Travels in India (Tavernier) 85.1.6

85.1.6

A man on foot going by land to a small village named the Gauges, and from thence crossing the end of the Gulf, can go from Diu to Surat in four or five days, but if the season prevents him from making this passage, he cannot go from Diu to Surat in less than seven to eight days, because he must then make the circuit of the Gulf. The town does not possess any territory outside the boundaries, but it would not be difficult to arrange with the Raja, or Governor of the Province, and obtain from him as much as may be required for the convenience of the inhabitants. The soil of the neighbourhood is not fertile, and the population around is the poorest in all the Empire of the Mogul. Nevertheless, there is an abundance of cattle in the jungles, with which the country is covered, so that a buffalo or a cow does not cost more than 2 piastres. The English and the Dutch use these cattle to feed their people, and to save the provision of their vessels during their sojourn at Suwali. It is well to remark that experience has shown that the flesh of buffaloes often causes dysentery, which is calculated to be most injurious to crews, but the flesh of cows never gives rise to it.