Remonstrantie 3: [2. THE TRADE OF AGRA AND THE EAST COUNTRY.]
Jahangir's India (Moreland, Geyl) 3
- Language
- English
[2. THE TRADE OF AGRA AND THE EAST COUNTRY.]
3.1
Commerce flourished here in the time of Akbar, and also in the beginning of the present reign, while he [Jahangir] still possessed a vigorous intellect, but since this King devoted his life to enjoyment, violence has taken the place of justice. Whereas each governor ought to protect the people under him, they have in fact by subtle means drained the people dry, because they know very well that poor suppliants cannot get a hearing at the King's Court; and consequently the country is impoverished, and the citizens have lost heart, for, as the old people say, the city has now nothing left of the glory of colour and splendour which formerly shone throughout the whole world. The survival of a certain amount of commerce is due to the situation of the city at the junction of all the roads from distant countries. All goods must pass this way, as from Gujarat, Tatta (or Sind); from Kabul, Kandahar, or Multan, to the Deccan; from the Deccan or Burhanpur to those places, or to Lahore; and from Bengal and the whole East country; there are no practicable alternative routes, and the roads carry indescribable quantities of merchandise, especially cotton goods. The East country [Pourop] extends to Jagannath, a distance reckoned as 600 kos, and contains many large cities, among them the following.
3.2
Allahabad (150 kos), produces no commodities, and has very little trade, but is rather a pleasure-resort. King Akbar built a very fine fort here, because it is the meeting-place of the three famous rivers, the Ganges, the Jumna, and [blank in MS.]. Jaunpur (25 kos further), produces and exports large quantities of cotton goods, such as turbans, girdles, white chelas, zelal, t'sey, and coarse carpets. Benares (5 kos further), also produces girdles, turbans, clothes for Hindu women, t'soekhamher, gangazil (a white cloth); also copper pots, dishes, basins, and other articles for use in Hindu houses. Oudh (3 kos further), furnishes rather coarse cloth in pieces of 16 gaz ['yards' of about 32 inches]. Lakhawar (15 kos further), produces ambertees, a superior grade of white cloth, 14 gaz long and of different widths, worth from four to ten rupees the piece.
3.3
Patna (300 kos from Agra), yields annually 1000 to 2000 maunds of silk, the best of which sells at 16 or 17 mohurs per maund (of 50 lb.); taking the mohur at seven rupees, the price is 110 to 120 rupees. Most, or all, of it is consumed in Gujarat, the rest here in Agra. Formerly the English had a factory at Patna for the purchase of raw silk, but, owing to heavy losses, the trade has been discontinued for six or seven years, and does not appear likely to be resumed; besides, they are now getting Persian silk at a more reasonable price. Patna produces also much muslin (cassa), but it is coarse, worth four or five rupees the piece; also shields, which sell well in Agra. Chahaspur and Sonargaon with the surrounding villages, and indeed as far as Jagannath, all live by the weaving industry, and the produce has the highest reputation and quality, especially the fine muslin (cassa and malmal), which is also much longer and wider than elsewhere. An ordinary cassa is only 21-22 gaz by but these are usually 24-25 gaz by 1 1/8, equivalent to 30 Holland ells long, by ells broad.
3.4
Jagannath (600 kos from here), is where the East country (Poorop) ends and Bengal begins. It produces fine muslin (cassa and malmal), also hamaium, and tsehen, a superior wide cloth suitable for bed-sheets, but little of it is brought [here] owing to the high quality and cost. Further on, Dacca, Tsettagham, Bipil bander orixa, are all under this King's rule; in these places the Portuguese used to have an extensive trade, for they have here cities inhabited by their own people, but they are now subject to the Moguls, because this King has built forts everywhere to keep them in subjection. Many of their trading vessels used to come annually from Malacca and Macao; they brought spices, [woollen] cloth, lead, tin, quicksilver, and vermilion; and for the return voyage purchased many kinds of white cotton cloth as well as Bengal muslin, or loaded their frigates with butter, rice, gingelly seed, and such goods, making large profits. The local muslins are not woven smoothly, because the yarn is rough and harsh, and consequently the cloth is not soft or pleasant to handle.
3.5
All these countries are very fertile, and yield immense quantities of grain, such as wheat or rice, sugar, and butter, large quantities of which are brought up the river Jumna, or carried by oxen overland, to provision this country [that is, Agra] and the King’s army. In the other direction shallow-draught vessels carry from here much Sambhar salt (as there is little or no local salt), also opium, assafoetida, 'painted’ cloth called chits [chintz], red salu from Burhanpur, ormesines from Lahore, horses, and large quantities of cotton, which is grown largely between Surat and Burhanpur, and supports an extensive trade to Agra. In Agra, and in Fathpur [Sikri], 12 kos from here, carpets are woven in moderate quantities, and can be obtained to order, fine or coarse as required, but the quality usually made sells at the rate of 2½ to 3 rupees the square gaz. There is no other noteworthy local produce, since everything is brought from a distance; but the city contains all sorts of artisans in great numbers, who can imitate neatly whatever they see, but design nothing by themselves. We will therefore describe at some length the cultivation, manufacture, and sale of the indigo [of] Koil, Mewat, and the most distant villages of Agra and Bayana, which is an important article of commerce throughout the whole world.