The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe to the Court of the Great Mogul 3.7
The Embassy of Sir Thomas Roe (Foster) 3.7
- Language
- English
3.7.1
September 16. — At 6 in the Morning at the first of Ebb we weighed and turnd out S.W. lyeing one way Sowth (till wee came into 6 fadome and a halfe a short boord right vpon the sand) the other way N.W. deepning by the [lead?] to 14 fadom. At 10 a clock we found deeper water S.S.E. 17, 18, and 19 fadom. Our boates and the Expedition gott ouer the end of the sand in the Morning in 6 fadom and a halfe, beeing butt Narrow. But wee durst not come Neare yt, but turning out gott about the poynt, and when the Ebb was donn came to an Anchor in 20 fadom, softe ground, latitude 20° 24'. Wee durst not stand away vpon the flood, because we were vncertaine whether we were over the Easternmost sand or betweene that and the other we felte the day before, being Newly Come out with much trouble. At 3 a Clock in the Afternoone we sawe the land, beeing hidden before in a fogg, bearing from E. by S. to E.N.E. along, 8 leaugs off; wherby wee found we were gott about the Eastermoste sande into the Channell betweene that and the Mayne. Then we weighed with the rest of the floud and stood away S.E., making by reason of the variation and the floud an E. way some 3 leaugs ; and then, the Ebb being come and little wynd, we came to Anchor in the same depth 20 fadom water, soft ground ; Damon bearing E.N.E. 5 leaugs off, and the Poynt of the sand W.N.W. and from Damon W. by S. in the latitude of 20° 25'.
3.7.2
Soe that I will giue this generall rule to all men that come for Suratt that if they desire to make the land of Diu, and being 6 leaugs off, about 20 fadom water, they must stand off to the Sowthward S.S.E., the variation considered, to make a S.E. way to goe Cleare of all the shoales, and in that Course they neede not stop Ebb nor floud, having any gale, prouided they take as many Ebbes as floodes; soe they shall haue fine shoaling, neuer vnder 20 fadome, till they make the Mayne, toward which they may stand bouldly into 12 fadome; and after, the floud will lead them alonge the land, borroweing vpon the shoaling of the Mayne and of the Eastermost sand, to keepe the Channell; both the sandes lye N.E. and S.W. & an indifferent Channell betweene them; but it is veary daingerous for those that knowe it not to fall amonge them, and veary difficult to gett out, beeing hooked in 3 wayes, though ther is 6 or 7 fadom water ouer the Southermost end of them. But I am of opinione it is better and safer not to make Diu at all, but, being gotten into 20° or 20° 10' at the most, to stand away E.S.E. to make an E. Sowtherly way to the Mayne, for the shoaling of the Mayne is as good and as bould as at Diu, from 10 fadom to 20, and soe in sight of land shoaling to 12 fadom 3 leaugs off; wherby you shall goe out of all dainger of the shoales, and noe aduise from Diu by frigatts shall prevent your Comminge in. Off Damon ther lyes a shoale 2 leaugs off the shoare.
3.7.3
September 17. — At Noone we weighed with the floud and stood in E. by N. 19, 18, and 17 fadom, the wynd at W.S.W.; and Nearing the land, we stood N.E. by N. and N.N.E. 16, 15, 14, and 13 fadom some 9 leaugs, the Coast trending from Damon to Suratt N.N.E. The floud setting N.E., it being spent we came to Anchor in 13 fadome 6 leaugs shortt of Suratt. The land at Damon is high. To the sowthward ther is a round hill much higher; to the Northward somewhat lower land then Damon, showeing diuers round hommockes; and the most Norther ward most high land seene is somewhat ragged, with little Copped hills vpon it, and betweene it and the water lowe land, the trees seeminge to stand in the sea. The Towne of Damon showes 3 whyte towers or Castelles.
