The 25th January, 1614, the James departed for Pattapilly and sailed from thence on the 7th February, for Bantam.  On the 18th February I went to Narsipoor, and on the 19th the ship was brought into the river, drawing nine three-fourths feet, and having ten and a half feet water, contrary to the reports of some who wished us no good.  I returned to Masulipatam on the 23d, whence I dispatched a peon with letters to Mr Aldworth at Surat.  That day there arrived a navette from Pegu, in which came Cornelius Franke, by whom we were informed that the king of Ava had certainly taken the fort of Serian, and slain all the Portuguese, and that Xenga, or Philip Britto de Nicole, was either spitted or soulathed, [391] this event having taken place in March last.  The king, of Ava had given orders for rebuilding the town, to which he had invited the Peguers with many fair promises.  He had gone from thence Tanasserim, where he was joined by Banga Dela, and 50,000 Peguers, who had been before under the king of Siam.  The Moors in Masulipatam were greatly rejoiced at this news, hoping by its means to recover the trade of Pegu, and immediately made preparations for sending two ships there in September.  In March there came news of eleven ships having arrived at Goa, eight of them from China, and three from Malacca, by which the market price of goods was much reduced; but, fortunately for me, I had almost finished my business before.

[Footnote 391:  This strange word is unintelligible; but we have formerly given the history of Nicote from de Faria, by whom he is said to have been impaled.—­E.]

In April, Atma Khan departed for Golconda, to render up his accounts, the year coming then to a close.  It was well for him that the king had deposed his great treasurer, giving the office to Malek Tusar, who was the friend of Atma Khan; and well for us likewise, as the debts due by these governors are good while they continue in place, but otherwise doubtful.

The 18th of May, at five p.m.  Captain Essington died of a sudden heat, having eaten his dinner at the table.  He had some boils about him, which are very common at that season; one of which, on his shoulder, was very large, and would not break, which was supposed the cause of his death.  I went immediately on board, and put the ship into the best order I could.  The people all refused to submit to any other commander but me:  yet I thought it a debasement to tread in the steps of my under-merchant, wherefore I committed the charge to Mr Skinner, in hopes that he and the rest would do every thing for the best, and returned myself to Masulipatam.  I here found three persons, who said they were sent with letters from Obiana, queen of Pullicatt, Jaga Rajah, the governor of that place, and of St Thome, and Apa Condaia, secretary to the great king Wencatad Rajah, in which they promised, if I would come thither, that