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132 PERFIDY OF THE DUTCH book ii
of
many men of honour, and particularly of M. Hartman, who was then the
second officer in the factory at Surat. So, to protect myself from
snares which were set for me, I was obliged to be constantly
accompanied by many people, and I was even unable to go to Golkonda,
where there is a great trade in diamonds, as I was warned by my friends
that ten or twelve English awaited me in that part of the world to do
me some injury. The treachery which was thus done to me disturbed all
my plans and caused me considerable loss ; besides which I was obliged
to carry back to Persia a large sum of money, in consequence of my not
being able to invest it in India.
This
is a copy of the letter which I sent on this subject to Batavia, to the
General of the Dutch Company and the members of his Council, dated
Surat, the 16th May 1665.
' Gentlemen—I
take the liberty to write to you these lines in order to testify the
displeasure I have experienced at the affront done me by Commander
Henri Van-Wiick at Gombroon, who has ignored the letters of
recommendation which I received from the Ambassador to the States, an
Officer of my King, addressed, one to the Chief Officer of the Company
at Ispahan, another to the Commander at Gombroon, and a third to the
Commander in this town of Surat, asking all three to assist me as much
as possible, except in so far as the Company was interested. But M.
Henri Van-Wiick has disregarded that addressed to him, and has done me
the most signal affront that a man of honour, as I, an Officer of his
Royal Highness, the brother of my King, could ever receive, which was
to have my baggage opened, in which there were many jewels, some of
which have been lost, and to have ordered a large packet of letters to
be taken which the Agent of the English at Gombroon entrusted to me to
deliver to the President of the English in this town of Surat, having
had another packet containing blank paper placed in its stead. I leave
you to reflect what kind of esteem the President and all the English
hold me in at present, and whether I have not good cause for making my
complaints and asking justice from you. And, if it should please you
gentlemen to send me permission to wait upon you at Batavia,
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