Book I Travels in India o^ 



and at AgtA they make others for Suratt, the whole at the fame price as I have 

 fct down. 



from GolcoKvl.t, from tour to live, 



And for Goa the fame. 



from Decan at three. 



From V i [up our at three. 



From DnU.ibat, from one to one and an half. 



Some years the Exchange riles from one to two per Cent, by reafon of certain 

 Raja's or petty Valla] Princes that dilturb Trade, every one pretending that the 

 Merchandizes ought to pals through his Cbuntrcy, and pay Toll. There are two 

 particularly between Agra and Amadabatt^ the one called the Raja of Antiv.ir, 

 and the other the Rapt of Bcrg.im, who very much moleft the Merchants for 

 this very caule. But you may avoid palling through the Territories of theie Prin- 

 ces, taking another road from An-'-a to Sstratt, thorough Seronge and Brwnpour. 

 But thev are fertil Lands, divided with feveral Rivers, without Bridges or Boats, 

 and it is impollible to go that way, till two months after the rains are fallen. 

 Whch is the rea; on that thole Merchants who mult be at Suratt when the fealon 

 -permits them to take the Sea, are fbre'd to pals through the Territories of thefe 

 two Raja's, becaule thev can pais that way at all times, even in the time that the 

 rains tall, which only knit and harden the Sand. 



Nor are you to wonder that the Exchange runs fo high ; for they that truft out 

 their Money, run the hazard, by obligation, of lofing their Money., if the Mer- 

 chants fhould be robb'd. 



When you come to Suratt to Embarque, there is Money enough. For it is the 

 greatelt Trade of tlfe Grandees of the Indies to venture their Money by Sea 

 from thence for Ormas, Bftfara, and Mocca ; nay even as far as Bantam, Jfcheti, 

 and the Philippine Illands. For Mocca and Halfara, the change runs from 22 to 

 24/? r Cat. And to Ormus, from 16 to 20. And to the other places which I have 

 named, the change runs proportionable to the diitance. 



1 ha. e but one word to lav of their Weights and Meafiires ; I have given you 

 in the Margin the lift part of an Ell of Agra, and the fourth [art of an F.lil of 

 Ama cuii.it and S tratt. As for their Weights, the Men is generally 69 Pound, and 

 the Pound 16 Ounces. But the Men which thev weigh thek-jndico withal, is 

 but f 3 Pound. At Suratt they talk of a S.rrc, which is one and three fourths of 

 a Pound, and the Pound is 16 Ounces. 



CHAP. JIE 

 Of their Carriages', ana the manner of Travelling in India. 



BEforc we let forward upon the road, it will be convenient to fpeak of thek 

 Carriages, and the manner of travelling in India 5 which, in my opinion, is 

 more commodious than any thing that has been invented for eale in France or 

 Italy, Quite othervvife it is in Perfia^ where they neither make u(b of AflTes, 

 Mules, or Horfcs, but tranlport all their Wares to the Indies upon Oxen, or in 

 Wains, their Countreys being lb near to one another. If any Merchant carries an 

 Horle out of Pcrfia, 'tis only for (hew, or to walk in his hand, or to fell to iome 

 Indian Prince. 



They will lay upon an Oxcs back 300, or 3^0 pound weight. And it is u won- 

 derful thing to fee ten or twelve thouland Oxen at a time all laden with Rice, 

 Corn and Salt, in luch places where they exchange thele Commodities: Carrying 

 Corn where only Rice grows, Rice whore only Corn grows, and Salt where there 

 is none at all. They make ufe of Camels lbmetimes, but very rarely, thev being 

 particularly appointed to carry the luggage of great Perfonages. When the fea- 

 fon requires halt, and that they would fpeedily conveigh their Merchandize to 

 Suratt to Ihip them off, they.Joad them upon Oxen, and not in Wains. And in re- 

 gard that the Territories of the Great Mogul are 'very well mauur'd, the Fields 



* E 2 are 



