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.

    86/522 (page 68)
    68 BOMBAY TOWN Chapter I, History. iSidi KcLsim in Bombay, 1676. Sidi Sambal warned from Bombay, 1677. and favourable assistance to our Honourable Masters^ interest and promising to signify this and other our good services to the king of Delhi we have thought good to gratify him herein. This day Sidi Kasim came to take his leave of the President declaring his great obligations for the kindness received and promising all offices of friendship on his part_, and whereas the President put him in mind of unruliness and disorderly proceed- ing of their men formerly, he assures us that he will now take such strict care in governing his soldiers and keeping them in order that there shall not be the least occasion of complaint here- after. Wherefore conforming to our former letter of recommendation;, we desire you to treat the said Sidi Kasim with all civility and to accommodate him with such lodging during his stay either at Mazgaon or Bombay as you can conveniently provide. We judge Mazgaon will be the best place for the soldiers to quarter in that they may the less meet or intermix with our men for the prevent- ing of quarrels between them. As for Sidi Kasim himself if he desires a house or some lodging at Bombay, you may grant them to him. Also at his departure you may assist him with what boats are necessary for his transport to Danda Rajpuri. It is reasonably expected that he should pay the charge, for we would not have you pub the Company to more expense than necessity or the prudent laws of civility requires. At the same time in outward respect and kindnesses you may use such freedom and obliging discretion as becomes the friendship we receive from the king and his subjects and consists with the interest of our Honourable Masters. When he departs the island, we would have you procure his letter to the governor of Surat manifesting the kindness and friendly assistances he hath received in behalf of the king’s affairs during his stay on the island.^ Though in consequence of these orders Sidi Kasim perforce was allowed to winter in Bombay, apparently the directions and warnings quoted above sufficed to relieve Bombay of its troublesome and dangerous guest Sidi Sambal. Early in 1677 Sidi Sambal seems to have been allowed to bring his fleet to Bombay and to stay in the harbour. In April, in con- sequence of an application from him to be allowed to pass the mon- soon in Bombay, Mr. Aungier, the President, wrote to Bombay: This evening we received a very formal letter from Sidi Sambal, wherein after many vain pretences he entreats our leave to winter at Bom- bay himself with all his men and his fleet and accordingly would have us recommend him unto you. This we will by no means consent unto in regard we plainly perceive his intentions are not for Danda Eajpuri but he lies hovering with his fleet about the island. VVe cannot at all recommend you in that you have connived at his continuance on the island thus long and never given us any account thereof, that our orders might have arrived to you more season- ably. However we do now require you first in fair terms to declare