Norris lands at Masulipatam, India, 25 September 1699

In this excerpt, Norris describes his first landing in India in the port town of Masulipatam on the Coromandel Coast, his reception by the local nawab and community, and the celebrations that ensued.

“My Barge being in Readynesse & all the Commanders in their barges ready to attend me I hoisted my fflag in my barge & soe imediately the fflag was taken down from the Harwich & broad penant put up. As I went of I was saluted by all the men of war & attended a shoare by Commanders where I landed about 10 a clocke in the morninge. All the English of both the old & new Company all the Dutch except the cheife who sent his excuse beinge sick the Governour of the place & vast crowds of people not only of the Town but of the Country for some miles around were gott together in such numbers the like not been seen. I had my Kettle Drum & Trumpetts with their banners & Haus boys plaing before all my Retinue walking bare behinde the Commodore. The Commanders commissioners & English gentlemen walking imediately before me each of them an umbrella over them & I two. Only when I walked by the Governours house which is the Kings ground no body was admitted to have an umbrella carryd over them but my selfe. The Governour came down himselfe to meet me layd me betwixt his Armes which is a salutation denotinge the greatest kindnesse & Respect bade me welcome & told me that the whole house & all in it were att my service & command I returned his complement & thanked him for his kindnesse & respect. As soon as I was was brought with this numerous attendance to my house (where a company of mariners were drawn & att my entrance saluted me with severall vollys) the Governour sent me a present of what the place afforded & the Dutch president likewise another & excused his not cominge himselfe upon account of his & his wifes indisposition but the moment he could come aboarde he would pay his Respects to me for which I returned him my thanks. All the Guns they had in Towne which were not many were fired att Landinge & all the Country Musick that could be mustered for some miles round were got together on this occasion with their harsh & unmusicall Notes but expressing greate joy att my arrivall & there was no gettinge rid of them for money that usd to dismiss the impertinence of matitioners with us in England servd but to make them more noisy soe there was no other way but to lett them play out Till they Tyred themselves which was not till late att night though they would be silent when my musick playd & admird them much so had 3 tables preserved for the Entertainment of all English gentlemen (for no Native eates with you) where the day passed with greate splendour but the Night greater for the squadron had prepared in their Longe boates which were brought neare the Towne very splendid & artificiall fireworks much to the admiration & amazement of the Indians who had not seen the like which lasted for some houres”

A new nawab arrives in Masulipatam, 4 January 1700

Here, Norris recounts the arrival of the new nawab of Masulipatam, who was sent on the orders of the Mughal to replace the old leader of the port town. Though eager to impress him, Norris is at the same time scathing of the new ruler, viewing his entrance into the town as disorderly and unbecoming of a person of his status.

“The Nabob beinge satisfyd the day was for his Turn accordingly came to Town about 11 in the morninge attended by (as neare as I could guesse) 600 Horse & as many foot, Him selfe riding upon an Elephant & 7 other attending, he had his sons with him who rode on Horse back, the Horses very fine & the furniture Rich & themselves well clad & made a good appearance. The Elder son had very good diamonds on his Turbant, The Nabob sate upon his Elephant with a canopy over his head & appeared very grave & becominge with a longe gray beard & Rich Turbant & cloathes & fine chin; He came just under my window & there being a balcony all alonge my House I planted all my musick att one end to salute him as he came by & att the other end stood myselfe raisd on a Couch with a large Carpett spreade before me with my hatt on & all the Rest of the English as well belonginge to me as the factory stood here, the Nabob stopt his Elephant to heare the Musick & turned his head twice or thrice back on me seemd well pleased (as he had reason) with the Respect that was shewn him for besides this I had ordered 21 guns to be fired to salute him just as he came by my house which he hearing of desired they might be defferd till was alight of his Elephant for feare it might put them in some disorder for thinke there they are well matcht horse Elephants & men all stand fire alike, nor indeed needed he to have taken care about disorderinge the cavaleade for neither Horse Elephants or foot kept any order or marched in Rank & file & I can liken the manner of their marchinge to nothinge more proper then when our Countrymen on takinge the field to choose a Knight of the Shire: I am well satisfyd 50 English men well mounted would have disposed of whole Company Elephants & all & seized the Nabob. There were about 10 or 12 Camells some of which carryd baggage others a small peice which could only be to look att for I am confident it could never be designed for execution: In this manner the Nabob moved on the Bank Sols where asoone as the Guns had done firinge he sent for the English that fired them & gave them 20 Rupees.”

