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98
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[JUNE, 1914.
therin, for that theye are soe poore and begerlye that theye cannot furnishe us without trustinge them with monyes beforehand, which course wee dare not atempt, theye not bcinge able to give securitye for performance. The unacustomed wyndinge it of into so manye sortes in this place is a sufitient reason why not so well performed as in Agra and Lahore, where theire use therof for weavinge of tafites, ettc., requiers it. And for the originall or serbandy, thousands of maunds is allwaise to bee bought in Agra, thoughe not at such easye rates as here or in Bengall, and if what alredye provided shall induce you to animate us futturlye for anye large provisiones therin, our selves know not how to prescribe a better course for its procuringe in quantitye at esier rates then formerly advized you, unlese you would send into Bengalla, a hundred and fortye course from this place, to the cittye of Mucksoudabad [Maksûdâbâd, Murshidabad) where it is made, which would bee worth bothe labor and charge, for wee are asured that there it maye be provided in infinite quantityes at least twenty per cent, cheaper then in anye other place of India, and of the choysest stufe, wounde of into what condition you shall requier it, as it comes from the worme; where are also innumerable of silkwynderes, experte workmen, and labor cheaper by a third then elce where. But untill your farther resolution therin wee shall endevor scordinge to your order the provision of what quantitye therof meanes and tyme will permit, as also of sahannes and such sortes of amberty callicoes as you advize of. For other provisions, thoughe in th' intrime wee receave suplye from Agra, wee shall defer untill your farther injunctions.
Wee... thank you for sending our English letters. Your detayninge them so longe in Surratt before theire dispeed was not soe prejuditiall for our replye therunto as was your messingers desayes on the waye, who it seemes) betwene Surrat and Agra spent almost 40 dayes, and from Agra hether15.12
XIII.
Robert Hughes to the Surat Factory. Patna, 3 March 1621. Our last unto you was answare unto yours of the prime December, dispeeded hence the ultimo January, and two dayes since was received your letter of the 15th January, replye to our formeres of the last October and 11th November, wherin wee perceave what you apprehende of the sortes Amberty Callicoes Lackhower produceth, as well for theire lenghets, breadths as prizes, wherin wee also perceave you to bee mistaken in the lenghet of the Jehanger Coved, you mentioninge it to bee but 32) Inches, wheras Elahye [ilâhij of Agra is full that lenghet. And the Jehangery coved of this place no lesse then 40 Inches which wants not much of our English ell and makes greate diferance bothe in the length and breadthe of our Ambert yes. So that governinge your selves by the shorter coved it could not but give you just occasion to conceave the narowest sortes ufiting either for England or transporte, as likwise the broader sortes to come shorte in theire lenghets and breadthes for the use of sheetinge, shirtinge, etts., whereas rightlye apprehendinge them in their trewe lenghets and breadthes, questionles would have animated you to a better opynion of them. And wee doubte not but the well makinge of the Clothe (wherin it exceeds either Samanes (samana] *or your Baftaes [bâ fta] will make it of good esteeme in England And wee shall endevor what possible the provision of onlye such as for breadthes and lenghets, price, etts., maye bee well approved of, purposinge our Investments onlye in the two broader sortes, to saye, Zefer Conyes and 12 Factory Records, Patna, I., 20-21.
13 A fine cloth made at Samana, now in Patiala Stato.