3.7.4
September 18. — In the Morning at flood we weighed and stood N.N.E. some 3 howers along the Coaste, being all lowe land, discerning only the trees and some Juncks and frigetts standing in, and came to anchor in 9 fadom water, 3 leaugs shortt of the barr of Suratt, bearing N.E. Our deepthes were from 13 fadom, 12, 11, 10, and 9. At Noone with the flood wee stood away N.N.E. along the shoare 9 and 10 fadome water, some 3 leaugs to seaward of the riuer of Suratt. On the Sowthside theroff in a tufft of trees ther standes a whyte house like a Tower, from whence discerning Swally edginge in as the Channell laye, we had 15, 16, and 17 fadom, and beeing shott a litle to the Northward we came to Anchor in 8 fadom water, soft ground, close by the edge of a sand. The Pepercorne and Expedition, beeing two Cables lenght ahead, Anchored in 6 fadom. At lowe water the Peppercorne being somewhat nearer came aground, but tooke noe hurtt. It highes here 3 fadom flood.
3.7.5
September 19. — In the Morninge a frigatt Came to the W. of vs, which we supposing it had benn a Portugalls spie, made some fewe shott to fetch her in : but shee stood away for Cambaya, beinge one of the Cuntrie. At 8 a Clocke we mand our fower long boates, and sent ashoare, wher wee found ready one Bidolph a factor, and one Robart that had liued long with the Portugalls. They came presently aboord the Generall, and after to me, relating that ther was not one Portingall frigatt on the Coast, but that they labored a Peace with the Mogull on condition to Bannish the English, but had yet effected nothing. The new viceroy vnheard of at Goa; some of the factors sicke, and Master Edwardes aboue with the King, but noe Newes of extreordinarie fauoure; Mochrebchan remoued to the Court, and a New Gouernor for the Prince sent to Suratt, for whose Mayntaynance that Prouince is lately dessigned; he bears a faire countenance to the English, but effects little. Ther was noe lading come downe for a ship, nor any Newes of those gone vp to prouid yt; But Bidolf tould me in 15 dayes they Could prouide to lade one ship with Indico—his performance I knowe not.
3.7.6
September 20. — In the Morning the Generall dispatched Bidolf ashoare with a lettre signed by the Generall to the Gouernor of Suratt, to signifie my arriuall; the Coppie I keepe in my boock. At two a Clocke wee weighed, having sounded the barr 3 foote at lowe water, and with the last quarter ebb stood back two mile to the edge of the barr, and some what nearer the land, and Came to Anchor at 5 fadom and a halfe at Lowe water, bringing the lowe smooth poynte with the two highe Palmeto trees S. by E. and the Northwardmost land showeing like an Island N.N.E. September 21. — The Generall sent ashoare, but had no returne. The Expedition gott over the Barr. September 22. — A Messenger came from the Gouernor of Suratt with answer of the lettre, a Complement that I should be welcome, and if I would dessigne the daye he would send 30 horse for my traine, and his Commanders to meette me, and in all things studdie to giue me that Contentment his power or the means of the Place did affoord; and if the Merchants could find a howse emptie, he would Command it for me. But because hee offered me none, I sent to take one.
3.7.7
September 23. — I sent ashoare about my house, and with a Complement to the Gouernor this Message, that, vnderstanding the Custome of the Kings officers to search euerie thing that came ashoare, euen to the Pocketts of mens Cloathes on their backs, for Custome, I, beeing an Ambassador from a Mightie King, did expect to haue all things appertayninnge to myselfe and my Followers free by priuiledg; giuinge him the woord of one of my qualetye that there should not be landed vnder that protection one penny woorth of Marchandize, and that if any such affront were offered me, I would returne to the shipes, vntill I had order from the King his Master. This day I dispatched a lettre to Master Edwardes at Adiumere the Mogulles Court, which the Generall signed with me, the Coppie whereof I keepe.
3.7.8
September 24. — Answer was returned that it was the Custome of this Cuntrie that nothing could passe but by the Custome house, and thear to be searched; but, because they would doe me as much fauour as they could answere, the Gouernor would send an officer to the waterside to take note of those things belonging to me and seale them, and they should goe without stopp to my house, wher the Customer should Come and visitt them, but not in the nature of a search, but only to be able to answere they had seene what I landed; for myselfe and my followers, they should be free from all offer of affront. After some dispute with the Messenger, I yeeilded to yt, and returned answer that on the morow, the 25, I would land my Chests and on the 26 come ashoare in expectation of the horses and Company offered and the Honorable reception promised by the Gouernor.