Forbes, James, 1749-1819, James Forbes letter, Cambay, 1781 May 1, copied between 1794 and 1800
- Call Number:
- Folio A 2023 69
- Creator:
- Forbes, James, 1749-1819
- Title(s):
- James Forbes letter, Cambay, 1781 May 1
- Date:
- copied between 1794 and 1800
- Classification:
- Archives and Manuscripts
- Series:
- Series I: A voyage from England to Bombay with descriptions in Asia, Africa, and South America
- Part of Collection:
- volume 11, page 185-192
- Provenance:
- Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
- Conditions Governing Access:
- The materials are open for research.
- Conditions Governing Use:
- The collection is the physical property of the Yale Center for British Art. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. For further information, consult the Curator of Rare Books and Manuscripts.
- Scope and Content:
- Forbes continues his journey to Ahmedabad. Now joined by one of the area’s English residents, Forbes passes through a couple small towns, one of which remains threatened by “Coolies,” a group of marauders who, Forbes says, survive by pillaging surrounding areas. “Coolies and Cotties near the River Myhi” After passing through these towns, however, Forbes and his company are met “in a friendly manner” by the chief of the Coolies. Forbes explains that “these people deem it no disgrace to be robbers and plunderers, but rather an honorable profession, which gives them a superiority over their neighbors.” They are on good terms with the English, though Forbes deems it wise to travel with an armed escort. Nonetheless, he writes, “I was rather surprised to see the lands in the Cooley-districts in a fine state of cultivation,” far superior to the territory they enter next, under the control of a nawab. “Cambay Purgunna” As he passes through the land leading to Cambay, he notes the pleasant scenery, and comments on the state of the roads. He admires the rolling hills, and suggests that, under a gentler government, this country could be as prosperous as any in India. “Cambay” Cambay itself, however, is anything but prosperous. Forbes recalls his previous description of the city—it was approaching a state of ruin—and now remarks that it is “almost an entire scene of desolation.” He blames the ruler for this state, and suggests that he stops at nothing to acquire wealth, which he then spends on sensual pleasure. Those residents of the city who can bear to leave, have. “Persian Entertainment” After their arrival, Forbes and his comrades are invited to a Persian-style supper by an emissary of the nawab. Forbes describes the evening in detail, including his observations on the “successive sets of dancing-girls” and the dried fruits, nuts, coffee, curries, and other rich foods served. He writes that his Indian dinner companions—the town’s prominent residents—“kept up a lively conversation; many of them were men of improved minds; with a taste for music, poetry, and painting, far superior to any Asiatics I had before conversed with.” There was no alcohol, but “the generality of the wealthy Mahometans seldom object to private sacrifices the shrine of Bacchus.” “Oriental Jewels” Forbes proceeds to write on the origins and wealth of the town’s Persian inhabitants. Many of them fled Persia after political upheaval, bringing with them “a valuable assortment of pearls, diamonds, and other jewels; which they find the only safe mode of conveying the remains of their shattered fortune.” Forbes speaks of several diamonds of enormous size—such as one in Persia measured at 264 carats—and discusses some of India’s other fabled treasures, like the Peacock Throne. “Persian Cats” At the end of his letter, Forbes turns to an altogether different topic: Persian cats. He describes them as some “of the most beautiful animals in the world,” and praises their size, color, and fur. He says he has included a copy of the painting in which one of these cats appears, though the creatures would most benefit from separate images. Portions of this text appear in <title>Oriental Memoirs</title>, volume 3, chapter 29.
- Physical Description:
- 8 pages
- Genre:
- Correspondence , Botanical illustrations, Ornithological illustrations, Travel sketches, Maps, Watercolors (paintings), Drawings (visual works), Engravings (prints), and Portraits
- Subject Terms:
- Forbes, James, 1749-1819. Descriptive letters and drawingsForbes, James, 1749-1819. Oriental memoirs
- Associated Places:
- EnglandItalyScotlandWales
- Associated People/Groups:
- East India CompanyForbes, James, 1749-1819
- Finding Aid Title:
- James Forbes archive
- Archival Object:
- https://archives.yale.edu/repositories/3/archival_objects/3199974
- Metadata Cloud URL:
- https://metadata-api.library.yale.edu/metadatacloud/api/aspace/repositories/3/archival_objects/3199974?mediaType=json&include-notes=1&include-all-subjects=1