Indian merchants accuse Norris of crime, 18 January 1700

In this excerpt, Norris records an incident in which 12 Indian merchants approach the nawab of Masulipatam, accusing Norris and and the New Company of owing them a large sum of money. Norris ardently denies the claim, but the nawab insists that Norris state his case officially to the town’s ‘cogee’, or chief law enforcement officer. Norris views this request as an affront to his position as royal ambassador, and refuses to provide any assistance to the nawab. The nawab would later imprison Norris’ interpreter in an attempt to force the ambassador to state his case to the cogee. In response to this, Norris orders his army to aim its guns at the nawab’s house and cuts off all communication with the nawab for the rest of his stay in Masulipatam.

‘Some Laskars (I thinke to the number of 12) beinge hired in India & brought to England in the ship Scarborugh some little time before my Departure & after havinge been discharged by havinge their wages paid to the full accordinge to agreement made with them but beinge left destitute of meanes & opportunity of gettinge home to their own Country again, the New Company tooke it in their consideration that whatever kindnesse was shewn by them to thise poore people would be well looked on in India and soe prove an advantage to their severall settlements they were goinge to make & the Trade they were goinge carryinge on, beleivinge these people would make it known in all places how very obliginge & kind the New Company had been to them who not only tooke care to send them home without any charge for their passage but provided for them plentifully every other way not only for victualls distinct by themselves but cloathinge them hansomely & givinge each as I understood 40sh a peice: This indeed a man would have thought would have produced a gratefull acknowledgement for these favours but had a quite contrary effect: though I carryd the favours a little farther & gave each of them 2 Doll att my landinge att Metchlapatam & whilst on board saved the fellow who is Ring leader […] for beinge whipt for some villanys he had practised, because I would have nothinge of a disgust given, but have them landed in their own country full of good usage they recvd both in England & onboard that the Company might not loose their Acone in beinge highly exaltd for their kindnesse to them, but the return they made was quite contrary to expectation for the next day after my landinge they came in a Body before my house demandinge a great sum of money due to them for soe much a month wages & I thinke mentioned 23shill for severall months due to them from the New Company I sent them word I knew no such thinge, but supposinge if anythinge in Reality were due to them upon any such account the Dipostours would have made the Consull accquainted with it which is what it was never havinge mentioned one syllable of any such matter to me either by word of mouth or writinge soe accordingly orderd them to goe to the Consull who knew as little as I of anythinge due to them (or indeed of a possibility of anythinge could be due to them & he not accquainted with it) soe orderd them to be gone: The next day they came & Renewd their clamour before my Doores I sent them the same message as the Day before & gave strict charge they should not trouble me any more about it but if they could make anythinge appeare to be due to them the Consull would discharge it This would not suffice but the Ringleader of them a pestilentiall troublesome fellow came the Next day clamoringe for justice for his Imprudence I ordered a Chopdar to have him seizd & soundly Bastinaded & told that next time he came in such a manner he should be worse usd: They desisted then cominge either to me or the Consull & clamourd to the Hosdair & severall other officers who tooke no farther notice then the such complaints had been made but they knew well it was not the Custome for the English to owe money att all, especially to such Raschally fellows who were informed by the Consulls Dubas what Raschalls they were who by this time had clamourd for a debt owinge by both the New & old Company & att last fixd it upon me that I owed them money; their different demands was sufficient satisfaction to every body they complained that there be no justice in their demands, soe here it restes till the New Nabob came and then came one day in a Body before him & demanded justice against the English & against me for money owinge to them Mahomett Seyd & severall others who had before been accquainted with the whole matter & villany of these fellows informed the Nabob of it that there was nothinge in it but that these fellows were noisy & wanted employment soe they were orderd to be gone: The next day they came all in a body in Hackirs habitts with ashes upon their Heades Renewinge the same complaints with greater Noise & demandinge justice: The Nabob then seemed to say he could not avoid takinge cognizance soe far of it, as to refer it to the Cogee (who is a sort of Cheife justice) & that it was his businesse to decide & soe sent to accquaint me of it & that if I would send anybody that would affirme there was nothinge due to them there was an end of the businesse: This they could not be soe ignorant as not to know the English never gave any appearance in any of their courts though all artifices have been used to make them: much more they might well thinke that I should never doe a thinge like it, soe began to suspect that these fellows were instigated by other hands to pursue this matter soe far & that there were some other dealinges the Nabob & artifices used to push thinges on to such a height & to inflame on One side or other: Soe I sent him a message by vincalodre my Interpreter to ₽ Nabob That I thought he had been soe sufficiently made accquainted from all hands of the villany of these fellows that I might have expected soe much justice of him that he would not have admitted them to make any demands against me a second time but I sent now to tell him that as there was not the least pretence nor any possibility I should owe any them any money because I had never employed them as […] soe if they had any demands on any other English man I was the proper & sole judge of it that nothinge of the Nature lay before him that lett them come & make it in the least appeare that any thinge was due to them by any English man I would imediatley order present payment Even to Their satisfaction, soe that after I had informed him of this I expected to heare no farther of it He urged then that I would send any person whatsoever either mooreman or Gentoo to say to the Cogee that there was nothinge due to that that should suffice, I returned him the message again by Vincalodre it was below me to submitt to any such Thinge & that I should trouble my selfe no farther on that account: Expectinge Vincalodre back I recvd a message from him that he was detained prisoner by the Nabob who threatened to keep him prisoner till I had sent somebody to appeare before the Cogee: This I looked upon as the greatest rudenesse could be committed.’

