Remonstrantie 10: [9. THE TRADE IN DRUGS.]
Jahangir's India (Moreland, Geyl) 10
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- English
[9. THE TRADE IN DRUGS.]
10.1
In describing these important places, I have omitted mention of many flourishing cities, partly because of their number, and partly because they have no trade which would interest the Company. Further, I have not attempted to specify the quantity of goods imported, transported, or sold in the country, because no accurate statement can be made, for in this country conditions differ greatly from year to year; a good harvest will create a demand from every village, while these civil wars are ruinous to trade, and everybody is afraid to employ his capital. I hope therefore that our employers will be so kind as to overlook this shortcoming, considering how reasonable it is, and also the omission to describe the methods of producing many drugs which are obtained in Agra, as well as in the mountains of Parbet and Bhutan, and in Kashmir. I have collected many samples of these drugs, but it will be best to have them identified, more certainly than I could do it, by druggists, herbalists, apothecaries, etc. I shall however record the following observations on borax, spikenard, and sal ammoniac, which are items of the Company's regular trade. Borax is found in the Eastern mountains, in the dominions of a very powerful king, named Raja Bikram, the extent of whose kingdom may be judged from the fact that it stretches to the frontiers of the White Tartars.
10.2
Men of that nation carry on an extensive trade in it, because it yields many commodities in much demand, such as musk, civet, borax, spikenard, quicksilver, brass and copper, and a dye named meynsel which gives a handsome red-and-yellow colour. The inhabitants bring all these goods to Donga, 150 [?] kos from Agra and a great market; it is in Jahangir's territory, but is administered by Raja Bichha. The place where borax is found is named Tachelachan; it occurs in a river which flows through the eastern mountains and falls into a great lake called Masseroer [Manasarowar]. This lake must be very far away, for few or none of them [? my informants] have seen it, but they assert on the strength of their old books that in reality it can only be the sea, and not a lake. Owing to the peculiar quality of the water, the borax settles like coral in the bed of the river, and is dug out twice a year, and sold without any further treatment such as refining or evaporating. The supply is very large, sufficient to satisfy the whole world, and it usually sells at the low price of 4 or 5 rupees for a maund of 60 lb. It is brought to Agra in bales packed in sheepskin, each weighing 4 maunds; here we pack it in bladders, which are filled with bitter oil, to prevent deterioration from long keeping or from its natural qualities.
10.3
Spikenard grows wild in the mountains and is not sown. The plants grow a handbreadth high, and are closely intertwined; they are called koilte kie. Spikenard is here considered to be a valuable medicine or drug, particularly for stiffened limbs ; it is rubbed down with oil, smeared on the limb, and allowed to dry; it produces warmth, and expels the cold. The spikenard is the flower or upper shoots of the kuitekie [sic]. It is tawny in colour, and of the length of hair; the best sells in Agra at from 6 to 7 rupees the maund. In this country it is little valued or used, but it is exported to other places — Tatta, Multan, Persia, the Deccan, or I may say the whole world. Sal ammoniac is found at Thanesar or Sirhind, on the road to Lahore. It is a sort of scum which forms on the site of very old brick-kilns ; it is dug and purified by evaporation, like saltpetre. The usual price is 7 to 7½ rupees per maund, but under instructions from our employers we have now ceased to purchase it. Saltpetre is found in many places near Agra, at distances of from 10 to 40 kos; it occurs usually in villages which have formerly been inhabited, and have been for some years abandoned. It is prepared from three kinds of earth, black, yellow, and white, but the black earth gives the best quality, being free from salt or brackishness. The method of manufacture is as follows. Two shallow reservoirs like salt-pans are made on the ground, one much larger than the other.
10.4
The larger is filled with the salt earth and flooded with water from a channel in the ground; the earth is then thoroughly trodden out by numbers of labourers till it is pulverised and forms a thin paste; then it is allowed to stand for two days, so that the water may absorb all the substance. The water is then run off by a large outlet into the other reservoir, where a deposit settles, which is crude saltpetre. This is evaporated in iron pans once or twice, according to the degree of whiteness and purity desired, being skimmed continually until scarcely any impurities rise. It is then placed in large earthen jars, holding 25 to 30 lb. ; a crust forms in the dew during the night, and if any impurities are still left, they sink to the bottom; the pots are then broken, and the saltpetre dried in the sun. From 5000 to 6000 maunds should be obtainable yearly in Agra alone, without reckoning the produce of places at a distance. The peasants, however, have now recognised that the produce, which was formerly cheap and in small demand, is wanted by us as well as by the English, who are also beginning to buy, and, like monkeys, are eager to imitate whatever they see done by others. The result is that, instead of the old price of rupees for a maund of 64 lb., it is now up to 2 or 2½ rupees, and likely to rise steadily. The industry is of little importance, and known to everybody, so I shall bring this description to an end, and turn to—