Travels in India (Tavernier) 73.1

73.1

Indigo comes from different localities of the Empire of the Great Mogul, and in these different localities it is of various qualities, which increase or diminish its price. In the first place some comes from the country of Biana, from Indoua, and from Corsa, one or two days’ march from Agra; and this is considered to be the best of all. It is made also at eight days’ march from Surat, and at two leagues from Ahmadabad, in a village called Sarkhej. It is from thence indigo cake comes, and some of the same kind and nearly the same price comes also from the country of the King of Golconda. The maund of Surat, which is 42 seers, or 34½ of our livres, is sold for from 15 to 20 rupees. There is also made at Broach some of the same quality as this last. As for that from the neighbourhood of Agra, it is made in small pieces like hemispheres, and it is, as I have said, the best in India. It is sold by the maund, and the maund in these regions is 60 seers, which are equal to 51⅞ of our livres. One pays generally for it from 36 to 40 rupees. Indigo is also produced at 36 leagues from Burhanpur on the road to Surat at a large village called Raout, and other small villages in its neighbourhood; and the people of the place generally sell more than 100,000 rupees worth of it every year. There comes lastly the indigo of Bengal, which the Dutch Company conveys to Masulipatam; but you can buy this indigo and that of Burhanpur and Ahmadabad cheaper by 30 per cent than that of Agra.