Old Company merchants snub Norris as he sails into Surat, 10 December 1700

Here, Norris recounts sailing into Surat, where Sir John Geyer, head of the Old Company, snubs Norris by refusing to lower the Union flag aboard the Old Company ship, the Tavistock, as a sign of respect to the English ambassador.

‘Assoone as ever I was come to anchor wee discovered an English vessell neare Swall Barr with the Union flagg hoisted on the main Top mast heade which I supposed to be the Tavistock & on board her Sir John Geer taken in att Bombay & who I had been informed before carryd the union flagg which was Impudence in him to carry att any time but very greate presumption to carry it in sight of my flagg, but I had heard his character & a more daringe peice of Impudence then this, which was that in the Duke of yorks time when he was Admirall of England & had the standard hoisted on the main Top mast heade & the Union flag of the fare Top mast he passed by him with out takinge the least notice or shewinge any markes of Respect neither strooke the flagg he had no right to carry nor lord his Top sailes & yet the Duke (as the story was told me) passed him Reguardless for a proude India man: It was my Duty not to pass him by reguardlesse: And not havinge authentik knowledge what ship it was, who on board her, or who commanded her I Imediatley sent my secretary on board with the followinge order & directions to enquire for the Officer or Commander in cheife deliver the order in to his handes & tell him I expected an imediate complyance in every particulare & then ordered him to come away forthwith which was performed accordingly: The order as follows

By his Excellency Sr Wm Norriss Barronett Embassadour Extraordinary from the Kinge of England Scotland France & Ireland to the most victorious & Renowned Emperour of Indostan &c

These are to Require & command you forthwith to strike the Union flagg now flyinge on baord you & imediatley to repaire on board the ship Sommers your self to give me an account by what authority you have worn the same & how you dare to presume to doe it in sight of his majestys flagg: As you will answer the Contrary att your perill.’

