The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c23.s3.110

v4.c23.s3.110

The French Compagnie des Indes had a branch at Syriam in 1688; its existence continued intermittently for nearly a century.¹ The Burmese tried to make the English re-establish the branches which had been closed for many years (p. 495); as their efforts failed, they seized *St Antony and St Nicholas*, a ship affiliated to the English, which put into Syriam for wood and water in 1692. Thereupon governor Higginson of Madras consented to re-establish private trade, but a resident chief was not appointed to Syriam till 1722. The imports were firearms for the Burmese government, piece-goods, hats and other European wares, areca, and coconuts from the Nicobars; the exports were ivory, lac, pepper, cardamum, beeswax, fur, cutch, large quantities of raw cotton and silk, together with such jewels, silver, lead, copper, iron, tin and earth-oil as could be got in spite of the highly protectionist system of the Burmese, which prohibited the export of precious metal, jewels, rice, and indeed of most commodities. Moreover, they were allowed to use as much teak as they liked for building ships at Syriam, and they built many, the favourite type being brigantines of 40-50 tons.