nizam; and at Raolcondah, near Visiapoor, in the Mahratta em- 
pire: Ceylon produces the ruby, sapphire, topaz, and other pre- 
cious stones; especially one of superior beauty, called the cat’s-eye: 
the pearl fishery of this island is very lucrative, and the pearls vie 
in size and lustre with those of Ormuz: gold mines are unknown 
in India; but that valuable metal is found in the torrents which 
flow from the mountains of Thibet into the Indus and Ganges: 
there is no silver in Hindostan, but what is imported from foreign 
countries: several places in the southern peninsula and Ceylon, 
produce iron, but the natives are very deficient in their method of 
smelting and manufacturing it. 
Orme mentions that the first English ship which arrived at Surat 
was the Hector, commanded by Captain William Hawkins, in 
August l6Q8: the Captain brought a letter from the East India 
Company, and another from King James the First, to the emperor 
Jehangire, requesting the intercourse of trade. At this time the 
Portugueze marine predominated on the Indian seas, in so much 
that they made prize of all vessels which had not taken their pass; 
and the fear of their resentment on the ships which traded from 
Surat to the gulplis of Arabia and Persia, deterred the Mogul's 
officers from giving the encouragement they might wish, to the 
English strangers. 
The Portugueze dreading the future power of the English, and 
actuated by the most inveterate jealousy, did every thing in their 
power to prevent the establishment of an English factory at Surat: 
they often attacked our vessels at sea with a great superiority, but 
acquired neither riches nor glory: yet by bribery and intrigues 
with the Surat government, they had for several years sufficient 
