Page 41 - Delcampe Collections classiques EN-004

The Danes reached Ceylon in
1620, via the Danish East India
Company. Since they couldn’t
come to an agreement with the
local population, they set up in
Tranquebar and the surrounding
region, after purchasing the ter-
ritory. They built Fort Dansborg.
The colony was called
“Danesburg” before becoming
“Tranquebar” at the beginning of
the 18th century.
Tranquebar enabled the Danes
to charter boats to bring back
many spices to Denmark. Howe-
ver, the colony’s location was
prone to tidal waves and the
British East India company was
becoming increasingly com-
mercially important. Relations
between the Tranquebar colo-
ny and the motherland were so
complex that, during 25 years,
no boats went to the colony.
Overall, the results of the coloni-
sation of India by Denmark were
disappointing and the Danish
Company’s activities were ter-
minated in 1729 in favour of the
Asiatic Company.
In addition to its commercial
purpose, in the 18th centu-
ry, Tranquebar became the
Danish-Halle Protestant mission

Map of Tranquebar with Fort Dansborg,
by Giorf Gregers, 1733 (Royal Danish
Library).
Letter dated 07/06/1800 sent by Gregory
Mackenzie, serving on board HMS Queen,
in the middle of the Atlantic between
Tranquebar and Copenhagen (with the
kind authorisation of Raj Rajan). The
letter describes the boarding and search
of the Danish vessel General Abbiston on
its return journey from Tranquebar. Dated
“Queen, Atlantic Ocean, Lat 5-33N,
Saturday 16h, 7 June 1800”. Transit via
London on 03/09, black bishop mark
and Edinburgh SE16, red bishop mark.
8-pence rate for the London to Edinburgh
journey. Free private transport to the
British port, no associated fees.

Delcampe Magazine 41