A History of Agriculture in India v2.c84.s2: Transport of Foodgrains, Sugar, Ghee and Salt
A History of Agriculture in India v2.c84.s2
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Transport of Foodgrains, Sugar, Ghee and Salt
v2.c84.s2.1
Transport of goods on land was by means of camels, pack-oxen, and goats. In the mountains the transport of commodities like foodgrains and salt was by sheep and goats. Even now the Gaddi shepherds of Himachal and Bhotiyas of Kumaon use their goats for the purpose. Camels on account of their endurance were used for transport of commodities over long distances. In a painting of the Babur-nama relating to the reign of Akbar, traders are depicted weighing almonds, and loading them on camels at Kand-i-Badam in Afghanistan (Fig.65).
v2.c84.s2.2
Transport of foodgrains, sugar, salt and ghee was the monopoly of a nomadic trading community known as banjaras. They drove enormous herds of pack-laden bullocks. They lived with their families in camps or tandas. A large tanda might contain as many as 600 or 700 souls and up to 20,000 bullocks, which would have carried something like 2,700 tonnes. On occasions such as when a large army had to be supplied, the banjaras could collect a hundred thousand bullocks or more.⁴
v2.c84.s2.3
⁴ Habib, I. *The Agrarian System of Mughal India*, p.62