DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9696#0030
xxvi
INTRODUCTION
of the indigo already ordered and then made his way to
Shergarh, some twelve miles distant, where he collected
about 400 bundles of saltpetre, Shergarh being the " onlye
place about Agra where it is sold and made."
From January until August 1632 Mundy remained at
Agra as second of that factory. In June he witnessed
Shah Jahan's royal progress into the city on his return
from Burhanpur, as described in Relation XIII., and the
celebration of the feast of Bakar'id narrated in Relation XIV.
His five years' agreement with the Company expired in
February 1633, and on his application to Surat for leave
to return to England, John Robinson was entertained as a
factor and sent to supply his place.
But before his departure from Agra Mundy was en-
trusted with an important commercial mission to Patna,
involving a journey of over 500 miles. Unfortunately,
there was some misconception at headquarters and a
grave error in the instructions. In fact, as was afterwards
shown, the whole proceeding was "the effect of a mistake."
Mundy himself was strongly averse to the undertaking
and so convinced of its fruitlessness that he drew up a
memorial of his " Reasons against the Journey to Puttana"
{Relation IX.), in order to clear himself of blame, if the
expedition turned out as he expected. From this memorial
we learn that Fremlen was desirous of finding a market
for the quicksilver and vermilion " lyeinge dead " in the
Agra factory, and that the President and Council at Surat
were looking for a fresh centre for the supply of coarse
cotton goods for the home market. The glut of quicksilver
and vermilion was caused by the "great quantities" brought
out by "private traders" in 1631 "to the honble. Companys
extraordinary Losse and hindrance." In the endeavour
" to cutt the combe of private traders and to reduce the
aforesaid Comodities to their pristine esteeme and valua-
tion," a consignment was sent from Surat for disposal at
Agra in 1632 (p. 81). Instead of realizing a good price,
it remained as a drug in the market; hence Fremlen's
eagerness to diminish the quantity by sending it to Patna
INTRODUCTION
of the indigo already ordered and then made his way to
Shergarh, some twelve miles distant, where he collected
about 400 bundles of saltpetre, Shergarh being the " onlye
place about Agra where it is sold and made."
From January until August 1632 Mundy remained at
Agra as second of that factory. In June he witnessed
Shah Jahan's royal progress into the city on his return
from Burhanpur, as described in Relation XIII., and the
celebration of the feast of Bakar'id narrated in Relation XIV.
His five years' agreement with the Company expired in
February 1633, and on his application to Surat for leave
to return to England, John Robinson was entertained as a
factor and sent to supply his place.
But before his departure from Agra Mundy was en-
trusted with an important commercial mission to Patna,
involving a journey of over 500 miles. Unfortunately,
there was some misconception at headquarters and a
grave error in the instructions. In fact, as was afterwards
shown, the whole proceeding was "the effect of a mistake."
Mundy himself was strongly averse to the undertaking
and so convinced of its fruitlessness that he drew up a
memorial of his " Reasons against the Journey to Puttana"
{Relation IX.), in order to clear himself of blame, if the
expedition turned out as he expected. From this memorial
we learn that Fremlen was desirous of finding a market
for the quicksilver and vermilion " lyeinge dead " in the
Agra factory, and that the President and Council at Surat
were looking for a fresh centre for the supply of coarse
cotton goods for the home market. The glut of quicksilver
and vermilion was caused by the "great quantities" brought
out by "private traders" in 1631 "to the honble. Companys
extraordinary Losse and hindrance." In the endeavour
" to cutt the combe of private traders and to reduce the
aforesaid Comodities to their pristine esteeme and valua-
tion," a consignment was sent from Surat for disposal at
Agra in 1632 (p. 81). Instead of realizing a good price,
it remained as a drug in the market; hence Fremlen's
eagerness to diminish the quantity by sending it to Patna