16 



even years there on each occasion. He visited almost all parts 

 of India. Masiilipatam was in his time a great port and had 

 the best anchorage on the Bay of Bengal. It was the only 

 place from which vessels sailed for Pegu, Siam, Arrakan, Ben- 

 gal, Cochin China, Mecca, Horinuz, Madagascar, Sumatra and- 

 the Manillas. Wheeled carriages could not travel between 

 Golgonda and Masulipatam. It was with great difficulty that 

 Tavernier was able to take a small cart to Golgonda, and he 

 was obliged to take it to pieces in several places and carry 

 them. There were no wagons in the country between Golgonda 

 and Cape Comorin. Either oxen or pack horses were used for 

 the conveyance of merchandize. But in default of chariots, 

 says Tavernier, " you have the convenience of much larger 

 palanquins than in the rest of India ; for one is carried much 

 more easily, more quickly and at less cost." Palanquin bearers 

 were paid Rs. 5 each per mensem, and if the journey was long 

 and likely to occupy more than 60 days, they were paid at the 

 rate of Rs. 6. The most powerful of the sovereigns south of 

 the Ganges was the Rajah of Vellore (Vijianagar dynasty), 

 whose authority extended to Cape Coraorin, but in his country 

 there was no trade. Shah Jehan reigned for 40 years, less as 

 a king over his subjects than as a father over his children. His 

 dominions were well cultivated, but there were no roads or 

 bridges. The journey from Surat to Agra, occupied from 

 thirty-five to forty days, and one had to pay between 40 and 

 45 rupees for carriage for' the whole journey. Burhanpore 

 was a much ruined town, where, however, an enormous 

 quantity of very transparent muslins was made and exported 

 to Persia, Turkey, Muskovie, Poland, Arabia, Grand Cairo and 

 other places. There was abundance of cotton in the neighbour- 

 hood of Burhanpore. In Sironj there were a great many 

 merchants and artisans, and that was the reason why it con- 

 tained some houses of stone and brick. There was a large 

 trade in colored calicoes called chites which were sent to Persia 

 and Turkey. There was also made in this place a description 

 of muslin " so fine that when it is on the person you see the 

 skin as though it were uncovered." The merchants, however, 

 were not allowed to export it, and the Governor sent it all for 

 the* use of the Great Moghul's seraglio and of the principal 

 courtiers. Ahmedabad was a large town with considerable 

 trade in silken stuffs, gold and silver tapestries, saltpetre, 

 sugar, indigo, &c. In Benares, cottons, silken stuffs, and other 

 merchandize were sold. The manufacturers, before exposing 

 anything for sale, had to go to the person who had the Govern- 

 ment contract to get the king's stamp impressed on the pieces 

 of calico or silk manufactured, in default of which they were 



