RESIDENCE OE THE MISSION AT BUSHIRE. 
33 
Though the conduct of the negotiations with Persia had no con¬ 
nexion with the mere change of masters in Bushire , which was effected 
44 From Mr. Bruce also I learned the following more cuiious tale. Mr. Hankey 
44 Smith since he has been the Resident at Bushire , was told that a Derveish wished 
44 to see him: but believing that he was one of those, who make these tours of licensed 
44 pillage through the country, he desired that the man might be sent away with the custom- 
44 ary and unavoidable donation of a few piastres. He was informed however, that his 
44 visitor was no common Derveish ; that he was in fact the Peish-namaz (the Chief Priest) 
44 of Bushire , and a man of corresponding reputation among his people. The stranger 
44 was accordingly admitted and received with every civility. In a second visit he asked 
44 so many questions about Calcutta, Mr. Hastings, and his trial, and other subjects 
44 which were equally new in the conversation of a Derveish , that the Resident candidly 
44 told him, that he believed him to be no Mussulman. The conjecture was well-founded? 
44 the Peish-Namaz immediately acknowledged that he was a Frenchman of the name of 
44 Talamash ; that he had served the English government under Mr. Hastings, and 
* 4 having received some disgust, had quitted Calcutta; and since that time had done 
44 nothing but travel. He had been all over India, thence to Cashmire, and had resided 
44 a long time at Cabul in the court of Zemaun Shah ; and had traversed the greater 
44 part of Persia, in every place imposing himself upon the people as the devoutest of the 
44 true believers. He was a very intelligent man, and had particularly made himself 
44 master of all the secrets of the Affghan politics, and had acquired a possession of the 
44 languages so complete and correct, that the finest native ear could detect no foreign 
44 accent. Probably no European ever saw so much of Asia, or saw it to such advantage. 
44 From Bushire he went to Bahrein , where also he was made the Peish-Namaz. From 
44 Bahrein he proceeded to Surat; where his varied and accurate knowledge of the man- 
44 ners, customs, and languages of all the different nations and classes in the mixed popu- 
44 lation of that city, divided, according to Mr. Bruce, the opinions of the people; and 
44 made the Arabs claim him as an original Arab; the Persians, as a Persian ; and the 
44 Mussulmans of Hindoostan as equally their own. From this place M. Talamash addres- 
44 sed the English government of India, and conveyed to them more particularly his know- 
44 ledge of the views of the Affghan court: but his communications did not receive the 
44 attention which he expected, and being left without the hope of employment again in 
44 India, he repaired to the Mauritius. There he associated with a band of adventurers 
44 like himself, fitted out a small vessel as a privateer, and went into the Red Sea. But 
44 here he fell in with the Leopard , Admiral Blanket ; and thinking her an Indian ship, 
44 made an attempt to board her, and was of course taken. He w as then sent to Bombay, 
44 and thence got once more to the Mauritius , from which time nothing more has been 
44 heard of him. 
F 
