Muckshud had only two
days allowed him to pay us. Thus I doubt not that in ten days we shall
recover to the amount of 44,000 rupees, though our debtors are the most
shifting false knaves in all India.
On the 21st, a servant came to me from Asaph Khan, bearing a message
from Noormahal, intimating that she had moved the prince for another
firmaun, which she had obtained, and by which all our goods were taken
under her protection; and that she was ready to send down her servant
with authority to take order for our good establishment, and to see that
we were no way wronged. He said farther, that Asaph Khan had done this,
for fear of the prince's violence, and to guard against his custom of
delays; and that now when the queen his sister had desired to be our
protectress, he was sure the prince would not meddle; and farther
assured me, upon his honour, that I should receive every thing consigned
to me, for which the queen had written the most positive orders, and had
directed her servant to assist our factors, that we might never more
have any cause of complaint at Surat.
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