Remonstrantie 6.1.5

6.1.5

Then when the indigo season opens in September, we must sell, however unwillingly, though it is perfectly notorious that, even before the goods leave our warehouse, they are re-sold sometimes at an advance of 10 or 15 rupees the maund. There are only two possible remedies or improvements. One is to send up 20,000 rupees in cash in addition to the caravan (for bills drawn on the arrival of the ships come too late, when the loss has already been incurred by the Company); the other is, as has been said above, to confine the spice trade to this side of India, and leave the Coromandel Coast alone. Or perhaps our employers may consider that, since their supply of cloves is large, the consumption should be encouraged; a reduction of price to 100 or 80 rupees the maund might eventually produce a marked increase in consumption at Agra, for I have heard old residents and brokers say that, when cloves were imported in incredible quantities in the time of the Portuguese, even three times as much as we now supply, and the price was 60 to 80 rupees the maund, the whole quantity was easily consumed, because the low price induced everyone to buy, and in the villages the women and children wore necklaces made of cloves. Sandalwood is brought to Agra in moderate quantity from the Portuguese, who obtain it in Timor, and transport it to Malacca, whence it is carried to Goa and Cambay. No great trade can be done; 80 maunds, or 4000 lb., may sell at not more than 50 rupees the maund.