A History of Agriculture in India v2.c79.s8: Sheep
A History of Agriculture in India v2.c79.s8
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Sheep
v2.c79.s8.1
During the Mughal rule, large parts of the country were pastoral, and rearing of sheep was the occupation of many people in the Himalayas, Central India, Rajasthan and north Gujarat. The flocks in the arid areas of Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat put up remarkably with long treks and recurrent droughts. The main breeds were long-eared Lohi, brown-headed Bikaneri and black-faced Marwari yielding white wool. A ram of Marwari breed painted by the artist Mansur shows the care bestowed by its owner, who had tied bells around its neck and also provided it with anklets (Fig. 45).
v2.c79.s8.2
Wool was mainly provided by sheep from Kashmir and Rajasthan in Mughal India. Akbar promoted the wool industry, particularly that concerned with manufacture of shawls and carpets. The 'tus' animals supplied fine wool of red, black and white colours. Shawls made of it were famous for their lightness, warmth and softness. In the early days of Akbar's reign shawls and some other costly woollens came from Kashmir, but on account of Akbar's patronage these began to be manufactured in the Punjab. In Lahore alone more than a thousand workshops were established.