Account of the Trade of Simii. 33 



Tveighed by the large or five pecul dotcliin, you are allowed 

 52 j catties; which, if it is the first sort, should not be 

 more than 16 to 18 pieces: second sort runs 22 to 24 pieces* 

 and as the number of pieces increase the price falls in pro- 

 portion. 



After you have settled with the ministers what part of 

 your cargo the kuig is to have, (which is commonly called 

 a present, unless he asks particularly to buy any thing,) 

 some of the principal merchants of the place arc called^to 

 value them ; and as they are valued you are paid by ihe 

 kinff, as a present, in the fore-mentioned goods at the 

 highest prices they will bear. 



It may not be deemed superfluous here to observe, that a 

 complaisant behaviour and a cheerfulness of disp(-sition are 

 absolutely necessary, particularly if you have, as all traders 

 must have, a point to carry. Presents, as they are called, 

 but in grosser language bribes, properly applied, give the 

 officers of government and the people in power the true tone 

 and relish to serve you, as you will have frequent occa- 

 sion to call upon them in their official capacities. 



Every application for a permit to purchase any descrip- 

 tion of goods costs 104- ticalls : this permit only serves for 

 one house, and one time of weighing; so that if you are 

 about receiving any quantity of goods of the same quality 

 from different merchants, agree with them to send it all to 

 one house, and make one day for weighing off the whole in 

 the merchant's name at whose house it is weighed. This 

 mode will save the expense of a multiplicity of permits, and 

 quicken dispatch. Upon each of these weijrhing davs' you 

 must have three of the king's writers ; the first and second 

 shabunder, and the linguist : to each of these, daily, you 

 pay one-quarter ticall ; but it will be your interest to o-ive 

 ihem some trifling presents. ° 



Elephants' teeth, tin, sapan wood, and lead, purchased 

 Irom the king, are free of all customs ; but if bouoht from 

 private merchants, they pay as follows : '^ 



Elephants* teeth (any sort) 4 ticalls per pccul. 

 T^n - - 2 ditto per bhar. 



Sapan wood - 4 ditto per 100 pecul. 



I-^^d - - 2 mace per bhar. 



If from any part of India, (as Bengal, the Coromandel, 

 Malabar, or Guzerat coasts, Bombay, Surat, &c.) you 

 pay the following customs before you sail : 



Measurage, if above 3 fathoms, or 18 feet beam, to the 



_>','»g. - - - JO ticalls. 



iv the Oarcola, or first shabunder - lo 



To 