A local offers advice to Norris on how to behave at the Mughal Court, 30 December 1700

‘This day Mr Pereira a Jew (who had been resident 14 years att Suratt and employed by merchants in London in the Diamond Trade for which he has 10 per cent commission) came to make me a visit with the Consull; a Brother of his in London is a particular friend & accquaintance of mine who I suppose had wrote to him to offer his service & shew me all manner of respect I discoursd with him some houres & found him a man of sense & great knowledge & experience in this Country, as likewise the Camp, where he had been some years since I enquired of him amongst severall other matters the manner of Europeans makinge their approaches to the Mogull, especially of my character & how I might expect to be recvd, who answerd there was no doubt but I should be recvd with great Civility & Respect the Mogull putting the greater value upon a complement sent him from the King of England then from the Grand Seigniar whose embassadour whilst he was att court saw little notice of & much slighted, That I must approach him without pulling of my hatt but make 3 obeyances, touchinge the ground with my hand each time & raisinge it to my heade & breast in the nature of a salam That no person whatsoever was ever sufferd to sitt down in his presence not even his own sons, That he would receive me sittinge on a Throne erected in his Tent & raised 4 or 5 steps to the bottom of which I might approach but no further & that I could not deliver the letter from the King of England with my own hands but that the prime vizier would take it from me & deliver it; That what I saide to him must be short & the request I made for privleiges for the English to be put in writing which himself would peruse & sign the grant or Refuse att the first readinge but then the ministers if not well gratifyd & securd to our Interest would make Insufferable delays & demurrs; that nothinge in India but more especially att court was to be done or transacted without large summs of money, which was the most acceptable present as well to the Mogull as his ministers, & next the strong spirits which all the moores are fond of exept the Mogull who keepes strictly to his religion & drinkes none That before I made my presents to the Mogull he would have a list of them, & looke them over what he liked & then would order them to be brought before him & after admitt me & grant or Refuse what I asked accordinge as he likd the presents That the custom of 3 ½ per cent the Mogull would never grant to the English to be taken of att Suratt; because all other nations would expect the like, & it was the greatest advantage of the past & a considerable Revenue annually from 9 to 11 Lack of Rupees He likewise accquaited me of an Armenian that had depended on him who had been twice att the camp, lived some time there attended all the while on the Dutch Embassadr & knew the customs & manner of application as well as any, who he would discourse with & learn what was proper for my knowledge from him, take it in writinge & give it me withall offeringe me with all kindness civility & I beleive sincerity all the service lay in his power’.

Norris appoints Rustamji as his chief broker, 6 January 1701

Norris appoints his broker in a traditional Indian ceremony.

‘This day, att the Consuls Request I Tasherift Rustamgee with a Horse hansomly accouterd brought for the purpose which one of my pages held & gave to him by my order & att the same with my own hands gave him a rich vest & Turbatt att the receivinge of which he made 3 salams to the ground went out & imediately put on the habitt & then I threw the shaull over his shoulders which is the greatest peice of honour & mark of favour I could show him & soe accepted att which he kneeld down & kist my shoe & made 3 salams to the ground I then delivered him the Instrument constituting him the Companys chief Broaker This is the greatest honour that was ever done his cast & soe taken by all the Rest as a particular honour done their cast, He rides home upon the Horse I gave him with the same Habit which he weares 2 days & Receives Complemets & presents from all his cast, friends & accquaintance & those that expect employment under him, who all come to congratulate him for the greate honour conferred on him’.

Norris meets a chameleon, 7 February 1701

On his march to the Mughal court, Norris describes his first encounter with a chameleon.

