Book I. Travels /^India. 27 



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

 fet down. 



From Golconda, from four to five. 



And for G on the fame. 



From Decan at three. 



From Vifapour at three. 



From Dultabat, from one to one and an half. 



Some years the Exchange rifes from one to two per Cent, by reafbn of certain 

 Raja's or petty Valfal Princes that difturb Trade, every one pretending that the 

 Merchandizes ought to pafs through his Countrey, and pay Toll. There are two 

 particularly between Agra and Amadabatt, the one called the Raja of Antivar, 

 and the other the Raja of Bergam, who very much moleft the Merchants for 

 this very caufe. But you may avoid palling through the Territories of thefé Prin- 

 ces, taking another road from Agra to Suratt, thorough Seronge and Brampour. 

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

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

 Which is the reafon that thofe Merchants who mult be at Sur an when the feafon 

 permits them to take the Sea, are forc'd to pafs through the Territories of thefe 

 two Raja's, becaufe they can pafs that way at all times, even in the time that the 

 rains fall, 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 a if the Mer- 

 chants fhould be robb'd. 



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

 greateft Trade of the Grandees of the Indies to venture their Money by Sea 

 from thence for Ormus, Bal jar a, and Alocca ; nay even as far as Bantam, Achen, 

 and the Philippine Iflands. For Mocca and Balfiira, the change runs from '22 to 

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

 named, the change runs proportionable to the diffance. 



I have but one word to fay of their Weights and Meafures ; I have given you 

 in the Margin the fift part of an Ell of A^ra, and the fourth part of an Eljl of 

 Amadabat and Suratt. As for their Weights , the Men is generally 69 Pound, and 

 the Pound 16 Ounces. But the Men which they weigh their indie withal, is 

 but j 3 Pound. At Suratt they talk of a Serre, Which is one and three fourths of 

 a Pound, and the Pound is 16 Ounces. 



chap. nr. 



Of their Carriages, and the manner of Travelling in India. 



BEfore we fet forward upon the road, it will be convenient to fpeak of their 

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

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

 Italy. Quite otherwife it is in Perfia, where they neither make ufe of Afles, 

 Mules, or, Horfes, but tranfport all their Wares to the Indies upon Oxen, or in 

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

 Horfe out of Perfia, 'tis only for fhew, or to walk in his hand, or to fell to fome 

 Indian Prince. 



, They will lay upon an Oxes back 300, or jjo pound weight. And it is a won- 

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

 Corn and Salt, infuch places where they exchange thefe Commodities: Carrying 

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

 is none at all. They make ufe of Camels fometimes, but very rarely, they being 

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

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

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

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



*E î are" 



