SURVEY OF THE GANGES, 45l 



quence of their religious convocations ; numbers are led hither as much 

 from commercial as holy motives, and independant of the merchandize 

 brought by .the merchants from the Penjdb, Cdbul, Cashmir and other 

 places, most of the pilgrims supply themselves with some articles, the 

 produce or manufa(5lure of the country from which they came, for which 

 they are certain of an advantageous sale ; through this channel the princi- 

 pal cities in the Dudba, Delhi and Lakhnau are supplied with the pro- 

 du6Uons of the western and northern countries. To facilitate these 

 commercial transadlions, which are carried on to an immense extent, 

 agents are deputed from the most respe6table bankers, who exchange 

 money, and grant bills, to all parts of India, to any amount. This kind of 

 negociation must be extremely profitable, as a high premium is levied on 

 the Hund'iy* and the produce of the sales is generally remitted in this 

 manner; few articles from the Company's or Vizier's provinces being 

 disposed of in the way of barter. Although a very considerable traffic be 

 carried on at this season, it does not strike a person with that idea. 

 One great disadvantage, however, is the bad accommodation for the mer- 

 chants, who are obliged to stow their goods into all the vacant holes 

 and corners, where they are not exposed to public view, and which are so 

 confined as not to admit of the bales being unpacked. A person, there- 

 fore, who may be desirous of examining and ascertaining what articles may 

 have been brought for sale, is obliged to make his way, with great difficul- 

 ty, through an immense crowd ; and after hunting in vain, through narrow, 

 dark and noisome passages, he at length relinquishes the attempt in dis- 

 gust. The inconvenience might be obviated, without much expense, by 

 building a commodious street, with shops on each side ; which, by being let 

 out at a reasonable price, during the fair, would soon repay the original cost. 



* BiUofcxclianxe. 



