Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, or the Central and Western Rajput States of India v2.c27.s7.t2.67

v2.c27.s7.t2.67

The Commerce of Pāli.—Commerce, in these regions, is the basis of liberty : even despotism is [701] compelled to leave it unrestrained. Pali, like Bhilwara, Jhalrapatan, Rani, and other marts, enjoys the right of electing its own magistrates, both for its municipal regulations, and the arbitration of all matters connected with commercial pursuits. It was commerce which freed Europe from the bondage of feudality ; and the towns above cited only require the same happy geographical position, to play the part of the Hanse towns of Europe. Like Bhilwara, Pali has its own currency, which, amidst universal deterioration, it has retained undebased. From remote times, Pali has been the connecting link between the sea-coast and northern India. Commercial houses established at Muskat-Mandavi, Surat, and Navanagar transmit the products of Persia, Arabia, Africa, and Europe, receiving those of India and Thibet. To enumerate all the articles, it would be necessary to name the various products of each : from the coast, elephants' teeth, rhinoceros' hides, copper, tin, pewter, dates dried and moist,¹ of which there is an immense consumption in these regions ; gum-arabic, borax, coconuts, broad-cloths, striped silks, called patang ; various dyes, particularly the kermes or crimson ; drugs, especially the oxides of arsenic and quicksilver ; spices, sandal-wood, camphor, tea, momiai or mummy,² which is much sought after in medicine, and green glass (*kanch*). From Bahawalpur, soda (*sajji*),¹ the dyes called *al* ² and *majith*,³ matchlocks, dried fruits, asafoetida, Multan chintzes, and wood for household furniture. From Kotah and Malwa, opium and chintzes. From Bhuj, swords and horses.