the
brokers of India. These brokers are commonly, as it were, chiefs of
their families, for whom they hold all the joint property in trust to
turn it to account. For that reason those qualified by years and
experience are selected, so that they may be able to secure benefit to
all the kinsmen, being both the depositaries and the guardians of their
goods. Every evening, when they return from business, and, according to
the custom of the Indians, who do not sup, eat some sweetÂmeats and
drink a cup of water, the oldest of the kinsmen assemble at the house
of the broker, who renders an account of what he has done during the
day, and they hold counsel together as to what should be done in the
future. He is especially exhorted to take care of their business, and
if possible to defraud rather than be defrauded.1
CHAPTER XIV
Concerning the Methods to be observed for establishing a new Commercial Company in the East Indies.2
Should any
nation desire to establish a Commercial ComÂpany in the East Indies,
before all things it ought to secure a good station in the country to
be in a position to refit its ships, and to lay them by during the
seasons when they cannot go to sea. The want of a good harbour is the
reason why the English Company has not progressed so well as it might
have done, because a vessel cannot last for two years without being
refitted, as it is liable to be attacked by worms.
As
the route from Europe to the East Indies is long, it is desirable that
the Company should have some place at the Cape of Good Hope for
watering and obtaining supplies of
1 See an interesting account of the customs of the Hindu brokers at Goa by Caesar Fredericke, Marchant of Venice, in his Voyage and Travell (R. Hakluyt, Principali Navigations, Everyman's
Library, iii. 206 f.). As regards rights of property mentioned above, '
the normal state of every Hindu family is Joint. Presumably every such
family is Joint in food, worship, and estate ' (J. D. Mayne, Hindu Law and Usage, 2nd ed., 242 f.).
* This chapter is also introduced into the supplementary volume of Taverniere travels entitled Recueil de plusieurs relations et traitez singuliers et curieux, &c, where it is somewhat modified in details.
