JARDINE MATHESON & CO. (contd.)
foundations of which were so solidly built over a century ago.
20. 587
A good deal of the very early history of Jardine's is contained in W. C. Hunter's "The Fan Kwae at Canton". Writing of Dr. William Jardine he says:
"As a peculiarity of his character, it may be mentioned that, in his own private office in the Creek Factory, Canton, a hint to any one who may be bothered with gossips or idlers during business hours.
"A few days before Mr. Jardine's departure from Canton, the entire foreign community entertained him at a dinner in the dining room of the East India Company's Factory. About eighty persons of all nationalities, including India, were present".
Of Mr. James Matheson he states, inter alia:
"As the 'Chinese Repository,' in noting his departure from Macao, said: 'On his leaving, the foreign community lost one of its most enterprising, able and liberal members.'
For the loan of the photographs reproduced on this page, being reproductions of portraits of the two principal founders of Jardine, Matheson and Co., I am indebted to Mr. John Keswick.
The history of Jardine, Matheson and Co. as given yesterday was necessarily shorn of all frills and romantic touches. It is natural, however, that there should be a great deal of romance, and much out-of-the-ordinary material attached to the existence of a firm of pioneer merchants who have traded for over a hundred years out here, and were among the first to establish their business in the Colony. Something of this was mentioned in the article on East Point (28.8.33) when the legends attached to the old premises and the customs still kept up by the firm, were touched upon. Some day we might see a full history of Jardine's written, duly documented, and it should be a volume of great historical importance, not without its romantic interest.
In concluding the notes on Jardine's I give to-day a reproduction of an old carved crest which is preserved in the bungalow over the godown at East Point. It is of great interest, and hints at the days of the East India merchantmen, and the perils they occasionally faced in these waters, for the crest was removed a great many years ago from a ship which was wrecked not far from Hongkong.
The crest is made of wood throughout, and, as will be seen from the photograph reproduced above, is finely carved. The original must have been painted in glaring colours, for although it is now mellowed with age, there is still a great deal of pigment apparent. The lion, the fish and the unicorn are all painted gold, as is the writing, which is on a background of dark blue. The background of the small shields and the body of the ensign is also dark blue. The whole carving measures nine feet by five feet, and occupies a position above a fireplace in the old bungalow.
The suggestion is that the ship traded under a joint ownership of the East India Company and an Indian nobleman seemingly he was a Nawab and Khan Bahadur and the crest appears to have been an attempt to combine the designs of both owners. The inscription to be seen carved in the base of the design is as follows, "His Highness Nawab Nazim Shoojool Ettasham Oddowla Feroze Jungsyed Mobarukall Hoomaonja Khanbhadoor". What this means is not known, unless it is a recital of the Indian prince's full title or a combination of the designations of two or more men, run together owing to lack of space.
The exact history of the crest is unfortunately not yet traced.
It was probably acquired by the firm somewhere between 1840 and 1860, and the following is the most popularly accepted tale of its origin:
"
JARDINE MATHESON & CO. (contd.)
foundations of which were so solidly built over a century ago.
**
*
20.
587
A good deal of the very early history of Jardine's is contained in W. C. Hunter's "The Fan Kwae at Canton". Writing of Dr. William Jardine he says:
"As a peculiarity of his character, it may be mentioned that, in his own private office in the Creek Factory, Canton, a hint to any one who may be both- ered with gossips or idlers during business hours.
"A few days before Mr. Jardine's departure from Canton, the entire foreign community entertained him at a dinner in the dining room of the East India Company's Factory. About eighty persons of all nationalities, including India, were present".
Of Mr. James Matheson he states, inter alia:
"As the "Chinese Repository," in noting his departure from Macao, said: 'On his leaving, the foreign community lost one of its most enterprising, able and liberal members."
For the loan of the photographs reproduced on this page, being reproductions of portraits of the two principal founders of Jardine, Matheson and Co., I am indebted to Mr. John Keswick.
The history of Jardine, Matheson and Co. as given yesterday was necessarily shorn of all frills and romantic touches. It is natural, however, that there should be a great deal of romance, and much out-of-the-ordinary material attached to the existence of a firm of pioneer merchants who have traded for over a hun- dred years out here, and were among the first to establish their business in the Colony. Something of this was mentioned in the article on East Point (2.8.33) when the legends attached to the old premises and the customs still kept up by the firm, were touched upon. Some day we might see a full history of Jardine's written, duly documented, and it should be a volume of great historical impor- cance, not without its romantic interest.
In concluding the notes on Jardine's I give to-day a reproduction of an old carved crest which is preserved in the bungalow over the godown at East Point. It is of great interest, and hints at the days of the East India merchantmen, and the perils they occasionally faced in these waters, for the crest was removed a great many years ago from a ship which was wrecked not far from Hongkong.
The crest is made of wood throughout, and, as will be seen from the photo- graph reproduced above, is finely carved. The original must have been painted in glaring colours, for although it is now mellowed with age, there is still a great deal of pigment apparent. The lion, the fish and the unicorn are all painted gold, as is the writing, which is on a background of dark blue. The background of the small shields and the body of the ensign is also dark blue. The whole carving measures nine feet by five feet, and occupies a position above a fireplace in the old bungalow.
Bow
The suggestion is that the ship traded under a joint ownership of the East India Company and an Indian nobleman seemingly he was a Nawab and Khan Bahadar and the crest appears to have been an attempt to combine the designs of both owners. The inscription to be seen carved in the base of the design is as follows, "His Highness Nawab Nazim Shoojool Ettasham Oddowla Feroze Jungsyed Mobarukall Hoomaonja Khanbhadoor". What this means is not known, unless it is a recital of the Indian prince's full title or a combination of the designations of two or more men, run together owing to lack of space.
**
The exact history of the crest is unfortunately not yet traced.
It was pro-
bably acquired by the firm somewhere between 1840 and 1860, and the following is the most popularly accepted tale of its origin:
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