148 RECORDS OF OLD TIMES 



arrived at Kurrachee, purchased some suitable 

 buildings and land, and set to work. The estate 

 comprised about five English acres of ground near 

 the quay, and contiguous to the railway station. 

 He advised the board of what he had done, and the 

 working capital which he applied for was forthwith 

 provided. Mare found that the best raw material 

 could be procured from the dominions of the Imaum 

 of Muscat, who undertook to supply all we required 

 at a reasonable price, delivered at the works at 

 Kurrachee. The manufacture commenced, and in 

 a few months the ground dates were packed in tin 

 cases, and forwarded to London, where a depot had 

 been obtained near the arches of London Bricige. 

 There machinery had been erected for roasting and 

 grinding the Neilgherry berries, also for mixing the 

 date powder, and packing the product into canisters. 

 In this form date coffee was sold by the pound to 

 the public at is. 2d. and 15-, 6</. per lb. ; the former 

 containing f lb. dates, \ lb. Neilgherry, and the 

 best quality half of each. The next stage followed 

 in due course. Advertisements appeared, impos- 

 ing placards being placed on prominent hoardings, 

 grocer agents were appointed, and a most prodigious 

 trade set on foot. The initial demand far exceeded 

 our most sanguine expectations, and the consump- 

 tion rapidly rose to three tons per week, whilst in the 

 space of a few months it reached seven tons weekly ! 

 Everyone who drank the beverage was delighted 

 with its fragrance and delicious flavour, and there 

 were eminent medical authorities who pronounced 



