Note 19 — CHAP. II. HISTORY OF THE SHEIK OF BUSHIRE..

“He was originally a Moonshee, who got his bread by transcribing books and writing letters for money. He taught Sir Harford Jones, when a young man at Bussora, to read and write Arabic and Persian. He afterwards became a merchant, selling small articles in the Bazar at Bushire, and being fortunate in his early trade, extended his speculations still more largely and successfully: till, when an embassy to Calcutta was projected by the King of Persia, he was enabled to appear (according to the report of his countrymen) as the highest bidder for the office, and was consequently invested with it. Having enriched himself enormously by his mission, he has yet never failed to complain before the King, of the evil stars which, by leading him to accept such a situation, had reduced him to beggary.”