A History of Agriculture in India v2.c84.s3: River Transport and Exports
A History of Agriculture in India v2.c84.s3
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River Transport and Exports
v2.c84.s3.1
The rivers offered the cheapest means of transport. Barges of 300-500 tonnes sailed from Agra to Patna and Bengal. The downward journey FIG. 65. Weighing and transport of almonds at Kand-i-Badam, from the Babur-nama. Mughal, 1597.
v2.c84.s3.3
FIG. 64. The coconut sheath opens and the flowers appear like a bundle of brooms.
v2.c84.s3.4
FIG. 63. The flowers of coconut are enclosed in a sheath about a cubit long.
v2.c84.s3.6
was performed during the monsoons when the rivers were in flood, and upward journey during the rest of the year. Rice and sugar were exported from Bengal to Patna and Agra. Agra had flourishing trade in indigo. Bengal silk was exported to Japan and Holland by the Dutch. Lahore and Multan were important river ports in the Punjab with traffic down to Sindh. From Lahore and Multan sugar and ginger were sent down on boats to Thatta, whence they returned laden with pepper and dates. Butter for export was brought down by the river to Thatta from Bhakkar. Indigo was carried in the same way from Sehwan for shipment to Basra and, occasionally, via Surat to Europe.