Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/14

8 different times took up their residence on the sea-coasts of Balasore and Arracan, and in several habitable islands, which lye in the mouths of the great and lesser Ganges, where, living without law, and with much superstition, some hired themselves as soldiers to the governors of the neighbouring districts, whilst others equipt boats and armed vessels, and plundered in the rivers all who were not able to resist them. The Dutch settled in Bengal about the year 1625. The trade of this country was opened to the English by means of a surgeon named Boughton, who in 1636 was sent from Surat to Agra to attend a daughter of the emperor Shaw Jehan, whom he cured, and the emperor, besides other favours, granted him a patent to trade free of customs throughout his dominions, with which Boughton proceeded to Bengal, intending to purchase goods in this province, and to carry them by sea to Surat. His patent would probably have been little regarded, if the Nabob of the province had not wanted his assistance to cure one of his favourite women, whom, he likewise recovered: on which the Nabob prevailed on him to remain in his service, giving him an ample stipend, and confirming the privilege of trade which he had obtained at Agra, with a promise to extend it to all others of the English nation who should come to Bengal. Boughton wrote an account of his influence to the English governor at Surat, by whose advice the company in 1640 sent two ships from England to Bengal, the agents of which being introduced to the Nabob by Boughton, were received with courtesy, and assisted in their mercantile transactions; and the advantages gained by this trial gave encouragement to prosecute the trade.

The profits accruing to Europeans by their trade to Indostan, arise much more from the commodities which they purchase in that country, than from those which they send thither, and the most valuable part of the cargoes returned to Europe consists of silk and cotton manufactures; the weaver of which, is an Indian, living and working with his wife and several children in a hut, which scarcely affords him shelter from the sun and rain: his natural indolence however