Indian Antiquary Vol 43

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 77

MAY, 1914.)
FIRST COMMERCIAL MISSION TO 'PATNA
73
referringe you, and havinge now made some experience of what my formeres gave you hopes of, it rests that I advize you therof.
I have bine dealinge with the wea veres of Lackhoure (Lakhawar) which bringe th Ambertyes to towne, from whence in smale parcells I have bought about 16 Courge [kori. score) from 1 to 6 rups. net the peece, and allmost all of the broadest sizes. The raynes is some impediment to theire provision, for that the weavers by reson therof Com not to towne, as wontedlye, and there are greate store of buyers abroade, which hath somwhat inhansed the Commoditye. Also there are latlye Come up diverse frigitts of Portingalls from Sutgonge [Satgaon] whose merchants buye up all theye can laye hand of. If tyme would have permited some investments to have bine made in the Country, it had bine the best and Cheapest Course to have bought them rawe [undressed] from the weaveres and have put them fourthe to whitinge, but the season for theire dispeed hence to Come to you tymlye to send this yeare for England is soe neare at hand that this yeare it was impossible to get them ready. For the future, if you resolve that quantityes therof be provided it wilbe needfull that this place bee furnished with monnye in such season that no tyme bee lost, for that theye are teadious in whittinge ; as also it is requisite that for what provisione shall heare bee made bee at Agra before the raynes to take the first opportunitye for Conveyance with theire goods, which will bothe save Charges and regayne tyme.
Lackhower afords greate quantityes of fyne clothe, to saye of four, five, six, eight to ten rupes per peece, and by bespeakinge them and deliveringe monyes out before hand the weaveres will make them a full Jehanger coved [Jahangirî covado, cubit] broade, which is yeard, halfe quarter [i, e., about forty inches] English (which breadth, as theye saye, they cannot exceed, to have them close wrought), but of what reasonable lengths wee shall desier them.
For your list of goods required this yeare from Agra, you specifie th'ambertyes to bee all Course at or under 2 rups. per peece. Wherefore in your first praye advize how you stand afected to the fyne. Theire breadth are generallye neare upon an elahy [ilahi], coved and broader then your narowe baftas of Baroche [Broach].
Of Sahannes theire come none to towne. Diverse boates are shortlye expected from the lower partes of Bengalla, which by reporte bringe quantitye. I have bought for 400 rupes in tusser stufes of Bengalla, 10 of halfe silke, halfe cotten; and of Bicuntpoore layches
Baikanthpur alâchah about 16 courge at 12, 10 and 16 rupes per courge. Theye are 51 coveds longe and somwhat more then broade, some patternes wherof I send you herwith. Theye are fitt lenghets for petticotes, cheape, and doubtles will sell in England to good profitt. Theye are made five course hence, infinite quantityes, and are generallye bought up by the Mogolles for Persia ; by bespekinge them (if theye give Content) wee maye hare them made of what lenghets and breadthes wee shall desier.
With my former I sent you musteres (samples] of Bengalla silke and theire prices, since which I have made further serche therinto and herwith send you other samples by mee wounde of from the Serbandy (cocoon), of which I bought a maunde for a triall, and wound it of into seavene severall sortes, wherby I finde that theise 4, to saye the second, third, fourth and fifthe will stand us in about 41 rups, net the seare of 341 pice with all Charges of wyndinge it of defrayed; and the 3 other sortes, to saye the first, sixth and seaventh, rated at worthe hero at present to bee sould for readye monnye, the first at 47% rup. per seare, the 6th at 1 rups. per seare, and the 7th at 17 rups. per seare; oe that the Chea
10 Tasar, a coarse silk. See ante, vol. xxix. pp. 339 f.