This article forms a critique on the formation ofa colonial historiography concerning theinteractions of the maritime 'Ostend Company' (GIC) in eighteenth century China andIndia. This historiography has ignored aspects of intercultural communication, whichprovided the conditions of possibility for any further interaction and exchange. The conceptualinfluence of colonialism on this discourse, and its recuperation of the OstendCompany's interactions in Bengal, are traced through its manifestations in historiographyas well as popular visual culture. This is contrasted with a source-based approach whichsheds new light on vital issues of courtly communication as a learning process involvingspecific acts and symbols.