‘As an Insurance of the delicacy of the Aire I first met here a Camelion which some authors say lives only on that, & soe this wisely had made choice of very good; as yett I cannot confute that tradition & indeed mett with what raised my admiration in this creature & which I did not give creditt to the Relations I had reade which was its changinge colours which I saw verifyd above 40 times this afternoone & almost as many different colours as the Rainbow whether raised by passion feare or what other motive I am not yet accquainted but the matter of fact is true that it changed it selfe into as many different colours & soe far Remarkeable that what ever you put it upon white Red or blue for the generality sympathisd with the colour he was upon & puttinge him upon a persian carpett in a Trice appeared in the severall colours as were in the carpett: as to the creature it selfe it agrees in shape with the skeletons of this animall I have seen in Librarys & Cutts in bookes of Travells, the Natives fancy it a very poysnous creature & warn you against it, but it was handled by severall & saw nothinge like ranchor or venom in it but the most quiet contented mild animall I have mett with: Its texture is very extraordinary his eyes look like little diamonds sett after the Indian fashion but little appears of the eye but the Globe of it seemes large which he will turn any ways looke anyways up with one eye & down with the other & soe looke before him with one & behind him with the other seemes to be moved att nothinge has a very wide mouth which he opened once when he was handled too hard his feet are in the Nature of Lobsters claws his fore feet & hind differ in this that his fore feet have 3 claws on the outside & 2 within & his hind feet 2 the outside & 3 within upon which he walkes with as greate circumspection as a Rose dancer: His Tayle is longe which he winds about what ever he walkes on for security & to seize him I ordered him to be kept for I thinke it a greate rarity’.

Norris describes Asad Khan, Grand Vizier to Aurangzeb, 9 March 1701

Norris is scathing in his account of the Mughal’s main adviser, Asad Khan.

Norris writes that Asad Khan was the ‘Greatest & Richest man in the Empire next to the Mogull & most say Richer then He havinge Amassed vast sums of money by very large Incomes & never payinge any body which makes him Generally hated His Riches cheifly Ly in Jewells & some Gold which he carrys with him They tell us he has 30 wives & 800 other women with him & has change of 3 or 4 every night which I thinke might be spard considerigne his Age which is 90 years old he has not been in soe greate favour as formerly for these 3 or 4 years but the Mogull has not thinke it a fitt act of policy to displace him because his sons & creatures have the cheife comand of the severall armys & that it would be difficult & breed ill blood amongst his other cheife ministers To preferr one to his office; he has been sent for often to the Mogull but has always found some excuse to stay where he is, It is Impossible to beleive how dissolute & Luxurious the lives of these great men are The vizier spendinge his whole time with his women his Eunuchs & pandars who have liberty of access att all times & his secretary in Relation to business but rarely & that as the Eunuch pleases: Both the vizier & all his prime ministers fond of nothinge more then Hott spiritts with which they make themselves drunke every day if they can get it give a prodigious rate if they buy it & no present soe gratefull at that. The mogull himself winks att it & drinks not a drop himself but they say is grown fearfull & jealous of all mankind’.

English-turned-Mughal soldier shares story with Norris, 5 April 1701

At the Mughal camp near Panhala Fort, an ex-East India Company soldier now employed in the Mughal Army gives Norris an account of his experiences.

