Note: On March 2, 1785, Chief of Dhaka Mathhew Day wrote to the Acting President of the Committee of Revenue (apex body of the colonial government) William Cowper to inform him about the brutal trade in enslaved people in Dhaka district. The trade was carried out between “low castes of Portuguese” residing in Dhaka and “those of Calcutta, Chinsurah and other foreign settlements”. Day identified that scarcity of grain and the failure of crops due to the recent deluge forced parents to sell their children to the slave traders. He also elaborated on his initiatives to suppress the pernicious trade as well as to feed the starving masses.  The company authority wrote back to Day on March 14 approving his steps.

The correspondence is reproduced here verbatim :

Letter 1

To William Cowper Esqr.

Acting President and Committee of Revenue

Gentlemen,

Intelligence of a very serious nature having been given me respecting a Trade which has lately been established between the Low castes of Purtuguese [Portuguese] at this place and those of Calcutta, Chensurrah and other Foreign Settlements I beg leave to submit the particulars to you and to request such interference as may prevent and put a final stop to its Existance [Existence] The nature of which cannot but ultimately prove of the utmost Detriment to Government.

The long continued distress this District has laboured under from a General scarcity of Grain and the failure of Crops in consequence of the late Deluge has reduced its Inhabitants to the lowest pitch of misery and distress the poor and the lower class of people to secure to themselves a Subsistance are reduced to a Sale of their children and many hundreds have been purchased I find in the interior part of this District by persons deputed from this place by the aforementioned people, and immediate Dispatched for Calcutta and its invirons [environs] they are for the most part Landed in the Foreign Settlements, from whence I am given to understand they are imbarked [embarked] on vessels to different parts at this time many Boats are between this and Calcutta by the Sunder bund [ Sunderbans]; loaded with children of all ages. The Hon’ble Mr. Lindsay, who arrived on Friday last informed me that he met above a hundred. To prevent and save the poor wretches from Transportation and slavery, will be the wish of every one [everyone] . The most apparent method by which this can be effected is for orders, to be issued to the Custom Master’s to secure all Boats, as arrive laden with children and by so doing it may be the means of tracing the concern to the principal who as acting in open defiance of the public & long established orders of Government may be brought to justice, I have on my own part adopted every possible means to Stop the continuance of it by placing Boats and people at all the outlets of those parts from whence they are brought with directions to seize all such so laden, and to bring them to the City at the same time I thought it necessary on a supposition, that many might be secreted in the Town, to cause a general search, throughout the Barzars and private places, for children brought from the Mofussil My suspicion was not ill grounded this morning 42 from 2 years and upwards as far as 6 years were produced with the people, who had them for sale, I have in consequence ordered them into confinement till such times as I can receive your orders on the subject. The children are object the most striking and can barely be said to have life, I have ordered them to be taken care of and mean as soon as their place of Residence can be ascertained to return them to their Families with any further assistance. Your Board may think necessary I beg leave further to trouble you on a subject equally alarming with that just mentioned. From the long Scarcity and high price of Grain throughout this District, and the total want of it in the Eastern part of the Division many hundred I may say thousands of unhappy wretches are now lying on the Banks of the Burhampoter [Brahmaputra] some in the agonies of Death, and other emaciated by Famine hardly strength to crowl along imploring the assistance of passengers. From the best Authority I am informed that spectacles so shocking, The Eye never behold. The price of Grain in those parts is from 20 to 25 seers for the Rupee, but these poor creatures reduced to skeletons by long fasting are incapable of manial [menial] Labour & have not where with [wherewithal to] purchase.

To Effect & afford every relief in my power to the people in question, I have dispatched a Quantity of Rice under the charge of Proper people, to be boiled at different places, & daily distributed to the unfortunate. The Gentlemen & principal Inhabitants have contributed towards the Expence [Expense]  & the amount already & what I flatter myself will be subscribed, may in a great measures be sufficient to answer my wish. In the Events of its not proving so I hope the Board will [be] Pleased to indulge me with a Discretionary power of making up the Deficiency at the public Expence [Expense].

Dacca

the 2nd March 1785.

I am & ca.

Signed/ Mathhew Day.

Letter 2

Calcutta 14th March 1785

Mr. M. Day

Chief of Dhaka

Sir

We have received your Letter of the 2nd instant & highly approve the steps you have taken to stop the pernicious trade now carrying on in your districts We desire you will also use your utmost endeavours to apprehend those who are engaged in it, and cause them as soon as taken, to be prosecuted in the Court of phoujdary Adawlets; should the phoujdar however refuse to receive and bring the Aggressors to trial, We request that you Aprize [Apprise] us of such refusal detaining them in custody until You shall be furnished with our further directions respect of them.

We are & ca.

William Cowper

J. Evelyn