"دليل الخليج. مجلد I. القسم التاريخي. الأجزاء Iأ و Iب. ج.ج. لوريمر ١٩١٥" [‎٧‎٢] (١٧٨٢/٢١٥)

, ■ .
Unfavourable
slate of the
Persian
trade, 1669-
72.
Generally low
and ultimate
ly precarious
state of the
trade with
Persia,
1676-82.
72
be sent to India by the Company's Factory at Bandar 'Abbas. In 1674
lar ^e quantities of defective goods having been received in India, it was
directed that the Kirman wool and other articles exported from Persia
should be more strictly inspected in future, by the Company's servants at
Bandar 'Abbas, before being despatched. In 1675 Kirman wool was in
great demand, and the Bandar 'Abbas Factory was instructed to procure
as much as possible. *
In 1669 the Persian trade, in consequence of persistent disregard by
the Persians of English trading rights and privileges, was in a depressed
condition ; but it was still considered to be of great importance, and the
Agent in Persia recommended that, with a view to promoting trade
between Bombay, Surat and Persia, grants of land should be offered to
Banyans as an inducement to settle on Bombay Island. In 1672 the
Company's servants were ordered to demand consulage on all English
goods landed at Bandar 'Abbas and to report the names of individuals who
refused payment; this order apparently referred to private speculations by
the Company's servants, in connection with which there had been habitual
evasion of the Company's rights. In the same year it was explained by
the Surat Council that among the commodities which they required from
the Persian Gulf were galls, red oxide, liquorice, almonds, raisins and skins,
but that they disapproved of a consignment of inferior Hamadan galls
which had been sent them at some time previously.
The armed ships of the Company which made the voyage to Persia in
1676 carried large quantities of broadcloth and tin, and their return
cargoes were expected to consist mainly of silk and wool; it was directed
that, if possible, a pretended seizure should be made at Bandar 'Abbas of
the " Siedpore a native Indian merchant vessel which had stolen away
to Persia without a pass from the Company. Dr. Fryer accompanied the
next year's armed fleet to Bandar'Abbas in 1677 and reported in the
following terms on the position of English trade: "The English
Company's Trade is but small here, only carrying off some few Drugs,
u Carmania Wool, Goats, Dates and Horses ; though they make it worth
" their while to keep an Agent in good Port {sic), as well from the
" Allowance from the Shawbunder, as by Consulage of 21. and i per
"Cent, for all Foreign Goods that seek their Protection; on which score
they seem to drive a Trade, and send up every Shipping Three or lour
hundred Camels laden with Indian Wares; as many as the Dutch
bring down to ship off on their own Stock and Ships : but this Year a
great Bluster was made with English Cloth and Tin brought by our
Arrival which, however, the understanding Traffickers smile at, know-