‘An English man that had been in India 32 yeares & had been severall yeares in the service of the King of Golcunda, & with him when he was taken & scince served the mogull in the nature of a Gunner att 4 Rup a day wages came & visited our camp & discoursed with some of his country men Mr Harlowin & Mills discoursed with him about severall particulars: The fellow seemed very free & open & told all he knew (& I beleive somethinge more:) In Relation to the castle att parnellaw the mogull was now beseiginge he said he had taken it 10 yeares agoe, but no sooner had mended the breachers refortifyd it & sent in good stor of provisions & Ammunition, but the Rajahs sealed the walls & tooke it in one night & kept it ever scince (I suppose Treachery in the officer that comanded it ) Their Batterys by his account are very Indifferent & not able to performe any greate service, there not beinge any more then 7 guns planted after their fashion against the castle […] This Gunner says from the Top to the bottom there is nothinge but cheatinge Treachery & basenesse in the Highest degree. The castle it seemes has no more guns then the beseigers & not more then 300 men & though there are 2 or 3 breaches in the wall yet the beseigers dare not venter to enter or make an assault He says that notwithstandinge the vast multitudes of people of all sorts in the mogulls Laschar & the severall Generalls that Invade the castle yet there are not above 20000 of such as pretend to be fightinge men, though the mogull pay for above 100000 men in this place: The false musters is the cheifest gaine of all the officers for a Generall that has the pay of 8000 horse which is about £25000 sterlinge a month (as Asad Chawn has) if he keeps 1500 it is reckond a greate deale & the Rest put in his pockett & soe of all the Rest soe that the mogull is att soe imense an expense in payine soe many officers for soe many horses that I wonder from whence the money arises to doe it: This fellow pretends that the mogull is very poore & wants money extremly the whole army is vastly in arreare: He havinge 14 monthes pay due to him: That the Army grumbles & begin to be mutinous not stickinge openly to speake slightly […] of the mogull himselfe as well officers as comon soldiers but their mouths were stopt a little with the arrivall of this cephala which brought 25 Lack of Rup: He continues the Report wee had of the Mogulls sendinge away both his Osmshaw & his grandson for Tamperinge with the Army & designinge to seize & depose him: The old Kinge is very cunninge & has spys upon everybody & soe good inteligence that nobody can move a step or speake a worde but he knows it; And his design of continuinge in these parts is to be amongst the Hills to Hinder his sons from makinge any attempt upon Him all approaches with an army beinge difficult: This Gubber told one story of Him which I am unwillinge to beleive because it contradicts the Notion I have of him att present & the character has been given him universally duringe his whole reign that though he made his way to the Empire thro a greate deale of Blood & sacrifisd father & Brothers, yet they Report that he has Repented very seriously & severly of it, & his Reign for 45 yeares has been both very materiall & Just: Now this fellow says that it is True the mogull never putts any body to death publickly but whenever He has a mind to take any body of, he suspects, or is afraide of, He does it with a pretence of kindnesse & freindship pretends the person has done Him some greate service, & soe Rewards Him with A surpaw, which is soe strongly & artificially poysond under the Arms that the first time you weare it Tis’ certain Death & by this meanes he says has taken severall of lately, but tells of A Rajah who found a way to evade it The mogull beinge as some feare of him, havinge a mind to take him of this way, sent for him to give him a surpaw for a Reward of some services done the Rajah came soe well attended he knew the Mogull would not order him to be assasinated & when the mogull complemented him with a surpaw he knew what he meant & told the mogull he wold wear no garment but what came of his back the mogull understood him & to avoide any suspition of design against him pulled of his own & gave it to Him’.

Norris receives letter and gifts from Aurangzeb, 4 February 1702

On his journey home from the Mughal Court, in a town called Burhanpur, Norris is presented with a letter and gifts, including an elephant, sent from Aurangzeb in a ceremony conducted by the local nawab.

