History of the Parsis : including their manners, customs, religion and present position : with coloured and other illustrations : in two volumes

14 HISTORY OF THE PARSIS. [CHAP. I.

the Court of Directors, under date 19th August 1724, to the President in Council at Bombay, apprising the Government of the settlement of the dispute, and

expressing their opinion on the case.

lately arrived and the Stanhope which came in sometime before, We have received your several packets and advices giving us an account of our affairs under your Management with the reasons of your proceedings. We observe in your letters by King George that the Governor of Surat and the Merchants think it very reasonable that the late Brokers should give us satisfaction as to all just demands upon them, which as you have wrote us is what you desire and would be content with the proof of even from their own Books and accounts and to submit any matters of difference that may arise to the Determination of the Merchants of Surat to be mutually chosen by the said Brokers and you for them to conclude and settle the same.

We find in the letter by the King George that Framjee is in custody at the Surat Durbar and Bomanjee remains confined to his house at Bombay. Former letters gave us your reasons why you did not then think it proper to let him go off the Island.

The Salisbury Man-of-War, which arrived at Spithead the latter end of April last brought Nowrojee from Surat, he is since come up hither and hath laid before us several papers and accounts which are ordered to be perused and taken into consideration.

Among other Papers he gave us one intituled the case of Framjee in close prison at Surat, wherein he represents that this was occasioned by the English Chiefs’, Mr. Hope’s and afterwards Messrs. Cowan’s and Courtney’s, applications to Momeen Caun, the Surat Governor, and by a letter delivered to him wrote by Governor Phipps on which Framjee was at first confined. Then Guards set on his father Rustomjee’s house after this Framjee was forced to pay Momeen Caun at times fifty Thousand Rupees and also two hundred Rupees a day for leave to supply the people in the house with Provisions and water and hesides all these hardships he has undergone corporall punishment.

We are apt to think this case is greatly aggravated or at least that the Governor proceeded the rigorous treatment, to oblige Framjee to come to a fair account according to the custom of the country, which was at first civilly desired to be done without any compulsion, and ought to have been Complyed with.