William Finch (merchant) facts for kids
William Finch (died 1613) was an English merchant who worked for the East India Company (EIC). He traveled to India with Captain Hawkins during the time of the Mughal emperor Jehangir. They both met the emperor at his court. Together, they helped start trade between England and India. Finch later explored many cities in India. He wrote down his experiences in a journal, which was later published. This journal gives us valuable information about his travels.
Finch's Adventures as a Merchant
William Finch was from London, England. In 1607, he joined an important trip for the East India Company. This trip was led by Captains Hawkins and Keeling. Their goal was to talk with the Great Mogul, who was the powerful emperor of India.
Hawkins and Finch arrived in Surat on August 24, 1608. They faced strong opposition from the Portuguese, who were already trading there. Even with these challenges, Finch managed to get permission from the governor of Cambay. This allowed them to sell the goods from their ships.
The Portuguese caused more trouble. They even captured two English ships. Because of this, local people did not want to trade with the English. During these difficulties, Finch became sick. Hawkins then traveled alone to Agra and met Emperor Jehangir. The emperor was friendly towards Hawkins.
Finch got better and joined Hawkins in Agra on April 14, 1610. They stayed at the Mughal emperor's court for about a year and a half. Emperor Jehangir even offered Finch a permanent job. However, Finch chose to return to England.
Hawkins went back to England, but Finch decided to stay longer. He wanted to explore more of India. He visited places like Byana and Lahore. Finch carefully observed the trade and natural products of the areas he saw. In 1612, the Mughal emperor officially gave more trading rights to the English. These were the rights he had promised to Finch and Hawkins. That same year, the East India Company opened its first small trading post in Surat.
Exploring India's Cities
Finch explored many cities across India. These included Delhi, Ambala, Sultanpur, Ayodhya, and Lahore. He wrote detailed notes about these places in his diary. These notes are very important because they tell us what these cities were like long ago.
Finch had planned to travel back to Europe by land. Sadly, he died on his way in Baghdad in 1612. It is thought he became sick from unclean water. His belongings were saved and sent back to the East India Company. Later, a Reverend named Samuel Purchas found Finch's journal. It was in the company's old records. He published a shorter version of it in his book called "Pilgrimes".
Finch's Account of Ayodhya
In the city of Ayodhya, Finch saw the ruins of a place called Ramkot. This name means "Rama's fort." Finch did not mention a specific birthplace or a mosque in this area. He did describe old ruins that people believed were Rama's castle and houses. Finch wrote that the castle was about four hundred years old.
About the "houses," Finch wrote:
Heere are also the ruines of Ranichand[s] castle and houses, which the Indians acknowled[g]e for the great God, saying that he tooke flesh upon him to see the tamasha of the world. In these ruines remayne certaine Brahmenes, who record the names of all such Indians as wash themselves in the river running thereby.
A scholar named Hans T. Bakker has studied Ayodhya in great detail. He believes Finch's notes are a true record of what the Ramkot area looked like at that time.