‘About 9 a clocke I sett out in the manner mentioned before & when I came within the Nabobs Carnetts was first conducted by the 2 scrivans (who attended me all the while) to a very handsome Tent in order to Receive the Emprors letter & present for the King of England which was placed upon a fine Inlayd Chaire with a Rich coveringe over it Assoone as I approacht neare, the coveringe was taken of, & then I made 4 Bows, after that I came close to the chaire where they lay (behind which stood the Goosberdar that brought the, & about 100 other people) The Goosberdar first takinge the Emprors letter which he gave me & I made 4 bows & put the letter upon my Hatt (one of the scrivans holdinge it over my heade as he did all the while I stopd att the Nabobs) Then the Goosberdar presented me with the Hanjahr for the King of England which was enclosd in a small box wrapd about first with a very Rich Attlas & on the out side English cloath & sealed att the Top with Ruolo Chawns seale (out of whose office it came) I made the same obeyances Att the Receipt of that as the letter & delivered it to one of my pages to carry (the letter beinge carryd over my hatt as mentiond before) ffrom thence I was conducted into a very pretty apartment neatly spreade with white & a fountain Runninge & waters playinge downe the side & a small canall about a yard broade in the midle where I was recvd by Hamed Chawn the Nabobs Brother I sittinge on one side of the canall & He on the other, after some complements passed in the Nabobs name, & his own, he told me the Nabob was ready to Receive me, soe I ordered him my hand present of Gold & he gave me Betle himselfe & sent betle to all the rest with me soe much as the pages footmen & Trumpeters: ffrom thence I was conducted thro’ vast crouds of people (who were ordered there on purpose) to the Nabobs Duanconna: His Elephants & Horses both richly adorned beinge drawn up on each side as I passed when I came within the Carnetts where ythe Nabob satt in the Duanconna There was a large Area crowded as full of Topshaws (Gunmen) as the place could hold brought on purpose to shew me his strength & what forces he had ready: A more confused mob cannot be conceivd then they were no Rank or order A Lane beinge made & after I had passd thro’ them they were orderd to withdraw: & then I was conducted to the entrance of the Duanconna where assoone as I came the Arusbege Informed the Nabob of my beinge there (naminge my name) att which time I bowed to the Nabob after my fashion & He salamd to me after His, & then was conducted to the upper end & placed in an equall line to the Nabob on his left hand about 3 yardes distance nobody sittinge equall but myselfe his brother sittinge att greater distance on the other side & all round the Tent which was very large satt 3 Rows of officers very Richly clad in very Regular order close to the sides of the Tent & could not be much less then 800 persons Behinde me att some distance & att each hand of the Nabob were six people that carryd swords in rich covers of velvett Embroyderd: & att the entrance of the Tent was the same number of each side with large silver utensills (which I understood afterwards belonged to the Kitchen) soe that He tooke the oportunity of shewinge all his greatnesse: The scrivans havinge askd how many of my Retinue I would permitt to sitt down by me I named Mr Harlowin Mr Mills & Mr Hale: who satt accordingly every one of the Rest beinge asked to come into the Tent & placed conveniently: Assoone as I was satt downe the Nabob gave his Respects & bad me welcome that He was very glad of the oportunity of givinge me an Honourable dismission as the Empror had directed & he doubted not but would be to my Intire satisfaction That he had used his utmost Indeavours to procure the phirmaunds for the Company, & tho’ they were not yett perfected yett He had the Emprors promise that they should be granted in a little time, & he would not faile to use his Indeavours to expedite them. I Returnd the Nabob many thanks for his favours which I had experienced that I was sensible his Intrest was soe greate with the Empror that either they would be procured by Him or could be by nobody else, & should be very glad to receive them from Him And that nothinge scince I came to India was greater satisfaction then this oportunity of seeinge Him who was the cheife Bahadour of the Empire: These complements havinge passed The Nabob to shew his own state & me some entertainment had ordered all his elephants very large Indeed & fine all clad in fine Attlasses & greate plates of silver att their Heade & Tayle the Nabobs own Elephants beinge att least 16 foot high And 2 white Horse Tayles att each side his eares All the Elephants successively came & salamd with their Trunks & bended their feet to pay their complements & afterwards all his Horses richly caparisend & finely painted brought to shew: After the Nabob asked me whether ever wee saw any Elephants in England, & if any there from whence they came, to which I Replyd that very Rarely some had been brought to England from the nearist parts of Africk Then the Nabob accquainted me that the Empror had sent me a surpaw which was ready for me to put on soe withdrew into a small Tent sett up for that purpose & put it on the Turbatt over my Hatt & the shall over my shoulders & soe went to the front of the Duanconna payinge the same Respects upon the Receipts of the Emprors surpaw as done for the Kings prisent att which time I was presented likewise with an Elephant the ceremony of which was the Elephant brought into the Area & A silver Hooke by which they give beinge held over my shoulder & this beinge given me att the same time with the Emprors surpaw puts it beyond all dispute that it was presented by the Empror though the The Nabob had been contrivinge all alonge to gett a sum of money for it as cominge from Himselfe: After this I went up to the Nabob to take my leave He givinge me Gilded betle with his own hands & orderinge it to be given to all the Rest of my Retinue att which time he assured me from his own mouth That he had the Emprors word for the 3 phirmaunds for the Company granted in every particulare as I requested & that they should be sent after me upon which I returned a suitable complement & soe He wishinge me all hapynesse I tooke my leave.’