[Footnote 211:  More likely to have been a tyger and hyena.—­E.]

The 14th of June, a cabinet belonging to the jesuits was sent up from Cambay, containing medicines and other necessaries, and a letter, which were betrayed by the bringer, and delivered to the king.  He opened the cabinet, and sent for the padre to read the letter, and to see every thing contained in the boxes; but, finding nothing to his liking, he returned all.  I mention this circumstance as a caution to all who deal in this country, to be careful of what they write or send, as it is the humour of this prince to seize and see every thing, lest any curiosity or toy should escape his greed.

The 18th, I had letters from Ahmedabad, advising that indigo had greatly fallen in price, in consequence of the non-arrival of the flotilla from Goa.  The unicorn’s horn had been returned, as without virtue, concerning which I sent new advice.[212] Many complaints were made concerning Surat and others, which I do not insert.  I received two letters from Burhanpoor, stating the doubtfulness of recovering the debt due to Mr Ralph Fitch.  Spragge had returned from the leskar or camp of the Deccan army, where Melick Amber, with much show of honour, had given instant orders for searching the whole camp; but the Persian had fled to Visiapour, so that the business was referred by letter to a Dutchman who resided there.  The general of the Deccan army desired Spragge to be the means of sending English cloth and swords to his camp, which is within six days march of Burhanpoor; and, in my opinion, this might be a good employment for some idle men, and an excellent opportunity to get vent for our dead commodities.

[Footnote 212:  This of the unicorn’s horn, or rather the horn of a rhinoceros, may allude to some supposed inherent virtue of detecting poison, anciently attributed to cups made of that material.—­E.]

The 30th of July I received news from Surat of two Dutch ships being cast away on the coast near Damaun.  They were from the southwards, laden with spices and China silks, and bound for the Red Sea; but losing the season, with much bad weather, they had tried to take shelter in Socatora, or some other port on the coast of Arabia, but failing after beating about many weeks, they bore away for Surat, hoping to be able to ride out the adverse monsoon in safety, as they had done in other years.  But the years differ, and being forced to come to anchor, they had to cut away their masts by the violence of the gale; the smaller vessel of sixty tons was beaten to pieces, and the cables of the other breaking, she was driven ashore in oosy ground, within musket shot of the land.  The ship kept upright; but having lost their long-boat, and the skiff being unable to live, four men got ashore on a raft.  The spring-tides heaved her up so near the shore, that much of her goods and all her people were saved.