chap, xii INDIGO
7
Europe,
being too bulky and of too small value ; they are exported only to the
Red Sea, Hormuz, Bassora, and sometimes to the islands of Sonde 1 and
to the Philippines. As for the spun cottons, the English and Dutch
Companies export large quantities to Europe, but they are not of the
finest qualities ; of the kinds exported the maund weight is worth from
15 to 50 mahmûdîs.2 These are the kinds which are used to
make the wicks of candles, and stockings, and to mix with the web of
silken stuffs. As for the finest qualities, they are of no use in
Europe.
Concerning Indigo.
Indigo
comes from different localities of the Empire of the Great Mogul, and
in these different localities it is of various qualities, which
increase or diminish its price.
In the first place some comes from the territory of Biânâ, from Indoua, and from Corsa, one or two days' march from Agra 3
; this is considered to be the best of all. It is also made at eight
days' march from Surat, and at two leagues from Ahmadäbäd, in a village
called Särkhej.1 It is from thence indigo cake comes, and
some of the same kind and nearly of the same price also comes from the
country of the King of Golkonda. The maund of Surat, which is 42 sers,
or 34 1/2 of our livres, is sold at from 15 to 20 rupees. Some of the
same quality as this last is also made at Broach. As for that from the
neighbourhood of Agra, it is made in small pieces like hemispheres, and
it is, as I have said, the best in India. It is sold by the maund, and
the maund in these regions weighs 60 sers, which are equal to 51 3/4 of
our livres. One generally pays for it from 36 to 40 rupees. Indigo is
also produced at 36 leagues from Burhânpur on the road to Surat at a
large village called Raout,5 and other small villages in its neighbourhood ;
1 Sunda archipelago, in the Sunda straits, where the volcano of Krakatoa is situated. (See vol. i. 154.)
2 i.e. the maund of 34 livres is worth 11«. 3d. to £1 17s. 6d. with the mahmûdi at 9d.
3
Bayänä in Bharatpur State ; Hindaun in Jaipur State ; Khurjä in
Bulandshahr District, United Provinces : cf. Mundy, ii. 222 ; Bernier,
292 ; and see W. Foster, English Factories in India, 1651-1654, p. 51.
* Sarquesse in the original. (See vol. i. 59 n.)
' Raout, identified by Sir W. Foster with Arâvad in Chopra subdivision, East Khändesh District, Bombay : see Intro.
