Volume 1

Materials towards a statistical account of the town and island of Bombay in three volumes.

  • Bombay (Presidency)
Date:
1893-1894
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Materials towards a statistical account of the town and island of Bombay in three volumes. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    76/522 (page 58)
    Chapter I, History. Armenians, 1676. 58 BOMBAY TOWN cause more prejudice to the port than the benefit thereof may amount to, which is all we call to mind at present worthy your advice.^ A week later (17th July) the Surat Council again address Bombay in favour of the Armenians: We lately wrote you a letter of recommendation in the behalf of Khoja Minaz and Khoja Delaune desiring your assistance to them in the fitting up of their ship. Since then they have again earnestly importuned us to bespeak our kindness to them and particularly in reference to the carpenters for which they are in very great want. These therefore are to desire you that you use your best endeavours to supply them with carpenters and if carpenters are not procurable on the island that you use your interest to send for them from Bassein Thana or Bandra. See you fail not in this. Also if they desire any further assistance or want any of the Company’s stores or anything the island can furnish them with, let them be supplied for their money. Khoja Minaz and Khoja Delaune were with us this day and complained of the trouble they received from your Customers’ demand of anchorage. Though they were importunate yet we would give them no positive answer till wm hear further from you. They have also laid a very severe charge against Captain Birkin and desire leave to prosecute him at law to have justice of him which we cannot deny. We hope that Captain Birkin hath not deserved ill of them as they represent. We would have you write us how the case stands between them. In the meantime let their business be so despatched that the ship may proceed timely on her voyage.^ On the 26th August the Council resumes : This day Khoja Minaz and Khoja Delaune, Armenian merchants owmers of ship St. Francisco, were with us making their complaints against Captain Francis Birkin who hath arrested their ship and entered into a process at law against them upon account of defamation and slander cast out against him by the Nocquedah of said ship. This process we have perused and think his suit very unreasonable and prosecuted rather for vexation than any justifiable grounds. As the said Khoja Minaz and Khoja Delaune desisted from any further demands on him so soon as they had a right sense of the business, it will cause an ill name and disrepute to the Honourable Company’s port and island to have any ship detained there upon such an idle score. We therefore would have you endeavour to compose all differences and disputes between him and the Nocquedah. If you find thern obstinate and unwilling to comply, then let them try out their quarrel by law. And if Captain Birkin hath any charge of validity to impeach the owners with, we think good that he apply himself to us here who shall seek to do him justice. But by no means let him go about to disturb or hinder the ship^s voyage which will not only be a loss to the owners, but to many other particular merchants that hold freight on the ship. * Surat to Bombay, 11th July 1676, Surat Fact. Out. L. B. 2 of 1675-76, 158-159, ^ Surat to Bombay, 17th July 1676, Surat Fact. Out. L. B. 2 of 1675-76, 160 -161.