1849.] Statistics of the Circar of Boiolatahach 



535 



Commerce. 



There is very little trade carried on within the Circar, commercial 

 transactions being all of little amount, and confined principally to a 

 mere exchange of commodities fur internal consumption. Its grand 

 export is dry grain, which with sugar and culdee, form pretty well the 

 entire amount of exported produce. Manufactures are confined to 

 the wants of the community with the exception of a small quantity 

 of brocade, silk goods, and a trifling amount of cotton cloths. The 

 return trade is salt, iron, copper vesselS; cotton cloths, and some other 

 articles of less note for domestic use. 



The grain trade is in the hands of a few native merchants, the 

 principal of whom resides at Toka, employing agents at Aurungabad 

 for supplying the consumption for large towns and the export trade 

 to Bombay. In making their piychases, three methods are generally 

 resorted to, the necessities of the poor Koonbees giving the advantage 

 in every case, to the buyers. The first is called " Deodee" and is 

 an agreement on the part of the cultivator, to return one pullah and 

 a half of grain at harvest time, for every pullah given in the sowing 

 season ; the second is called " Ptungoda," when a price is fixed up- 

 on the grain in ear, and money advanced upon the probable pro- 

 duce it yields ; and thirdly, the collectors of grain advance the Go- 

 vernment instalments when the grain is ripe to cut, at the rate of 

 25 per cent., stipulating for the loan being paid in ready cash, com- 

 pelling the sale of the grain often at a loss, when the lenders usually 

 become the purchasers, often times below the bazar price. 



Excepting in large towns the population subsist on the produce of 

 their own immediate neighbourhood ; their clothing is generally im- 

 ported from Berar, cotton goods forming but a very trifling item of 

 the manufacturing industry ; the plant not being cultivated in the 

 Circar. Blankets of black wool, are made in every village by the 

 Dhers, one man can make two a month, \yhich he sells from 8 annas 

 to one rupee each. In several places, a strong hempen canvass 

 called tat puttee is made, the breadth of which is about half a foot. 



The weaving of mixed goods fabricated from silk and cotton, call- 

 ed mushroo, is carried on languidly at Aurungabad, and Rouza ; and 

 more briskly atl'yzapoor; the filature silk is imported from Bombay. 

 Brocade i,s alunc manufactured at Aurungabad, as well as gold 

 thread. 



