1837 the sum of 8,250 rupees. Her cargo consisted of sugar, silks, shawls, cloth, kinkaub and other kinds, 600 bottles of attar of roses, and other articles from Elbian; we took pepper, cocoa-nut oil, and cloth, with numerous passengers, some of whom were respectable, with their families.

We arrived safe at Cochin, and received more bales of cloth; then left for the Red Sea. On the 14th January at three o'clock A. M., we ran on shore in Goobut Saylan. As daylight dawned, we were surrounded by Bedouins from Aden, who seized our boats, and came on board, when the scene of plunder commenced: the women were driven aloft, while chest and baggage was plundered; they were then permitted to go with me on a raft we constructed to save our lives. As we drew near the shore, I was seized, as well as the rest, dipped under water several times, and then stript naked; the females were treated the same in regard to clothing, but underwent the most disgusting insults, and were most indelicately examined to ascertain if they had money or jewels 'hid, and some of the best-looking were only saved from being taken away by the intercession of a priest. Having satisfied themselves we had no property, we were driven away, and we all, both male and female, proceeded to Aden in a state of nudity, where, through the kindness of the priest, Syed Zair Hydroose, we were supplied with a coarse waist covering and some food. Most fortunately a bugalah, under English colours, belonging to Sheik Abdulla Suffee, was at anchor, from Bombay; he took compassion upon us, gave us food, and a passage to Mocha. Before quitting Aden, the Sultan, hearing of my being on board the bugalah, sent some Bedouins on board, and took me on shore, where he obliged me to sign a paper, under fear of death, to say they had not ill-treated us; thus compelled, to save life, and to escape from their hands, I signed a falsehood.

1

I arrived safe at Mocha, and met the late acting agent, Abdool Russool, who gave me a man to take me to the agent. On my arriving there, I was directed to come to morrow; I did so, and he gave me one dollar for food for myself and crew. He asked me if I had witnesses to prove all I had said, and he took

their depositions. He afterwards gave me two dollars 1837 more. Such sums being insufficient for myself and crew for many days, we were obliged to beg, which we did until Dwarka, a Banian, fed us, and provided us with a passage to Juddah, to see the captain of the Government ship there.

On my arrival at Juddah, the Euphrates had left for Mocha, so I returned again to Mocha in Zachariah's ship, the commander of which kindly took compassion on me and some of my men; and some acquaintances have clothed me.

The ship was valuable; I should think she had two lacs of property on board.

Witness the truth thereof,

SYED NOURADEEN NAKHOODAH PEROO.

HAJEE MAMBARUCK.

HAMED BEN SALEM BAKAJEE.

HYDROS BEN ALLOMJEE.

SYED MAHOMED AMAR BEN ATDUNUBBEE.

V.

The Native Agent at Mocha to the Secretary to the Bombay Government.

(A. C.)

21 June 1837. I beg to state, that Syed Nouradeen Bokhari presented a petition to me regarding a vessel which had been wrecked off Aden, in consequence of which I took the depositions of the lookanee, serang, and misturees, in their own writing, as to the circumstances that occurred.

I then told the above Syed Nouradeen that the Euphrates, Gaptain Rogers, was expected from Juddah; that he should stay in Mocha, and that on his (Captain Rogers') arrival, I would adopt such measures as might be deemed proper by the Captain.

Syed Nouradeen, however, went to Juddah, and did not remain at Mocha; in the meantime the Euphrates arrived from Juddah, when I brought the above petition to the notice of Captain Rogers, and he asked where Syed Nouradeen was; I said he had gone to Juddah. Captain Rogers then rejoined, that had Syed Nouradeen been present, measures would have been adopted.

1837

Afterwards the Coote, Captain Denton, came in from Bombay, and I mentioned to him also the subject of the petition. Meanwhile Syed Nouradeen returned from Juddah, and visited Captain Denton on board the Coote, when the Captain told him to see him in company with me: he accordingly came to me, and as I was sick at the time, I told him that I would accompany him after a few days. To this he assented; but he did not appear again. I, however, sent for him, when he said he would come after seeing Captain Haines.

Afterwards Captain Haines caused me to be informed, that Captain Denton intended to be on shore; and Syed Nouradeen told me that he had withdrawn the petition given to me.

I have heard from private sources that Syed Nouradeen has got an adviser, by whose advice he acts. He intends to go to Bombay in the Palinurus.

I enclose herein the petition and the depositions of the witnesses. The Nakhooda, Ahmed ben Khundar, of the wrecked vessel, has not come to me to enable me to make an inquiry.

