Travels in the Mogul Empire (Bernier) 4.1.6

4.1.6

I am aware it may be said, that Hindoustan is in want of copper, cloves, nutmegs, cinnamon, elephants, and other things, with which she is supplied by the Dutch from Japan, the Moluccas, Ceylon, and Europe ; — that she obtains lead from abroad, in part from England ; broadcloths and other articles from France ; — that she is in need of a considerable number of foreign horses, receiving annually more than five-and-twenty thousand from Usbec, a great many from Persia by way of Kandaliar, and several from Ethiopia, Arabia, and Persia, by sea, through the ports of Moka, Bassora, and Bander-Abassi. It may also be observed that Hindoustan consumes an immense quantity of fresh fruit from Samarkand, Bali, Bocara, and Persia ; such as melons, apples, pears and grapes, eaten at Dehli and purchased at a very high price nearly the whole winter; — and likewise dried fruit, such as almonds, pistachio and various other small nuts, plums, apricots, and raisins, which may be procured the whole year round; — that she imports a small sea-shell from the Maldives, used in Bengale, and other places, as a species of small money; ambergris from the Maldives and Mozambic; rhinoceros' horns, elephants' teeth, and slaves from Ethiopia; musk and porcelain from China, and pearls from Beharen and Tutticoury, near Ceylon; and I know not what quantity of other similar wares, which she might well do without.