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multitude of Hindoos, Mahomedans, Farsees, Jews, Turks, Arme- 
nians, Persians, Arabians, Greeks, and other Asiatic strangers; be- 
sides the Europeans, whose factories have been already mentioned, 
it is also frequented by merchants from Malacca, China, Abyssinia, 
Mosambique, Madagascar, and the Coniorro isles; and by numerous 
traders from the seaports, and inland provinces of Hindostan* 
In a former chapter I have particularized the trade of Bombay; 
that of Surat is very similar; although now one of the greatest 
emporiums in India, I do not find it mentioned in the oriental 
commerce of the ancients by Strabo, Arrian, or other writers on 
that subject, who describe the Arabian and Egyptian trade with 
Pattala, the modern Taltah, on the Indus; Barygaza, or Baroche, 
on the Nerbudda, and Musiris, now Murjee, on the Malabar coast. 
These Arabian vessels imported, from Egypt and other places, 
woollen-cloth, brass, iron, lead, tin, glass-ware, coral, wrought- 
silver, gold and silver bullion, and several kinds of wine: and they 
exported spices, diamonds, sapphires, pearls, and other gems; with 
cottons, silks, pepper, and perfumes. Dr. Robertson observes, 
that “ the justness of Arrian’s account of the articles imported 
from India, is confirmed by a Roman law, in which the Indian 
commodities subject to the payment of duties are enumerated. By 
comparing these two accounts, we may form an idea, tolerablj r 
exact, of the nature and extent of the trade with India in ancient 
times.” 
The diamonds, sapphires, and rubies of India, have always 
been held in the highest estimation; in topazes, amethysts, and 
some other gems, perhaps America may be equal: the most cele- 
brated diamond mines are at Golconda, in the territory of the 