I beg you will be pleased to apprise the Governor in Council of all the above particulars.

VI.

Substance of a petition from Syed Nouradeen Bokhari to the Bombay Government, without date, accompanying the Mocha Agent's Letter of 21 June 1837.

The complaint of Syed Nouradeen Bokhari, agent of the ship Doria Dowlut, belonging to Nawab Ahmed Nissa Begum, of Madras, is, that one Lurry Yous hired the above vessel, and employed a nakhooda (native captain), by name Ahmed ben Khundar, on his part, to superintend the cargo, as also a molim (pilot); that at the port of Calcutta the ship was laden with 3,950 bags of rice, 70 of sugar, and 25 bundles of piece goods, and she sailed to Aleppee, where also she took on board 350 bags of rice.

That on the arrival of the vessel at Aleppee Syed Nouradeen (complainant), the agent of the

ship, told the nakhooda to dismiss the molim pla- 1837 ced by Lurry Yous; to which the uakhooda replied, that the molim belonged to him, and could not therefore be discharged, and that Lurry Yous had given him (the molim) full authority; when Syed Nouradeen rejoined, that he (the nakhooda) should hold himself responsible for any accident that might happen to the vessel; to testify which I can produce witnesses.

1

That from Aleppee the ship weighed anchor for Cochin, where she received on board 35 bundles of cloth, of Malabar manufacture; and then she sailed onward to Mocha, and arrived in some days off Aden. and got the jolly-boat in readiness.

days off A

Next day a person said to the molim the coast is near, and do not let the ship sail fast"; these words were, however, not listened to. The serang also said that the land was in sight, and that the waters of the sea appeared white; three hours after the lookanee repeated the same to the moliin, who however did not attend to any one of them. Syed Nouradeen (petitioner) then went to the nakhooda, and said, "All persons tell your molim that, the land is in sight, and the waters of the sea appear whitish, but he will not listen to any of them". Nakhooda Ahmed replied, "whatever my molim does, I must consent to”.

Three hours after midnight the vessel struck the ground, and Syed Nouradeen told the nakhooda and the molim to throw the cargo overboard, that the weight might be lightened, and the vessel might get off; but this was not assented to.

At day-break Nakhooda Ahmed ran away in the jolly boat, and 10 hours after the molim and all the crew also got into the jolly-boat, and went away; the boat, however, was upset in the way, and the molim and 10 of the crew were drowned; some lascars only got to the shore.

The vessel was left by all except Syed Nouradeen and five other persons, who had taken up their position on the mast for the whole day and night.

Nakhooda Ahmet sent boats to clear the ship of the cargo, but Syed Nouradeen and the other five persons were not taken into the boats, they, however, followed that boat on pieces of plank tied together, and reached the shore, where the Arabs plundered them.

1837 They afterwards arrived at Aden, and remained there for 15 days.

The nakhooda was securing the guns, and the other things in the vessel, and after 15 days the Sultan of Aden told Syed Nouradeen (petitioner), that he should take away the things belonging to the ship, and pay him 10 kooroosh (piastres) for every hundred kooroosh worth of those things..

Syed Nouradeen replied, that after such a length of time the things on board had almost all been lost; that he did not require them, nor had he money to pay for them

The Sultan then demanded a writing from him, stating that he had no claim on the Sultan on account of the vessel, and threatened them with detention in case he refused to give the release notes.

I (Syed Nouradeen) accordingly passed a writing to the effect that I had not the least claim on the Sultan, but that my claim existed against Lurry Yous. To prove this I have witnesses.

VII.

Deposition by several Persons belonging to the wrecked ship Doria Dowlut, the Property of the Nawab of Madras, lately wrecked off Aden, which had been taken up by a native of Mocha, named Lurry Yous.

$

We sailed from Calcutta on the 16th Ramazan (25th December 1836) 1252 Hegira, in the ship Doria Dowlut, belonging to the Nawab of Madras, which Lurry Yous had taken up at Calcutta, to go to Juddah and return thence.

There were 3,450 bags of rice on board, 80 bags. of sugar, and 25 pieces of Bengal cloths, etc., and 12 small parcels, and 12 jars of preserves, and one large box of brocades, and 600 boxes of attar, and the rest is known well by Lurry Yous.

From Aleppee was also embarked rice, ginger, and pepper, and cocoa-nut oil (25 casks full), eight cases of cloth, and two chests besides.

From Cochin 35 bundles of cloths. We then sailed (for Arabia), and our ship was wrecked off Aden