Page:History of India Vol 4.djvu/83

 HAWKINS, THE BRITISH CAPTAIN 57 the East India Company on a voyage to Surat, charged with letters and presents from James I " to the princes and governors of Cambaya, on account of his experience and language." He arrived at the bar of Surat, August 24, 1608, and soon discovered that his credentials would have to be presented to a higher potentate than those of Cambay. After twenty days he obtained leave to land his cargo, and was told he must deliver the king's let- ter to the Great Moghul in person. Accordingly, he dis- missed his vessel to trade with a new cargo to Bantam. The Portuguese, however, were not yet innocuous, and their ships captured the " Hector " as soon as she sailed. The Portuguese captain-major received Hawkins's re- monstrances with contempt, and set to " vilely abusing his Maiestie, tearming him King of Fishermen, and of an Island of no import, and a for his Commission." To these ignominious expressions a Portuguese naval officer added that " these seas belonged unto the King of Portugall, and none ought to come here without his license." Such was the reception of the first envoy of England at the port of the Great Moghul. Hawkins soon found that his troubles had only begun. Notwithstanding Akbar's administrative reforms, it is clear that the local authorities in Gujarat were oppres- sive and venal, and nothing could be done without a bribe. The governor pillaged the seaman's goods, pay- ing only " such a price as his owne barbarous con- science afforded. He came to my house three times, sweeping me cleane of all things that were good." Mat- ters came to such a pass that the traveller had to defend