Trade Agreement between the East India Company and the King of Ava, September 1795

TRANSLATION of the ROYAL MANDATE, accompanying the letter to the GOVERNOR-GENERAL, dated [day omitted in original] September 1795.

        To all Killadars and Governors of Ports, in like virtue to the Maywoon of Henzawuddy.

        The source of greatness and dignity celestial, whose threshold is as the firmament went, and whose suppliants, when he places the Golden Foot of Majesty on their fortunate heads, like the blooming water-lily, are inspired with confidence unbounded, such are the ministers of exalted rank, the guardians of the Empire from among whom the high and transcendent Minister proclaims these orders :-

        Governor of Henzawuddy, whose title is Meen La Noo Retha, Governor the Waters, whose title is Yaa oon or Rawoon; Collector of the King's Revenues whose title is Ackawoon; Collector of Customs, whose title is Ackoon; Commander of the Troops, whose title is Chekaw.

        1. Whereas English merchants resort to the port of Rangoon to carry on trade, in friendship, good faith, and confidence in the Royal protection, therefore when merchants come to the port of Rangoon, duties for godown, rabeat (searchers appraisers) and other charges, all these shall be regulated according to the former established rates, and no more, on any pretence, shall be taken.

        2. All English merchants, who have paid the Port Duties, shall be allow to go to whatever part of the country they think fit, having obtained a certifies and order from the Maywoon, or Governor of the Province, and whatever goods English merchants wish to purchase in return, they shall not be impeded or molested, or prevented in their barter, bargain, or purchase ; and if it should be judged expedient to establish any person, on the part of the English Company at Rangoon, for the purpose of trade, and to forward letters or presents to the King, to such person a right of residency is granted.

        3. If any English merchant is aggrieved, or thinks he suffers oppression, he may complain either to the Governor of the Province, by petition to the Throne, or prefer his complaint in person; and as Englishmen are, for the most part, unacquainted with the Birman tongue, they may employ whatever interpreters they think fit, previously acquainting the King's interpreters what person they mean to employ.

        4. English ships driven into any Birman port by stress of weather, and in want of repairs, on due notice of their distress being given to the Officers of Government such vessels shall be expeditiously supplied with workmen, timber, iron, and every requisite, and the work shall be done, and the supplies granted, at the current rates of the country.

        5. As the English have long had commercial connexions with this Nation, and are desirous of extending them, they are to be allowed to come and depart at their pleasure, without hinderance: and seeing that the illustrious Governor-General of Calcutta, in Bengal, on the part of the King of England, has sent tokens of friendship to the Golden Feet, these orders are therefore issued for the benefit, ease, and protection of the English people.

The original in Birman, authenticated by the great Seal.

MICHAEL SYMES,

Agent at the Court of Ava.

Account of Duties paid by ships on anchoring at Rangoon, agreeable to former Regulations, as follows:

Government Duties.

A piece of flowered cloth.

A piece of madrepauk.

One handkerchief to tie up the aforesaid articles.

To the person who carries the aforesaid pieces of cloth, eighteen cubits of common cloth, a red cotton handkerchief, and two and a half takals in money.

When a ship arrives, the following Duties are usually paid to the Members of the Provincial Government:

Maywoon . . Flowered cloth, one piece.
                    Madrepauk, two do.

Rawoon . . . Flowered cloth, one do.
                    Madrepauk, two do.

Ackoon .  . Flowered cloth, one do.
                  Madrepauk, two do.

Shawbundpr, or Ackawoon . . Flowered cloth, one do.
                                               Madrepauk, two do.

Deputy to the Shawbunder . . Flowered cloth, one do.
                                             Madrepauk, two do.

Chockey . Flowered cloth, one do.
                Madrepauk, two do.

1st Nakhaun . Flowered cloth, one do.
                      Madrepauk, two do.

2nd Nakhaun . Flowered cloth, one do.
                       Madrepauk, two do.

1st Siredogee . Flowered cloth, one do.
                        Madrepauk, two do.

2nd Siredogee . Flowered cloth, one do.
                        Madrepauk, two do.

When a ship leaves the port, it is customary to make presents to the Members of the Provincial Government, as follows : two pieces of silee to each of the before-mentioned Members of Government, that is, twenty-four in all.

It being customary for ships, on their arrival and departure, to give as perquisites to the Members of Government, cloth, flowered, figured, and plain, and madrepauk or silee, such articles varying in their price, being sometimes dear and sometimes cheap, the amount therefore being liable to vary, it is established that a ship, in lieu of such presents, shall pay altogether, for entrance and departure five viss of fine Silver called Rowna.

Each ship shall pay for the Linguists eighty takals.

For the Chokeydars, who are stationed at the ghaut, or sent on board the ship thirty-five takals.

For peons, who carry intelligence, five takals.

For the person who accompanies the ship down to the Chokey, ten takals.

Writers and Chokeydars of the godowns, ten takals.

Gate Porter of the Fort, ten takals.

The Chokey called Denouckand, the Chokey where lights are kept, for both ten takals.

To the Writer, for a pass to clear the Chokeys on departure, five takals.

The accountant of Government, fifteen takals.

Pilotage.-A ship of three masts, two hundred takals; a vessel of two masts, one hundred and fifty takals; a vessel of one mast, one hundred takals.

Anchorage.-A ship of three masts, thirty takals; a vessel of two masts, twenty takals; a vessel of one mast, ten takals.

It is the custom on all goads that are imported to take one out of ten, or ten out of an hundred, King's Duty; likewise the owner of the ship gives five out of the first bale which he brings on shore, and each person who comes in a ship as a Merchant, and not belonging to the ship, shall give one piece.

To the Appraisers and Examiners one and a half out of each hundred.

The Stamper of Cloth, if he stamps three hundred and sixty pieces, he is entitled to one piece.

The Writer or Accountant, who attends on board for registering five hundred pieces, he is to receive one piece.

When a ship is about to depart, an Officer of Government goes on board to examine and despatch her : such officer shall receive seven viss of sugar, a hundred and forty China plates.

Ships resorting from every quarter to the Ports of His Birman Majesty, Duties neither more nor less are to be received or exacted, and on this head the orders of His Majesty have been issued. The account is authenticated, and the particulars specified ; nevertheless, in consideration of the friendship that with the English, henceforth whatsoever ships are bona fide English proper, the Port Duties and exactions from such ships, both at coming and departing be paid at the Port of Rangoon, in silver of twenty-five per cent. standard, to the Birman language Mowadzoo, or twenty-five per cent. silver.

The original annexed to the Viceroy's letter to the Governor-General.

M. SYMES,

Agent to the Covert of Ava.

From: C. U. Aitchison, ed. A Collection of Treaties, Engagements and Sanads: Relating to India and Neighbouring Countries. Vol. XII. Calcutta: Government of India Central Publication Branch, 1931, 224-226.